1PRENAME(1) User Contributed Perl Documentation PRENAME(1)
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6 prename - renames multiple files using perl expressions
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9 prename [-bcfilnv] [-B prefix] [-S suffix] [-V method] [-Y prefix] [-z
10 suffix] [--backup] [--copy] [--basename-prefix=prefix] [--dry-run]
11 [--force] [--help] [--no-stdin] [--interactive] [--just-print]
12 [--link-only] [--prefix=prefix] [--suffix=suffix] [--verbose]
13 [--version-control=method] [--version] perlexpr [files]...
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16 prename renames the filenames supplied according to the rule specified
17 as the first argument. The argument is a Perl expression which is
18 expected to modify the $_ string for at least some of the filenames
19 specified. If a given filename is not modified by the expression, it
20 will not be renamed. If no filenames are given on the command line,
21 filenames will be read via standard input (unless --no-stdin is
22 supplied on the command line).
23 If a destination file is unwritable, the standard input is a tty, and
25 the -f or --force option is not given, prename prompts the user for
26 whether to overwrite the file. If the response does not begin with `y'
27 or `Y', the file is skipped.
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30 -b, --backup
31 Make backup files. That is, when about to overwrite a file, rename
32 the original instead of removing it. See the -V or
33 --version-control option fo details about how backup file names are
34 determined.
35 -B prefix, --prefix=prefix
37 Use the simple method to determine backup file names (see the -V
38 method or --version-control=method option), and prepend prefix to a
39 file name when generating its backup file name.
40 -c, --copy
42 Copy files to the new names instead of renaming them. This will
43 keep the original files.
44 -f, --force
46 Remove existing destination files and never prompt the user.
47 -h, --help
49 Print a summary of options and exit.
50 --no-stdin
52 Disable reading of filenames from STDIN. Us it when your shell has
53 nullglob enabled to make sure prename doesn't wait for input.
54 -i, --interactive
56 Prompt whether to overwrite each destination file that already
57 exists. If the response does not begin with `y' or `Y', the file
58 is skipped.
59 -l, --link-only
61 Link files to the new names instead of renaming them. This will
62 keep the original files.
63 -n, --just-print, --dry-run
65 Do everything but the actual renaming, instead just print the name
66 of each file that would be renamed. When used together with
67 --verbose, also print names of backups (which may or may not be
68 correct depending on previous renaming).
69 -v, --verbose
71 Print the name of each file before renaming it.
72 -V method, --version-control=method
74 Use method to determine backup file names. The method can also be
75 given by the RENAME_VERSION_CONTROL (or if that's not set, the
76 VERSION_CONTROL) environment variable, which is overridden by this
77 option. This option does not affect whether backup files are made;
78 it affects only the name of any backup files that are made.
79 The value of method is like the GNU Emacs `version-control'
81 variable; prename also recognize synonyms that are more
82 descriptive. The valid values are (unique abbreviations are
83 accepted):
84 existing or nil
86 Make numbered backups of files that already have them,
87 otherwise simple backups. This is the default.
88 numbered or t
90 Make numbered backups. The numbered backup file name for F is
91 F.~N~ where N is the version number.
92 simple or never
94 Make simple backups. The -B or --prefix, -Y or
95 --basename-prefix, and -z or --suffix options specify the
96 simple backup file name. If none of these options are given,
97 then a simple backup suffix is used, either the value of
98 SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX environment variable if set, or ~
99 otherwise.
100 --version
102 Print version information on standard output then exit
103 successfully.
104 -Y prefix, --basename-prefix=prefix
106 Use the simple method to determine backup file names (see the -V
107 method or --version-control=method option), and prefix prefix to
108 the basename of a file name when generating its backup file name.
109 For example, with -Y .del/ the simple backup file name for a/b/foo
110 is a/b/.del/foo.
111 -z suffix, -S suffix, --suffix=suffix
113 Use the simple method to determine backup file names (see the -V
114 method or --version-control=method option), and append suffix to a
115 file name when generating its backup file name.
116 --shell-completion=shell, --shellcompletion=shell
118 Generate shell code for parameter completion for either bash or
119 zsh.
120
122 To rename all files matching *.bak to strip the extension, you might
123 say
124 prename 's/\e.bak$//' *.bak
126 To translate uppercase names to lower, you'd use
128 prename 'y/A-Z/a-z/' *
130 More examples:
132 prename 's/\.flip$/.flop/' * # rename *.flip to *.flop
134 prename s/flip/flop/ * # rename *flip* to *flop*
135 prename 's/^s\.(.*)/$1.X/' * # switch sccs filenames around
136 prename 's/$/.orig/' */*.[ch] # add .orig to source files in */
137 prename 'y/A-Z/a-z/' * # lowercase all filenames in .
138 prename 'y/A-Z/a-z/ if -B' * # same, but just binaries!
139 or even
140 prename chop *~ # restore all ~ backup files
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143 Two environment variables are used, SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX and
144 VERSION_CONTROL. See "OPTIONS".
145
147 mv(1) and perl(1)
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150 If you give an invalid Perl expression you'll get a syntax error.
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153 Peder Stray <pederst@cpan.org>, original script from Larry Wall.
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156 Report any issues at <https://github.com/pstray/rename/issues>.
157perl v5.36.1 2023-06-22 PRENAME(1)