Batch renaming of files?

Um, sort of.

You cannot rename files in iPhoto.

You can, however, add Titles to the Photos, and yes, you can do this in batches (Photos menu -> Batch Change)

If you then export from iPhoto (File -> Export) you can opt to use the Title as a Filename on the Exported files.

Regards

TD

They display under photos in iPhoto and can be used as file names on export if you choose to

LN

A Title is the name you apply to a Photo. So, John at His Wedding is a title. A filename is a filename. It does not necessarily relate to the content of the file at all. Titles are part of the Exif metadata.

Regards

TD

-- Renaming Utilities --

These are older, general file renaming links but they may have been updated for later OS versions.

NameChanger http://www.mrrsoftware.com/MRRSoftware/NameChanger.html

Renamer4Mac http://renamer4mac.com/batch-rename-files-on-mac-osx.html - now shareware but older versions may still be free.

psrenamer http://www.powersurgepub.com/downloads.html#psrenamer - Java based (=slightly slow) free utility.

Name Mangler http://www.manytricks.com/namemangler/ - requires OS 10.5+, but File List http://www.manytricks.com/download/filelist is an older version for pre-10.5.

http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/ - $20

But always remember that if you rename files managed by iPhoto then you will corrupt the Library.

Regards

TD

But only after exporting the photos. You must NEVER make any changes of any sort to the structure or content of the iPhoto library

LN

It means simply never change the name of a file that is in iPhoto. If you do then iPhoto won't find the shot.

Regards

TD

Right

"you" must never make changes. Only iPhoto can make changes to the iPhoto library

LN

Interesting. iPhoto must differ from iTunes then because in iTunes I have renamed thousands of files in Finder and it keeps track of them.

That is correct. IPhoto is different from iTunes, from ms word and from Safari. iPhoto is aSQL database for managing and editing photos and it is different from any other program. Just as word is different from pages, etc. each and every program is different from all other programs and in no case should one assume that the operation of one implies a similar operation of another. Even if their names both start with the same letter

LN

iPhoto tracks the Master, Preview, Thumbnail, metadata, faces thumbs and small thumbs for each shot and the relationship between them. It does this via the file path. Change any element of the path and you'll have an issue.

Regards

TD