Windows 7 command to add a leading zero to a batch of filenames

Question

Having trouble getting the correct command syntax. We need to add a leading zero to a batch of files in a directory on a regular basis. I cannot download and install a software item to do so. The operating system is Windows-7. The length of the filenames varies. i.e. 000165-CityName1.pdf to 0000165-CityName1.pdf 000166-CityNameLonger2.pdf to 0000166-CityNameLonger2.pdf etc. Looking for a rename command that would work, can someone please suggest one, it would be appreciated. I have tried a half dozen without success.

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 24 '16 at 14:27

This powershell script should work just fine to add a 0 to the beginning of each filename in a folder. Save this script as a .ps1.

Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\temp\cityfiles\" | 
  Rename-Item -NewName {$_.BaseName.insert(0,'0') + $_.Extension}

This takes every file inside the folder cityfiles and adds a '0' to the beginning of each filename.

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 24 '16 at 20:45

How do I add a leading zero to a batch of filenames?

Use the following command:

for /f %f in ('dir /b *.pdf') do ren "%f" "0%f"

To use in a batch file replace % with %%:

for /f %%f in ('dir /b *.pdf') do ren "%%f" "0%%f"

Example usage:

F:\test\test>dir
 Volume in drive F is Expansion
 Volume Serial Number is 3656-BB63

 Directory of F:\test\test

24/06/2016  21:39    <DIR>          .
24/06/2016  21:39    <DIR>          ..
24/06/2016  21:38                 0 000165-CityName1.pdf
24/06/2016  21:38                 0 000166-CityNameLonger2.pdf
               2 File(s)              0 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  1,769,011,425,280 bytes free

F:\test\test>for /f %f in ('dir /b *.pdf') do ren "%f" "0%f"

F:\test\test>ren "000165-CityName1.pdf" "0000165-CityName1.pdf"

F:\test\test>ren "000166-CityNameLonger2.pdf" "0000166-CityNameLonger2.pdf"

F:\test\test>dir
 Volume in drive F is Expansion
 Volume Serial Number is 3656-BB63

 Directory of F:\test\test

24/06/2016  21:40    <DIR>          .
24/06/2016  21:40    <DIR>          ..
24/06/2016  21:38                 0 0000165-CityName1.pdf
24/06/2016  21:38                 0 0000166-CityNameLonger2.pdf
               2 File(s)              0 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  1,769,011,425,280 bytes free

Windows 7 command to add a leading zero to a batch of filenames

3 Answers3

How do I add a leading zero to a batch of filenames?

Further Reading

Linked