Rename files sequentially (n_004-005 , n_006-007 ... ) ?

Question

Rename files sequentially (n_004-005 , n_006-007 ... ) ?

Is there an automator setup or applescript that will enable me to rename a slew of files with sequenced number slots in two places (i.e. n_004-005 , n_006-007 , n_008-009 … etc ) ?

Video example of what I need done below.

File Rename - YouTube

*Would prefer to do this without any third party software. My company won’t allow me to purchase apps like “a better finder rename” — which awesome app that it is, violates my company’s software agreement policy.

Any help with this is exponentially appreciated, thanks everyone.

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), macOS High Sierra (10.13), null

Posted on Apr 5, 2018 3:09 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Apr 5, 2018 8:51 PM in response to AdobeOneKenobi

There are lots of utilities, both free and not free, at MacUpdate.

How To Safely Use MacUpdate To Download Ad-Free Software

This site has both free and paid membership accounts. If you have neither then some software will be distributed as an installer wrapper that includes adware/malware you may not want. Such a download may appear on your computer like this: Firefox Installer.dmg. Delete the download and return to the main site where you will find a direct link to the developer's website. Use that link from which to download the software. Or a simpler way is to establish a free or paid membership to avoid problems getting adware with your download.

For Transnomino, simply select the icon, CTRL- or RIGHT-click and select Open from the context menu. Click on the Open button in the ensuing dialog. You shouldn't have any need for an admin account unless the files are in a protected folder.

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Answer 2

Apr 5, 2018 4:39 PM in response to Kappy

Transnomino requires admin to unlock, which my company will not do.

NameChanger I tried but it doesn’t have the ability to use even or odd number sequences (which after 3 or so passes might accomplish what I need).

The one avenue that’s peaked my interest is “regular expressions.”

Maybe there’s a regular expression, that used through the NameChanger app, might be able to accomplish what I need ?

Only problem is, I no nothing about regular expressions.

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Answer 3

Apr 5, 2018 8:59 PM in response to Kappy

I’ll take a look at those two options.

In the meantime I have returned to NameChanger, and started playing with regex (regular expressions) arriving at the below (screenshot below also):

00_TZ_([0-9]{3})-([0-9]{3}).*

00_TZ_$1-$2

I’ve been searching for incremental expressions, and a starting point expression (i.e. if I wanted to start the count from 060 for example, or start from 004).

I tried the expressions I found on this site:

http://searchandreplace.helpmax.net/en/regular-expressions/regular-expression-co unters/

But I think I’m misunderstanding something, nothing seems to be working.

I’ll keep digging, I feel like I’m getting close.

Thanks again btw.