Rename multiple files in directory - Using sed or rename command

Question

I have tried so many different sed, mv and rename commands - still I cannot rename these files. There are 50 plus files - I tried commands I found - Help thx

Original filenames:

PAGES_TEST1_SART1.XML
PAGES_TEST2_SART2.XML
PAGES_TEST3_SART3.XML
PAGES_TEST4_SART4.XML

To

PAGES_PROD1_SART1.XML
PAGES_PROD2_SART2.XML
PAGES_PROD3_SART3.XML
PAGES_PROD4_SART4.XML

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 30 '24 at 04:01

2

Using Perl's rename (usable in any OS):

rename -n 's/TEST/PROD/g' ./*TEST*.XML

Remove -n switch, aka dry-run when your attempts are satisfactory to rename for real.

answered Jan 30 '24 at 04:01

Gilles Quénot

33,867

Hi thx for ur reply - i tried this and it does not work rename 's/TEST/PROD/g' ./TEST.xml - there is a 1 2 3 4 -- please look above - I forgot to put that in the name of the files - does that make a difference to ur commnd? – mattandbeyond Jan 30 '24 at 13:21
You provided files with UPPERCASE XML extension. Unix* are case sensitives – Gilles Quénot Jan 30 '24 at 16:36
the command u shared does not work upper case aside I checked all that before responding to that _ I hope u can amend it – mattandbeyond Jan 30 '24 at 22:07

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 30 '24 at 01:51

Which rename are you using? With

$ rename --version
rename from util-linux 2.39.3

Starting with:

$ ls -1
PAGES_TEST_SART1.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART2.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART3.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART4.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART5.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART6.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART7.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART8.XML
PAGES_TEST_SART9.XML

You can do:

$ rename TEST PROD *

and get:

$ ls -1
PAGES_PROD_SART1.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART2.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART3.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART4.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART5.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART6.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART7.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART8.XML
PAGES_PROD_SART9.XML

too easy mate for my brain -I ve been trying sed mv etc ,, thx so much this is great !! — mattandbeyond, Jan 30 '24 at 22:15

score -1 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 31 '24 at 14:29

-1

Maybe something along this line (for bash):

for f in \`ls | grep PAGES_TEST\`; do mv $f $(echo $f | sed 's/TEST/PROD/'); done

Note the back ticks.

edited Jan 31 '24 at 14:29

AdminBee

22,803

answered Jan 30 '24 at 14:54

user3129256

1

2

If you want to use a bash shell loop, I'd suggest something more like for f in PAGES_TEST*; do mv -n -- "$f" "${f/_TEST/_PROD}"; done which avoids some bash pitfalls – steeldriver Jan 30 '24 at 15:51
'steeldriver's take on it is more robust and better, and should be flagged as a correct answer. – user3129256 Jan 30 '24 at 16:20
thanks this one works as well!!! for f in PAGES_TEST*; do mv -n -- "$f" "${f/_TEST/_PROD}" – mattandbeyond Jan 30 '24 at 22:38

Rename multiple files in directory - Using sed or rename command

3 Answers3