REQUEST - wildcard limits rename feature

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trids
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REQUEST - wildcard limits rename feature

Post by *trids »

The multi-file rename feature is very clever (incorporating MOVE & COPY options as it does, to either rename files on the fly or create clones with new names) .. but the way that the wildcard mask "*" is interpreted means that it's usefulness is very limited.

Examples, based on the following selected files:
002.jpg
003.jpg
004.jpg
  • Rename mask = z*.*
    Expected = z002.jpg, z003.jpg, z004.jpg
    Results = z02.jpg, z03.jpg, z04.jpg
  • Rename mask = z00*.*
    Expected = z00002.jpg, z00003.jpg, z00004.jpg
    Results = z00.jpg, plus Overwrite-errors with the other files, as they all try and become z00.jpg!
  • Rename mask = *b.*
    Expected = 002b.jpg, 003b.jpg, 004b.jpg
    Results = Overwrite-errors on ALL files, trying to replace 002.jpg with 002.jpg, 003.jpg with 003.jpg, etc.
In addition to the above problems, the way that the wildcard is currently interpreted means that you can't use the rename feature at all if the files have only 1 character for the prefix: 1.jpg, 2.jpg, 3.jpg .. etc.

Please let the wildcard "*" represent the entire prefix (or suffix, depending on position relative to the "."), so that expected results such as those above can be obtained.
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ghisler(Author)
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Post by *ghisler(Author) »

Indeed that doesn't look right - maybe it's a problem with Unicode being double byte? I will check that.
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Post by *ghisler(Author) »

I have just checked it - the behaviour is intentional. TC Pocket tries to mimic the DOS box (command.com/cmd.exe) on Windows here. If you write z*.*, it means that the first character is replaced by a 'z', and the * means that the rest of the name is kept.
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trids
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Post by *trids »

You're right, DOS does indeed behave that way!

So i guess the question boils down to "do we emulate a bad idea, or take the opportunity of making it better?"

I would vote for making it better
:wink:
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trids
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Post by *trids »

I would vote for making it better
I believe the rename feature would be used more if it was more usable.

Of course, the opposite extreme from where we are now is to implement rename by means of Regular Expressions - LOL!

But since that is probably a bit overkill, maybe the requested change (in my first post above) would be a good compromise?
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Snowalker
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Post by *Snowalker »

You can use * as well.
Let's say you want to rename some mp3 file which are in this form:

faithless - 09 - insomnia

You will have to search for:

faithless - ** -

and replace with:

Faithless -

The result:

Faithless - insomnia

The same for files like: 02 - faithless - insomnia
you'll use: ** - faithless and replace with: Faithless

Please ask if you have questions.
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