Right Click Context Menu to Rename Files

Help & Support
1

I have successfully created RENAME PRESETS designed for my situation and needs. Is it possible to use these in a right-click menu when a file is selected? If so can someone please direct me on how to set it up.

Related to this: I can rename using DATE and Parent Folder and my presets are a set of descriptive names. Eg. 2017-04-21 Bloggs Joe Report.pdf. Is there a way to select from a list of descriptive names that then insert them into the rename? I might have REPORT, TEST, NOTES etc - a limited number of choices. The aim is to speed up naming files as they are created or after they are scanned into a client folder. I want DOPUS to open on SAVE and then being able to access renaming choices/templates. Or simply select a file and rename it on the fly.

BTW thank you for a superb program. Your continual refinements and engagement with users leaves others for dead. Try and get such service and pride of workmanship in products like ACT!, MindManager etc. Congratulations.

2

Yes, you can do this. Right-click context menus for files can be edited under Settings > File Types, and generally use the same commands as in toolbars, menus and hotkeys.

If you need step-by-step detailed help, please link your forum account, and let us know which part you are stuck on.

3

Thanks Leo, I have linked my account. Thought I had done that a long time ago.

I did find the File Types Window and could get down to the appropriate menu. However I am unsure on how to proceed from here.

So I am using "{createddate} {parent1} Test Doc" from the RENAME dialogue. I have successfully created a preset for several similar naming patterns and grouped them. All this works. What do I put into to File Types area?

The second step would be to how to set up the choices that could be selected after the stem? Eg Help|Test|Dr Letter.....

4

Running a rename preset is easiest:

Rename PRESET="My Preset Name"
@nodeselect

The second line is optional, but usually wanted when renaming, so you can do other things to the file.

You can also avoid the preset and put all the details into the command:

Rename PATTERN "*" TO "{createddate} {parent1} Test Doc"
@nodeselect

You can use {dlgstring} or {dlgchoose} to display simple prompts for strings that are inserted into the command:

Rename PATTERN "*" TO "{createddate} {parent1} {dlgchoose|Select Name|Help+Test+Dr Letter}"
@nodeselect

More complex dialogs and full-blown user-interfaces are possible via scripting, if needed.

5

Thanks so much Leo. This really opened up some possibilities. However I am unable to work out how to select the filename without the extension. I tried the code IGNOREEXT but cannot get it to work.

I can click on the file and then it selects the name without extension but I wanted to try and get the code to ignore the extension so as to avoid renaming the entire file including the extension. At the moment your code actually renames the file but I lose the extension.

6

Further to my last post:

Rename PATTERN * IGNOREEXT TO "{createddate} {parent1} {dlgchooseS|Select Name|Help+Test+Dr Letter} {dlgstring}
"

This works but if I add the suggested @nodeselect on the end then it throws a Windows error pointing the system32 folder.

Note that I also removed the FROM command and the " " quotes (Rename PATTERN *) from the your suggestion as this was the only way I could get it to run.

Also note that the {dlgstring} was an experiment that also works allowing an extra addition to the file name if necessary.

7

You put the IGNOREEXT in the wrong spot. Place it at the end, and don't remove the quotes.

Rename PATTERN "*" TO "{createddate} {parent1} {dlgchoose|Select Name|Help+Test+Dr Letter}" IGNOREEXT
@nodeselect
8

@ktbcrash
Thanks and I think I had put in a hard return at the end before the last " and that confused things. My solution did work however.

Very pleasing result and it will really help the work flow and save time!