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Is there a way natively in Windows to rename multiple selected files in a folder to have a common prefix? Effectively what I want is a way to manually select multiple files, right-click and rename them, but with the option to add a prefix only. I also don't want to install extra software to accomplish this.

I already know about the batch rename by selecting files and pressing F2, but this replaces the entire name and appends a sequential number. I want to keep the current name and only add a prefix.

I also know you can run cmd in the folder and rename files that have common name characters or file attributes, but in my example the files I want to select will not have any shared names and all files in the folder are the same type.

My only solution I can think of is to temporarily move the files to a new folder and batch rename them, then move them back to the original folder. I feel like there has to be a better way than this.

Jon Martin
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2 Answers2

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You may add a batch file (.bat) to the right-click Send menu (link), or as a Send-menu destination (in %USERPROFILE%\SendTo).

The batch file can handle its parameters using a loop:

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
for %%x in (%*) do ( 
    ...
)

and it can also get the prefix using the SET/P command, then issue the appropriate REN command per each file.

harrymc
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1

There is no built in way, without a batch/powershell script, to rename those files. Especially if they don't have a common pattern you will run into issues. There are various tools you can use to do this but you said you're not willing to install additional software.

Seth
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