Batch renaming files using "format" or "add text after" option erases the existing file extensions.

Question

Batch renaming files using "format" or "add text after" option erases the existing file extensions.

When I select a group of files, and then use the batch rename files using "format" or "add text after" option, the resulting files all have the original file extensions removed.

It's relatively easy to fix afterwards - as long as the batch of files all had the same extension, I can just use the "add text after" rename on the same selection to replace the extensions..

I don't recall having to do that second step before..

I have been doing this type of renaming for years without the extension being touched, and have only just noticed this new behavior recently... since Sonoma I think ?

Or has it always been this way, and I'm misremembering.

If anyone has seen this and knows if there is a setting I need to adjust to revert back to the old behavior I'd be grateful if you'd chime in!

Thanks!

iMac (M1, 2021)

Posted on Jul 8, 2024 2:19 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Bill Bradford Author

Level 1

55 points

Jul 9, 2024 8:24 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks very much for the reply VikingOSX.

That led me to experiment with some other files, and I discovered that both Format and Add-text work correctly (without touching the extension) for some other file types. I tried a series of jpg files, and some wav files and they worked as I wanted.

However, mkv files do not. This is the file type I had noticed the issue on when using the third party application MakeMKV to convert my DVD collection to playable files. Whenever I use Format or Add-text, the extension seems to be treated as a part of the filename itself. Also, in the finder these files are listed as simply 'document'.

I'm starting to suspect it is something to do with the file type that MacOS is not recognizing the ".mkv" as a proper extension.

UPDATE: Problem solved.... I found an application "MKPLayer" on the App Store and associated it with the "mkv" extension, and now the batch rename process works fine..

Reply

Answer 2

Jul 9, 2024 8:43 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks again VikingOSX.

Do you have the extension associated to an application?

(Mine are working too now, see above "update").

Much appreciate your help, and that tip about CTRL-Z helped me to test other files without sweating it!! Cheers!

Reply

Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

127,642 points

Jul 9, 2024 10:29 AM in response to Bill Bradford

I have not set a default opening application for my .mkv videos. By default, they happen to open in MacGo's Blu-ray Player Pro when double-clicked as this also is the application that I tend to watch them in.

It is cmd+Z, not control+Z for Finder undo.

Reply

Answer 4

VikingOSX

Level 10

127,642 points

Jul 9, 2024 7:49 AM in response to Bill Bradford

This worked correctly for me on Sonoma 14.5 without whacking extensions:

Immediately after you make a mistake in the Finder Renaming process, you can issue a cmd+Z keystroke to undo it.

Reply

Answer 5

VikingOSX

Level 10

127,642 points

Jul 9, 2024 8:32 AM in response to Bill Bradford

I tried the same approach with two .mkv videos here and it worked identical to my previous example with image files. The last content in my .mkv filenames is not a season episode stamp.

Reply