Batch change file extensions

I did test this by changing (with Name Munger) the file extension from "NEF" to "PSD". Photoshop couldn't open the file stating "not a Photoshop document".

That wouldn't be a valid change. Both .nef and .psd files may be openable by Photoshop, but the format of a .nef file is very different from the format of a .psd file. If you change the extension, the file won't be openable because the contents of a .nef file will not be valid as contents for a .psd file.

That said, should you have a legitimate extension change to do, here's how (using the example of .jpg to .jpeg):

In the Terminal, type:

cd folder/path/here
foreach infile (*.jpg)
mv $infile $infile:r.jpeg
end

The "folder/path/here" part is the path to the folder holding the files to rename. The easiest way to insert that path is to type the "cd " part and then drag the folder onto the Terminal window.

File extensions aren't arbitrary! Changing NEF to PSD won't work, because NEF isn't a Photoshop file--as I recall it is a Nikon Raw file, and while Adobe Camera Raw can open it, and then pass it on to Photoshop, Photoshop itself won't open it, because it is not in fact a Photoshop file.

Many files have information embedded in them that declare what they really are, jpegs for instance. If you arbitrarily change .jpg to .tif a program that is perfectly capable of opening both file types will likely declare the file isn't a proper tif, since the file itself declares itself a jpeg, and refuse to open it.

There are SOME cases where you can change the extension and have things work. But more often than not you need to convert files from one type to another. Simply changing the extension doesn't accomplish that.
Francine


Francine
Schwieder

It wouldn't be as easy as just changing the extension. My copy of Photoshop Elements has a Process Multiple Files option under the File menu that should, I believe, handle batch conversion. [Graphic Converter|http://www.lemkesoft.com> may also be able to do the trick, if it can read/write the file formats in question.

Use Adobe DNG Converter. It fairly fast and works flawlessly.

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=106&platform=Macintos h

Yes, if you have the full version of Photoshop, I'm sure you could write an Action to open the file in Adobe Camera Raw, with a default settings, pass it to Photoshop and then Save As. You could then make the Action into a Droplet, then drop files on it and let Photoshop do its thing. If you don't, your best bet is probably to take a look at Graphic Converter, which I believe has a number of different batch conversions available.
Francine


Francine
Schwieder

Thomas talked about doing something in the terminal but that sounds beyond my capabilities.

That was just to change the extension of a batch of files, which would not solve your problem, as we said.

Did my other post or Francine's solve your problem? You sound like it's still not solved, but I'm not sure if that was specifically in response to Jason's suggestion or if none of the suggestions have worked.

Make sure to mark Francine's post as solved, both so she gets credit and so folks who find this topic later know what solved your problem.