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Batch Renaming Files Script

Problem

You have files like:

  • IMG_0001.JPGIMG_0001.JPG
  • IMG_0002.JPGIMG_0002.JPG

You want:

  • photo_0001.jpgphoto_0001.jpg
  • photo_0002.jpgphoto_0002.jpg

Safe renamer

batch_rename.py
from pathlib import Path
 
 
def batch_rename(folder: Path, prefix: str, dry_run: bool = True):
    files = sorted([p for p in folder.iterdir() if p.is_file()])
 
    for i, p in enumerate(files, start=1):
        new_name = f"{prefix}_{i:04d}{p.suffix.lower()}"
        target = p.with_name(new_name)
 
        if dry_run:
            print("[DRY RUN]", p.name, "->", target.name)
        else:
            p.rename(target)
 
 
batch_rename(Path("./demo"), prefix="photo", dry_run=True)
batch_rename.py
from pathlib import Path
 
 
def batch_rename(folder: Path, prefix: str, dry_run: bool = True):
    files = sorted([p for p in folder.iterdir() if p.is_file()])
 
    for i, p in enumerate(files, start=1):
        new_name = f"{prefix}_{i:04d}{p.suffix.lower()}"
        target = p.with_name(new_name)
 
        if dry_run:
            print("[DRY RUN]", p.name, "->", target.name)
        else:
            p.rename(target)
 
 
batch_rename(Path("./demo"), prefix="photo", dry_run=True)

Tips

  • sort filenames for deterministic renames
  • use dry runs
  • avoid collisions (check if target exists)

🧪 Try It Yourself

Exercise 1 – List Files with os.listdir

Exercise 2 – Join Paths with os.path.join

Exercise 3 – Write and Read a File

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