Rename files in Terminal using mv and sed

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Level 1

25 points

Rename files in Terminal using mv and sed

I want to rename multiple files (in one directory) using mv and sed in Terminal (Mac OS 10.6.8).

I want to change each and every file name from IMG_nnnn.jpg to HVAC_nnnn.jpg, where nnnn is the camera's sequence number. I want to preserve the sequence number and the jpg extension while changing only the file name prefix (the part before the underscore).

Here's what I tried:

macatony-2:HVAC ctossc$ ls -d *.jpg | sed -e 's/.*/mv -f & &/' -e 's/IMG/HVAC/' | sh

This is the result:

mv: rename HVAC_0205.jpg to IMG_0205.jpg: No such file or directory

I wanted "rename IMG_0205.jpg to HVAC_0205.jpg". The arguments to mv seem to be reversed, so the mv command can't "rename" (or delete) the HVAC* file before it is created.

Any suggestions?

macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Aug 7, 2013 5:25 PM

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Answer 1

nbar

Level 5

7,037 points

Aug 7, 2013 6:32 PM in response to SemiTech

cd /path/to/folder

for filename in IMG_*; do mv "$filename" "${filename//IMG_/HVAC_}"; done

To check before execution to make sure the output is correct, you can pipe it to a text file before terminal actually executes:

for filename in IMG_*; do echo mv \"$filename\" \"${filename//IMG_/HVAC_}\"; done > test.txt

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Answer 2

Aug 7, 2013 7:05 PM in response to SemiTech

for i in IMG_*.jpg; do mv ${i} `echo ${i} | sed -n 's/^IMG/HVAC/p'`; done

but as nbar suggested, check it, before running it. Probably best to back-up the files before trying to

rename them.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Aug 7, 2013 7:07 PM in response to SemiTech

Why do you need to do this in the shell, when it would be much easier to do in Automator?

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Answer 4

SemiTech Author

Level 1

25 points

Aug 7, 2013 9:29 PM in response to nbar

Thanks nbar. Your code did the job!

It was clear and understandable. Thanks also for the advice to redirect to a test file before attempting the rename. That worked too.

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Answer 5

SemiTech Author

Level 1

25 points

Aug 7, 2013 9:34 PM in response to Nils C. Anderson

Thanks Nils. Your code also worked fine. You and nbar saved me from further frustration!

I still wonder however, why my original code reversed the order of the mv arguments. Knowing that would make my earlier failed attempts a learning experience.

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Answer 6

SemiTech Author

Level 1

25 points

Aug 7, 2013 9:38 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc,

I don't know automator, but I do know enough unix and shell scripting to at least make a credible effort. And besides unix is a more general skill, not limited to only Mac OS. But you make a good point; maybe one day I'll have to make the effort to learn automator.

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Answer 7

nbar

Level 5

7,037 points

Aug 7, 2013 9:46 PM in response to SemiTech

You're welcome. Cheers.

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Answer 8

BobHarris

Level 9

56,945 points

Aug 8, 2013 7:14 AM in response to SemiTech

I still wonder however, why my original code reversed the order of the mv arguments. Knowing that would make my earlier failed attempts a learning experience.

1st) nbar's 'for' loop is the best in my opinion 🙂

Why your script got things backwards. lets break it down

ls -d *.jpg | sed -e 's/.*/mv -f & &/'

generates:

mv -f IMG_1.jpg IMG_1.jpg
mv -f IMG_2.jpg IMG_2.jpg
mv -f IMG_3.jpg IMG_3.jpg
mv -f IMG_4.jpg IMG_4.jpg
mv -f IMG_5.jpg IMG_5.jpg
mv -f IMG_6.jpg IMG_6.jpg
mv -f IMG_7.jpg IMG_7.jpg
mv -f IMG_8.jpg IMG_8.jpg
mv -f IMG_9.jpg IMG_9.jpg

ls -d *.jpg | sed -e 's/.*/mv -f & &/' -e 's/IMG/HVAC/'

generates:

mv -f HVAC_1.jpg IMG_1.jpg
mv -f HVAC_2.jpg IMG_2.jpg
mv -f HVAC_3.jpg IMG_3.jpg
mv -f HVAC_4.jpg IMG_4.jpg
mv -f HVAC_5.jpg IMG_5.jpg
mv -f HVAC_6.jpg IMG_6.jpg
mv -f HVAC_7.jpg IMG_7.jpg
mv -f HVAC_8.jpg IMG_8.jpg
mv -f HVAC_9.jpg IMG_9.jpg

because when the -e 's/IMG/HVAC/' executed, it changed the 1st occurance of IMG, which was the IMG following the -f

I personally do not use 'sed' anymore except for some really trivial stuff. If I need to general messing with a list or the contents of a file I use 'awk' or 'perl', both of which are a bit easier to work with and for me to read afterwards. But if you really wanted to fix the 'sed' you could have used:

ls -d *.jpg | sed -e 's/IMG\(.*\)/mv -f & HVAC\1/' | sh

HOWEVER, I would not really use either 'awk' nor 'perl' for this task. I would use something similar to what 'nbar' gave you (although I might have over complicated mine some more where as 'nbar' kept it simple and easy to read 🙂

Message was edited by: BobHarris

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