Photoshop 7's File Browser: Batch Rename Power!

As we continue to look at Photoshop 7, we'll give you a taste for what you can expect. By now you've probably heard about the File Browser, that powerful new way to manage files from within Photoshop. But have you heard about Batch Rename?

If you use a digital camera, you're likely familiar with file names such as <p1010001.jpg> and <p1010002.jpg>. I just know you'd rather be looking at something at least a little more descriptive, something like <01282002Vacation001.jpg> , indicating a date, a subject, and a sequential number. Perhaps your digital camera comes with a utility for renaming files. Or perhaps not. Perhaps you have a shareware or commercial utility to rename files. Or perhaps not. When you get Photoshop 7, you'll be all set. </p1010002.jpg></p1010001.jpg>

In the File Browser's menu is a command called Batch Rename, and the name is quite accurate. With this command you can rename batches of files. Automatically.

If the Batch rename dialog box looks familiar, you've probably used Photoshop's Batch command under the File> Automate menu. Here's what you can expect to see in Batch Rename:

Photoshop will send you a warning about any changes to the preview that you've made in File Browser that will not be maintained when the files are renamed.

The File Browser can't write to your digital camera, nor to a CD or DVD, so if you're pulling images from those types of sources, you'll have to select a new destination folder.

To choose which files to rename, you select either a folder in the "tree" (the file hierarchy in the upper-left pane) or some file previews in the right-hand pane of the File Browser. You can click on one file and Shift-click on another to select all files in between. You can Command-click (Mac) or Control-click (Win) to select non-contiguous files (those not consecutive in the window).

When naming the files, Batch Rename offers a list of choices in a pop-up menu. Most of these choices can be selected for each of the six fields, or you can enter your own info (which will be added to all of the new file names).

You'll see that this long list is actually just a few items, each with several variations. Document name (which can be all small letters, caps and small, or all caps) uses the existing file name and adds whatever other info you choose (if any). The serial number or serial letter will be assigned sequentially. The date can be in any of the seven common formats shown. The file extension can be in small letters or caps. (None is used to empty a field in which a selection has already been made.)

Keep in mind a couple of things: The only variable that automatically changes from file to file is the serial number or serial letter. If you're not using the original document name, you'll have to add a serial element or you're telling Batch Rename to assign the same name to all the files. (Don't worry too much about this, though - Photoshop will remind you if necessary!)

The other important factor in selecting a file name is the extension. Photoshop requires you to use it in Batch Rename. You'll get a little jab if you forget this, too!

Remember, too, that File Browser allows you to create new folders so that you can sort files prior to renaming (or for any other purpose).

Another handy feature is the choice of compatibility. By checking the appropriate boxes at the bottom of the Batch Rename dialog box, you ensure that the new file names will be readable by the computers on which you need them.

Batch Rename is just one of the capabilities that makes Photoshop 7's File Browser an extremely powerful file management tool.