bonk!

Q: A renamed file still shows old name in QT Player, why?

I renamed a video.  Shows in my file folder as the new name quite nicely.  But when I view the video in QuickTime Player it still bears the old name.  What gives?

Posted on Aug 10, 2016 9:52 AM

Close

Q: A renamed file still shows old name in QT Player, why?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Apple recommended

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 11, 2016 6:47 AM in response to bonk!
    Level 9 (60,617 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 11, 2016 6:47 AM in response to bonk!

    If you renamed the file "behind quicktime's back" it may take a re-launching of quicktime or a Restart to reflect the new name. This could happen because once a file is opened, it is not referred to by its name, but by its file descriptor table.

  • by Jon Walker,

    Jon Walker Jon Walker Aug 15, 2016 5:03 PM in response to bonk!
    Level 6 (18,603 points)
    Aug 15, 2016 5:03 PM in response to bonk!

    I renamed a video.  Shows in my file folder as the new name quite nicely.  But when I view the video in QuickTime Player it still bears the old name.  What gives?

    It is unclear here if you are referring to the "Player" and/or "Inspector" window title being different from the "Finder" filename. Depending on the workflow used to create the original file, this could be normal. Normally the Player and Inspector windows reflect the filename assigned to the file. However, some video apps (e.g., iFlicks) can also assign separate annotations such as a "Title" (and/or "Album", "Artist", "Comment", etc.) to the file. Normally this "title" is the same as the original filename but it's value doesn't change when the filename is changed by the user in the Finder. Here's an example:

    Screen Shot 2016-08-15 at 19.01.55.jpg

    Filename as seen in the Finder

     

    Screen Shot 2016-08-15 at 19.40.25.jpg

    Player window name as seen in QT 7 or QT X media players

     

    Screen Shot 2016-08-15 at 19.49.32.jpg

    Title annotation as seen in the QT 7 Pro "Properties" window

     

    As you can see, depending on your workflow, it is entirely possible for a video to simultaneously have different file and player names. Further, depending on the the software available to a user, it is possible to change one or the other so that they again match each other.

    SJAUG.png