Randomize filenames in a folder

I would like to produce a clip which plays back a 20 second clip with the frames in a totally random order - I have been advised that this can only be done with apple script.

I don't know that only is the right word, but it's certainly a possibility.

so the action would be to take folder x and to rename each of the files numerically in a random fashion without duplication -

For simplicity's sake, I'd create a new folder and move the files into that folder as you go - it's a far easier way of avoiding duplicates:

tell application "Finder"
set destFolder to (make new folder as desktop with properties {name: "new animation"})
set sourceFolder to (choose folder with prompt "Please select the source images folder")
set numFiles to (number of files of folder sourceFolder)
repeat with i from 1 to numFiles
set newFile to (move some file of folder sourceFolder to folder destFolder)
set name of newFile to (i & ".tiff")
end repeat
end tell

The above script first creates a new folder on your desktop where the random files will go. It asks for the source images folder, then iterates through based on the number of files in that folder.
On each iteration through the loop it grabs 'some file' of the source folder. That's what gives you the random element. Once the file is moved it's renamed based on the current number of files that have been moved.

There are doubtless many more ways of achieving the same result, and this script has no error checking (e.g. makes sure the destFolder can be created, files can be renamed, etc.), but it should be a good starting point.

If you're worried about ending up with a new folder, you could add commands at the end to delete the (now empty) source folder, and rename/move the destFolder into the sourceFolder's location.

The script I posted should work as-is.

It will create a new folder on your desktop for the randomized files, and it will prompt you to locate the folder containing the originals. You shouldn't need to make any changes.

If you do want to hard-code the folders, though, you need to give the script the full path to the folder in the form:

tell application "Finder"
set destFolder to folder "HD:Users:paul:Desktop:destination:"
set sourceFolder to folder "HD:Users:paul:Desktop:source:"
...
end tell

You'll need to fill in the complete path to your directories, though, bearing in mind that the above code will not create the destination directory if it doesn't already exist - it will require that the directory is there before you run the script (which is why my earlier example creates a new directory)

You're right, there were a couple of typos in my original script. My bad.

Try this one:

tell application "Finder"
set destFolder to (make new folder at desktop with properties {name:"new animation"})
set sourceFolder to (choose folder with prompt "Please select the source images folder")
set numFiles to (number of files of folder sourceFolder)
repeat with i from 1 to numFiles
set newFile to (duplicate some file of folder sourceFolder to destFolder)
set name of newFile to (i & ".tiff" as text)
end repeat
end tell

Thanks to you both -- Paul for requesting this and Camelot for creating it. I'm using this for a different application -- randomizing .jpgs on an SD card. My inexpensive digital frame doesn't offer the ability to randomize display of photos, so this script does the trick. Thanks again!!