How to rename multiple files?

Question

How to rename multiple files?

Chloe Jarman 26

Hi all,

I need to make multiple files in one folder (C:\Users\Desktop\BMS\Siemens Data) change from being the Type of file : File to a Type of file: Text Document (.txt). How do I do that using powershell?

4 answers

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Answer 1

Chris 656

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/rename-item?view=powershell-7.1

or you use cmd
ren . *.txt

Chloe Jarman 26 Reputation points

2021-02-17T17:03:38.82+00:00

I get that example 4 in the attached link is how to do it but what do you do if there is no .* after the file name

I tried just '.' , '.txt' but that didn't work

Answer 2

Chris 656

ren . *.txt

Answer 3

Chris 656

you need two stars, but editor remove my star in my example

ren star.star star.txt

Answer 4

js2010 191

If I understand you correctly, this is very common. Take off the -whatif if it looks right. Added parentheses so the first part finishes before the second part.

(get-childitem -file) | rename-item -newname { $_.name + '.txt' } -whatif

What if: Performing the operation "Rename File" on target "Item: C:\users\js\foo Destination: C:\users\js\foo.txt".

Rich Matheisen 47,901 Reputation points

2021-02-17T21:04:44.397+00:00

Suggestion: You might want to add "-File" to the Get-ChildItem. There may be surprising results if there are any sub-directories!
Chloe Jarman 26 Reputation points

2021-02-18T09:25:31.113+00:00

Hi js2010

I used this:

get-childitem "C:\Users\z003x2vb\Desktop\BMS\Siemens Data\" |rename-item -newname {$_.name + '.txt'}

and it works a treat thanks
Anonymous

2021-02-19T07:16:48.02+00:00

Hi,
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How to rename multiple files?

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