Bulk Rename Files Add-on

Last updated 19 November 2023




Contents



What it does

Bulk rename Google Drive™ files/folders quickly and easily with this Add-on. You define exactly what you want to search for in the file/folder name and the text to replace it with. Along with options for handling special characters, regular expressions and append/prepend to the existing file/folder name. Works across My/Shared drives.


Updates

November 2023

October 2023

September 2023

  • New tickbox option to enable the bulk renaming of folders now.


Instructions

  1. Install the Add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace™.
  2. You can access the tool from anywhere in Google Drive™ by clicking the 'Show side panel' button at the far bottom right of the screen. Then select the 'Bulk Rename Files' icon to open the Add-on (if you already had your Google Drive™ open when you installed the Add-on then you may need to refresh the page first for the new icon to appear).
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to click once on the Google Drive™ folder that contains the files/folders you wish to rename (do not double-click to go into the folder).
  4. See Search Options below for more information on the renaming options available to you.
  5. Click the 'START' button when you are ready and an animated icon will appear. Note: due to Google™ limitations it can only run for up to 25 seconds at a time. After which you will receive a prompt to 'RESUME' in order to continue your progress, if there are still files/folders to rename. Alternatively you can click 'CANCEL' at this point if you do not wish to continue.
  6. Once complete you will see a success message with the total number of items worked through and how many of those were renamed.
  7. It is recommended you test this on some example items first to ensure you are happy with the results.

 

Search Options

To help you fully use all features of the tool here are some of the things you can do along with YouTube demos, note do not include the quote marks in these examples:

  1. Remove text
    • You can remove characters in the existing item name by replacing them with nothing. If you want to avoid a space at the beginning of the new item name then simply use the '<<SPACE>>' tag.
    • In the search text enter what you want to remove e.g. 'Copy of<<SPACE>>' and leave the replacement text empty.
    • Original item name example: 'Copy of Agenda notes'.
    • New item name example: 'Agenda notes'.
    • Remove text YouTube demo video.

  2. Change text
    • You can adjust characters in the existing item name by changing their value.
    • In the search text enter the original value e.g. '2022' and in the replacement text enter the new value e.g. '2023'.
    • Original item name example: 'Agenda notes 2022'.
    • New item name example: 'Agenda notes 2023'.
    • Change text YouTube demo video.

  3. Special characters
    • The tool can handle: - [ ] / \ { } ( ) * + ? . ^ $ | #
    • You could remove individual characters:
    • You could replace these characters with others:
    • You could both remove and replace them at the same time:
  4. Replace / remove all character instances
    • Instead of just replacing/removing the first character in the item name you can adjust every time it appears:
  5. Uppercase
    • Change all characters in the item name to uppercase. In the search text enter '<<UPPERCASE>>' and leave the replacement text empty.
  6. Lowercase
    • Change all characters in the item name to lowercase. In the search text enter '<<LOWERCASE>>' and leave the replacement text empty.
  7. Regular expressions
    • Create your own powerful search queries to target exactly what you want. Remember to tick the box before clicking 'Start. You will need to escape characters such as backslashes by adding another backslash before them. '/gi' has been included by default so you do not need to add this yourself.
    • Below are some examples of regular expressions you could use.
      • Wildcard search to replace the whole item name if match found:
      • Wildcard search to append/prepend to the existing item name if match found:
      • Replace any HTML tags in an item name:
        • Original item name example: '<br>My first webpage<br />'.
        • New item name example: 'My first webpage'. So search text would be '<[^>]+>' and replacement text left blank if you just want the tags deleting. Alternatively you could enter the text you want to replace them with.
        • Regex replace HTML tags YouTube demo video.

      • Remove all numbers in an item name:
        • Original item name example: '3 My first website 12'.
        • New item name example: 'My first website'. So search text would be '[0-9]' and replacement text left blank.
        • Regex remove numbers YouTube demo video.

  8. Sequential numbering
    • Append/prepend a sequential number to the existing item name that will automatically increment as it loops through the items. This can start at whatever number you choose.
    • In the search text enter '<<SEQUENCEXX>>' where 'XX' is the number sequence you wish to use (it can be more/less that 2 digits long). In the replacement text enter a combination of '<<SEQUENCE>>' and '<<KEEPNAME>>' (see below) depending on if you want to append/prepend.
      • Original item name example 1: 'My sample file'.
      • New item name example 1: 'My sample file 01'. So search text would be '<<SEQUENCE01>>' and replacement text '<<KEEPNAME>> <<SEQUENCE>>'.
      • Original item name example 2: 'Building code'.
      • New item name example 2: '005 Building code BC'. So search text would be '<<SEQUENCE005>>' and replacement text '<<SEQUENCE> <<KEEPNAME>> BC' .
      • Sequential numbering YouTube demo video.

  9. Append / Prepend
    • You can add characters to the beginning and/or end of the existing item name.
    • In the search text enter '<<KEEPNAME>>' and in the replacement text enter 'Something before <<KEEPNAME>> something after'.
Append / Prepend to the existing file name

Append / Prepend to the existing file name

 

Demo Video




Payment

  1. This Add-on has a 2 day free trial period then requests a one-off payment of £8.95 (British Pounds) to continue using it (and all features) going forwards. No adverts, no in-app purchases at any point.
  2. PayPal™ handles all of the payment process - I do not see or store any credit card information. You do not require a PayPal™ account - there is a 'guest' checkout option.
  3. Enter your Google™ account email address in the box below before clicking the button so that your licence can be correctly assigned.
  4. Payments should be processed within 20 minutes. Please close down and re-launch the Add-on after this time.
  5. For bulk adding users please use the Google Form™ at the bottom of this page to provide further details and I will get you set up (e.g. users on your domain).
  6. Refunds will not be given.
  7. Use the button below to pay ...
Email address for licence:

Privacy Policy

Who is requesting Google user data? I am an individual developer making my tools available to all that want to use them. All of the data is stored within the Google™ environment, I am the only one with access to it and it is not shared with any third parties. There are no ads and no emails generated from any of the data. No other personal/sensitive data is collected and processed by me.

What data are you requesting? This Add-on accesses your own Google Drive™ in order to be able to view and edit your folders/files (specifically the file names). It only accesses this information when you are directly using the Add-on and does not transfer/store it anywhere else outside of Google™. Data it specifically handles includes:

  • The Google Drive™ folder ID, Name and Type (eg folder vs file).
  • The Google Drive™ file Name and Type (eg folder vs file).
  • Your Google™ email address so that your licence can be assigned and account validated when you run the Add-on.

Why are you requesting Google user data? The Add-on needs access to your Google Drive™ in order to be able to read your folders/files and then make the necessary edits to the file names.

The 'Bulk Rename Files' app's use and transfer to any other app of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.


Terms of Service

You accept all conditions on this webpage when installing the tool and will not attempt to interfere with its functionality. As an individual developer I take no responsibility for any adverse effects when using this Add-on, but I intend to make every effort to maintain it going forwards and ensure its functionality. It is your responsibility to use the tool correctly and securely.

You will not attempt to copy the Add-on.


Feedback & Support

Please complete the below form.

  

 

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