Trouble renaming my files.

[Sgt_Strider]

So I imported some RAW files into LR and convert it to DNG on the fly. I messed up with the my naming system. I know it's relatively minor, but I accidentally set up the file name as "2''8'824-IMG_1". I want the file to be named as "2''8'824_IMG_1". The problem is that I can't figure out how to do that in the renaming option.

I guess I can always change the dash to an underscore manually, but will this cause LR to not being able to locate the photos anymore? Will I introduce any new problems by doing that?

 

[Mario.Q]

I'm not in front of lightroom right now, but I believe in the rename window you can choose a custom name, and in that same pull down menu select edit. That will give you the option to set up all the fields in the file name, and add any separators you want, like an underscore. That should fix your problem with out having to manually do any file name changes.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Just rename them again. You can't do a find/replace as such, but it looks like you've used a sensible naming structure, so you should be able to do date-original filename just as you usually would.

 

[Sgt_Strider]

I'm not in front of lightroom right now, but I believe in the rename window you can choose a custom name, and in that same pull down menu select edit. That will give you the option to set up all the fields in the file name, and add any separators you want, like an underscore. That should fix your problem with out having to manually do any file name changes.

Do I have to select all of the photos in order to get the naming scheme to be reflected for all of the photos? I'm not quite sure if I understand you there. I see that option, but it also give the me impression that all of the existing files will be renamed to something else rather than just modifying the dash to an underscore for existing filenames.

 

[Sgt_Strider]

Just rename them again. You can't do a find/replace as such, but it looks like you've used a sensible naming structure, so you should be able to do date-original filename just as you usually would.

Hi Victoria,

Please don't be offended by this, but what are you trying to say? I don't understand your post at all.

 

[Sid-EOS]

I see that option, but it also give the me impression that all of the existing files will be renamed to something else rather than just modifying the dash to an underscore for existing filenames.

Renaming and modifying are the same thing.
When the files had there original names, you imported then and renamed them.
Whatever the names are now does not matter, just rename them like before but use the right characters.

Look here for help on renaming, you will use:
The Filename Template Editor

Yes you do have to select all the files you want to rename.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Sorry Sgt_Strider, really busy week, I'm probably not making much sense!

In the Metadata panel, if it's set to 'All' view, you should be able to see an 'original filename' field. Does that have the IMG_name, without the additional YYYYMMDD naming? If so, it's really easy.

You can rename the files a second time by selecting all in Grid view and going to Library menu > Rename. Then select the filenaming that you'd originally intended, with the _ instead of -. The link Sid pointed to will help - you want to create a file naming template for YYYYMMDD_original filename.

Does that make more sense?