FreeCommander Forum

I am having an issue with the multi rename function. I have many folders with a large number of image files in them (between 500-8,000), and when i create a new folder i need to rename the files so that they have the folder name and then the number count, e.g. [folder A] 01, [folder A] 02. They need to stay in the same file order when i rename them, as they are sequential images. When I first convert all the images and rename them it works just fine, by renaming the folder, selecting the folder and hitting the multi-rename, using the following settings:

Pattern:
file name: [p] [c]
file extension: [e]

Include Only Files of This Type
With Subfolders: checkmarked
Only Files: checkmarked

Counter:
Start at: 1
Step by: 1
Digits: 4
Reset By Folder checkmarked

The problem comes if I have to edit the file name later on, and then rename all the files inside. When I use the same method, after selecting the folder and hitting rename, the original files don't start at file #0001, they'll start at some random file like #0734, run all through all the files, and then have files #0001 through #0733 at the end, resulting in the renamed files not being in order. If I enter the folder, select all the files, and then hit the multi-rename, then the original files are all in the correct order, however this is time consuming and frustrating.

I'm not sure where exactly is the problem.

Is the option - Counter - Start at set to 1?

If you rename the files from more folders, try the option Counter - Reset per folder.

As per my original post, I clearly listed out the settings I am using, where it clearly says that I have the counter set to start at 1, and the reset by folder option is checkmarked. The issue has nothing to do with the new file names, but to the order it is listing the old files in; it is not starting with the first file in the folder, even though they are all numbered. I need to original file names to be listed alphabetically, i.e. [image A] 01, [image A] 02, so that they stay in the same order they are originally in when I rename them.

And selecting the "Old Name" column header to resort it doesn't help, as the new name will still correspond to the original position it sorted them into, i.e. if it starts with file #0734, selecting the column title to resort will still have file #0734 set to be renamed to file #0001.

My issue is that the multi-rename function is not sorting original file names by alphabetical order, resulting in the wrong count number to be applied to the new file name.

The Multirename function should not and does not sort by default.
It uses the current sort order of the file list and that is correct.

parcheesi wrote: 25.12.2021, 15:13 I need to original file names to be listed alphabetically, i.e. [image A] 01, [image A] 02, so that they stay in the same order they are originally in when I rename them.
...
My issue is that the multi-rename function is not sorting original file names by alphabetical order, resulting in the wrong count number to be applied to the new file name.

Do you really have set FC to alphabetically order or do you have set it natural order?
alphabetically means:
Image 01
Image 012345
Image 02
Image 0555
Image 09
Image 3

natural means:
Image 01
Image 02
Image 3
Image 09
Image 0555
Image 012345

This is elemental for sorting the files by number, not by alphabeth.
You can change this in settings > file-/folder list > sorting
https://freecommander.com/fchelpxe/en/Sorting.html