Thanks for the response. I will give The Rename a go – looks like it is going to do the job well.
I would still like to learn how to do this via the file browser in Photoshop, or via Thumbsplus. in an effort to become better with these programs in general. I have had a look at it is not very clear how to base the new file names on the original date. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks,
Bob
Using the file browser in Photoshop Set the sort order to Date Created or Date Modified (Depending on the order you would like them renamed).
Select All
Right click any file and select "Batch Rename"
Set your naming options to "3 Digit Serial Number" + "Extension"
I don’t use thumbs Plus, but from what I have seen it doesn’t have a batch renaming function. You should take a look at your help files to be sure.
Bob,
I’ve commonly used ThumbsPlus for such tasks…it’s quite easy, if the images are in the same folder. Batch renaming is possible in versions 5 and 6, and possibly 4. If you want to recursively apply the task through multiple folders, that may be possible also but I’m not sure how to direct you on that.
For a "same-folder" approach and to order the renaming based upon the file date, you will first want to display your files in a sorted by date order, the reverse or forward chronology being your choice. Then, select all files via CTRL+A and go to the Auto Rename option, wich I believe is under the File menu. From there, specify the naming convention, the increment, etc., and apply that. You can overwrite the current files or create new ones per the new name.
THE Rename may be easier, but at least you’ve got one tool at your disposal that isn’t very difficult to use.
Duh!…make that two tools…I didn’t read Photo Help’s instructions on how to do this with the File Browser in PS CS but, now that I have, it’s the same process. I suggest comparing the File Browser batch renaming with ThumbsPlus and just use the easiest one that also accommodates your desires. ThumbsPlus offers several options that may not be provided in the PS CS Batch Rename, but I’ve not yet looked at the latter.
Regards,
Daryl
Thanks again photo help. The instructions you suggested for photoshop worked in thumbsplus. Not exactly of course… but in general the same process. Sort by Date/Time, then FILE>autorename.
When I tried sorting the images by "date created" in the PS CS file browser it did not order the images perfectly. There were a handfull of images that it put in the incorrect order, even though according to the PS CS file info dialog they should have been displaying properly. Another little PS CS glitch.
Thanks again for your help.
Bob
Just missed your message Daryl. From what I have gathered, aside from the problem i had with the PS CS file browser not sorting properly, I think the thumbsplus process is a bit more robust. I have not dug too deeply though. thanks for your help too.
bob
No problem. Good to hear you got the results you wanted.
I have dug a little deeper in the PS CS renaming tool and I found it basically does everything that thumbsplus does – plus a little more… Just wanted to set the record straight. Would be nice if either of these tools included the features that THE RENAME does for renaming based on exif data.
bob
