How to rename a bunch of files using python?

Question

I am a complete beginner in python. I need to rename a bunch of files with dates in the name. The names all look like:

front 7.25.16
left 7.25.16
right 7.25.16

I would like them to start with the date rather then front, left, or right, so that front 7.25.16 becomes 7.25.16 front.

I have tried using regular expressions and os.walk and I have run into troubles with both. Right now I am just trying to print the file names to prove os.walk is working. Right now my code looks like this:

import re, shutil, os

K = re.compile(r"(\d+.\d+.\d+)")
RE_Date = K.search("front 7.25.16")

for root, dirs, filenames in os.walk("path"):
    for filename in filenames:
        print ("the filename is: " + filename)
    print ("")

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You'll need to expand on "I have run into troubles". What specifically isn't working? — Peter DeGlopper
– Peter DeGlopper, Commented Jul 29, 2016 at 4:33
To begin with os.walk returns a triple of root, dirs, files... — juanpa.arrivillaga
– juanpa.arrivillaga, Commented Jul 29, 2016 at 4:51

Rajiv Sharma · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-29 06:23:53Z

1

Check this example to rename file as per your need.

import os

filenames = ["front 7.25.16.jpg", "left 7.25.16.jpg", "right 7.25.16.jpg"]

for file_name in filenames:
    x = file_name.split(' ')[0]
    y = file_name.split(' ')[1]
    new_name = '{} {}{}'.format(os.path.splitext(y)[0], x, os.path.splitext(y)[-1])
    print new_name

output:

7.25.16 front.jpg
7.25.16 left.jpg
7.25.16 right.jpg

In your code your can use os.rename for rename files

import os

for root, dirs, filenames in os.walk("path"):
    for file_name in filenames:
        x = file_name.split(' ')[0]
        y = file_name.split(' ')[1]
        new_name = '{} {}{}'.format(os.path.splitext(y)[0], x, os.path.splitext(y)[-1])
        file_path = os.path.join(root, file_name)
        new_path = os.path.join(root, new_name)
        os.rename(file_name, new_path)

edited Jul 29, 2016 at 6:23

answered Jul 29, 2016 at 4:59

Rajiv Sharma

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1 Comment

AutomateMyJob Over a year ago

I am away from my computer right now so I cannot check it, but thank you this looks like it would work. Is there any problem if they are all .jpg?

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