Batch rename to create directories (Windows)

Ideas for improvements and requests for new features in XnView Classic

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fecund
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:58 am

Batch rename to create directories (Windows)

Post by fecund »

I had a bunch of photos that I wanted to arrange by date taken. I had hoped that Batch Rename with a template "<date taken>\<Filename>" would do it, but alas, it did not create any directories, leaving the files untouched.

"<Directory><date taken>\<Filename>" didn't do what I wanted either.

Please have XnView create directories, if there's a directory separator in the template.

thanks!
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helmut
Posts: 8705
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2003 6:47 pm
Location: Frankfurt, Germany

Re: Batch rename to create directories (Windows)

Post by helmut »

fecund wrote:...
"<Directory><date taken>\<Filename>" didn't do what I wanted either.

Please have XnView create directories, if there's a directory separator in the template.
Specifying a pathname and create directories might be useful in some cases and make batch renaming even more powerful.

Currently we have name template, if possible, it should be made clear to the user that specifying paths is possible by having a separate entry field "Path template". Naturally, default for this would be current directory (Radio button and/or additional place holder "<Current dir>").
Guest

Post by Guest »

I don't think you need a separate field. Basically,
Path Template: XXX
Filename Template: ZZZ

is the same as
Path & File Template: XXX/ZZZ

(where / is the directory separator for the platform)

and keeping the interface simple means less confusion for users and less work for coders.

Just need to know what the directory separator is for your platform (/ or \ or :), need to be able to call the equivalent of "mkpath" or "mkdir -p" on Windows & Mac, and need to check for "directory not found" error on the rename and handle that exception.
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helmut
Posts: 8705
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2003 6:47 pm
Location: Frankfurt, Germany

Post by helmut »

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you need a separate field. Basically,
Path Template: XXX
Filename Template: ZZZ

is the same as
Path & File Template: XXX/ZZZ
Seemingly a simpler interface but not really simple for users to understand. Many users would never find this extra feature. And if a novice users happens to type in a "" in the file template, you can display a warning message if you have two fields.
and keeping the interface simple means less confusion for users and less work for coders.
Simple interface is very important (see above). I never care for the coders.