1PRENAME(1)            User Contributed Perl Documentation           PRENAME(1)
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NAME

6       prename - renames multiple files
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SYNOPSIS

9       prename [-bfilnv] [-B prefix] [-S suffix] [-V method] [-Y prefix] [-z
10       suffix] [--backup] [--basename-prefix=prefix] [--dry-run] [--force]
11       [--help] [--no-stdin] [--interactive] [--just-print] [--link-only]
12       [--prefix=prefix] [--suffix=suffix] [--verbose]
13       [--version-control=method] [--version] perlexpr [files]...
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DESCRIPTION

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.
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23       If a destination file is unwritable, the standard input is a tty, and
24       the -f or --force option is not given, mv prompts the user for whether
25       to overwrite the file.  If the response does not begin with `y' or `Y',
26       the file is skipped.
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OPTIONS

29       -b, --backup
30           Make backup files.  That is, when about to overwrite a file, rename
31           the original instead of removing it.  See the -V or
32           --version-control option fo details about how backup file names are
33           determined.
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35       -B prefix, --prefix=prefix
36           Use the simple method to determine backup file names (see the -V
37           method or --version-control=method option), and prepend prefix to a
38           file name when generating its backup file name.
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40       -f, --force
41           Remove existing destination files and never prompt the user.
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43       -h, --help
44           Print a summary of options and exit.
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46       -no-stdin
47           Disable reading of filenames from STDIN. Us it when your shell has
48           nullglob enabled to make sure prename doesn't wait for input.
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50       -i, --interactive
51           Prompt whether to overwrite each destination file that already
52           exists.  If the response does not begin with `y' or `Y', the file
53           is skipped.
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55       -l, --link-only
56           Link files to the new names instead of renaming them. This will
57           keep the original files.
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59       -n, --just-print, --dry-run
60           Do everything but the actual renaming, insted just print the name
61           of each file that would be renamed. When used together with
62           --verbose, also print names of backups (which may or may not be
63           correct depending on previous renaming).
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65       -v, --verbose
66           Print the name of each file before renaming it.
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68       -V method, --version-control=method
69           Use method to determine backup file names.  The method can also be
70           given by the RENAME_VERSION_CONTROL (or if that's not set, the
71           VERSION_CONTROL) environment variable, which is overridden by this
72           option.  This option does not affect wheter backup files are made;
73           it affects only the name of any backup files that are made.
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75           The value of method is like the GNU Emacs `version-control'
76           variable; prename also recognize synonyms that are more
77           descriptive.  The valid values are (unique abbreviations are
78           accepted):
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80           existing or nil
81               Make numbered backups of files that already have them,
82               otherwise simple backups. This is the default.
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84           numbered or t
85               Make numbered backups.  The numbered backup file name for F is
86               F.~N~ where N is the version number.
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88           simple or never
89               Make simple backups.  The -B or --prefix, -Y or
90               --basename-prefix, and -z or --suffix options specify the
91               simple backup file name.  If none of these options are given,
92               then a simple backup suffix is used, either the value of
93               SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX environment variable if set, or ~
94               otherwise.
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96       --version
97           Print version information on standard output then exit
98           successfully.
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100       -Y prefix, --basename-prefix=prefix
101           Use the simple method to determine backup file names (see the -V
102           method or --version-control=method option), and prefix prefix to
103           the basename of a file name when generating its backup file name.
104           For example, with -Y .del/ the simple backup file name for a/b/foo
105           is a/b/.del/foo.
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107       -z suffix, -S suffix, --suffix=suffix
108           Use the simple method to determine backup file names (see the -V
109           method or --version-control=method option), and append suffix to a
110           file name when generating its backup file name.
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EXAMPLES

113       To rename all files matching *.bak to strip the extension, you might
114       say
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116           prename 's/\e.bak$//' *.bak
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118       To translate uppercase names to lower, you'd use
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120           prename 'y/A-Z/a-z/' *
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122       More examples:
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124           prename 's/\.flip$/.flop/'       # rename *.flip to *.flop
125           prename s/flip/flop/             # rename *flip* to *flop*
126           prename 's/^s\.(.*)/$1.X/'       # switch sccs filenames around
127           prename 's/$/.orig/ */*.[ch]'    # add .orig to source files in */
128           prename 'y/A-Z/a-z/'             # lowercase all filenames in .
129           prename 'y/A-Z/a-z/ if -B'       # same, but just binaries!
130       or even
131           prename chop *~                  # restore all ~ backup files
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ENVIRONMENT

134       Two environment variables are used, SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX and
135       VERSION_CONTROL.  See "OPTIONS".
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SEE ALSO

138       mv(1) and perl(1)
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DIAGNOSTICS

141       If you give an invalid Perl expression you'll get a syntax error.
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AUTHOR

144       Peder Stray <pederst@cpan.org>, original script from Larry Wall.
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148perl v5.34.0                      2022-01-21                        PRENAME(1)
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