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Renaming files using the existing name

Anonymous
2017-09-25T18:06:36+00:00

So at work every day I have to re-name 8 files changing yesterday's date (or some other date) to today's date.  So I click the name, then click a second time for rename, and then click in the highlighted text to delete just one character instead of the entire name.  About 25% of the time Windows will "helpfully," reset my rename to delete the entire old name instead of just the character I want to delete, or when I type a new number it will select all text in the name and replace it with the one character I type.

I realize it isn't a huge deal as long as I pay close attention so I can cancel the re-name action whenever it wipes out the name of the file, but it is aggravating, especially since 25% of the time times 8 files is twice a day.  That also doesn't count all the other files I rename over the course of a day.

I realize I can right click and select re-name, and maybe the problem won't occur doing that, but it takes me more steps.

Note that I clearly see the text turn white (insert) and then return to black (overstrike).  It is specifically changing back after accepting my desire to insert text.

Thanks,

Aaron

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-09-25T21:11:09+00:00

    You forgot step 4, Windows re-selects all text, so when I backspace and type a 5 to replace ...September 24 2017, with ...September 25 2017, the file is renamed to "5".

    Sorry, I have never seen anything that resembles what you call Step 4.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-09-25T18:37:49+00:00

    So at work every day I have to re-name 8 files changing yesterday's date to today's date.

    -> It would be far more effective and less error-prone to adopt this method:

    1. Create a script that performs the rename for you. Store it on your desktop.
    2. Mark the 8 files to be renamed.
    3. Grab them and drop them on the script shortcut.

    That's it!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-09-25T20:09:33+00:00

    There is something fishy with the process you described:

    1. I click the name -> OK, a left-click will select the file.
    2. then click a second time for rename -> Maybe you're thinking of a right-click?
    3. then click in the highlighted text to delete just one character instead of the entire name. -> Left-clicking somewhere in the highlighted text will place the insertion point at this spot and deselect the marked name string. It will NOT delete anything. To delete a character, you would now need to press Del or BackSpace.

    You forgot step 4, Windows re-selects all text, so when I backspace and type a 5 to replace ...September 24 2017, with ...September 25 2017, the file is renamed to "5".

    As you say, I should get an insertion point, but it swaps from insert to replace all after I have clearly said I want to insert.

    It is obviously a bug, I just don't know if there is a fix?

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-09-25T19:44:32+00:00

    There is something fishy with the process you described:

    1. I click the name -> OK, a left-click will select the file.
    2. then click a second time for rename -> Maybe you're thinking of a right-click?
    3. then click in the highlighted text to delete just one character instead of the entire name. -> Left-clicking somewhere in the highlighted text will place the insertion point at this spot and deselect the marked name string. It will NOT delete anything. To delete a character, you would now need to press Del or BackSpace.
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  5. Anonymous
    2017-09-25T18:47:26+00:00

    So at work every day I have to re-name 8 files changing yesterday's date to today's date.

    -> It would be far more effective and less error-prone to adopt this method:

    1. Create a script that performs the rename for you. Store it on your desktop.
    2. Mark the 8 files to be renamed.
    3. Grab them and drop them on the script shortcut.

    That's it!

    Sorry, I was trying to keep the question short and simple, and didn't give you enough information.  There are several different date formats and sometimes it is one day, sometimes it is the weekend, holidays mess things up, etc.

    The relevant question is "Why does Windows replace an insert command with a replace all command when re-naming files, and how do I fix this bug?"

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