File --> Rename... without using the mouse

[Nicolas1974]

Hello Gurus,

Is there a way to make a keyboard shortcut to avoid picking up the mouse when renaming more than one file at a time?

I have hundreds of folders and subfolders to rename, add text to.... and picking up the mouse all the time to either right-click and rename, or go to file rename takes a long time.



I'd love to be able to create a keyboard shortcut for this on Mac OS

 

[Slydude]

Do the names that you want to use for the folders follow some kind of sequence/pattern? If so, one of our scripting gurus might be able to suggest a script that would help.

 

[Rod]

Personally I'm very mouse oriented so not the person to answer your question however even if you create a keyboard shortcut I think you will still need to select each file/folder somehow.
One thing you might get good use out of in the task is a clipboard manager. I have CopyClip and find it invaluable for repetitious processes. It is a tiny utility that allows you to retain and reuse multiple clipboard items. It does not overwrite the last item like the native clipboard and has keyboard shortcuts for the last 10 items.

 

[Nicolas1974]

Do the names that you want to use for the folders follow some kind of sequence/pattern? If so, one of our scripting gurus might be able to suggest a script that would help.

No there is no real pattern, just a simple keyboard shortcut for File-->Rename... or Right-click-->Rename

 

[Nicolas1974]

Personally I'm very mouse oriented so not the person to answer your question however even if you create a keyboard shortcut I think you will still need to select each file/folder somehow.
One thing you might get good use out of in the task is a clipboard manager. I have CopyClip and find it invaluable for repetitious processes. It is a tiny utility that allows you to retain and reuse multiple clipboard items. It does not overwrite the last item like the native clipboard and has keyboard shortcuts for the last 10 items.

Thanks.
I'm a keyboard oriented person and haven't owned a mouse in 10+ years, 95% keyboard and 5% trackpad. Taking my hands away from my keyboard is a time waster
For the Clipboard manager, I use Maccy. I also have Dropzone which I love

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Hello Gurus,

Is there a way to make a keyboard shortcut to avoid picking up the mouse when renaming more than one file at a time?

I have hundreds of folders and subfolders to rename, add text to.... and picking up the mouse all the time to either right-click and rename, or go to file rename takes a long time.



I'd love to be able to create a keyboard shortcut for this on Mac OS

This is actually quite easy, and one of the gems of macOS. Right now, by default, the menu command in Finder for File » Rename has no keyboard shortcut assigned. So... you can assign one! This tip will work in most native Mac apps, and can be used to CHANGE an existing keyboard shortcut. It also works for context menu items.

Open System Preferrences » Keyboard » Shortcuts
Click on App Shortcuts at the bottom of the left hand column. Click on the + sign. In the popup. set Application to Finder. Enter the exact name of then Finder menu command, which would be:

Rename...

Make sure you include those dots. In the final box, press the combination of keys you want to use to invoke this command. If you choose something that is already used for another menu option, this will override that existing one.

Click Add and DONE!

 

[Nicolas1974]

This is actually quite easy, and one of the gems of macOS. Right now, by default, the menu command in Finder for File » Rename has no keyboard shortcut assigned. So... you can assign one! This tip will work in most native Mac apps, and can be used to CHANGE an existing keyboard shortcut. It also works for context menu items.

Open System Preferrences » Keyboard » Shortcuts
Click on App Shortcuts at the bottom of the left hand column. Click on the + sign. In the popup. set Application to Finder. Enter the exact name of then Finder menu command, which would be:

Rename...

Make sure you include those dots. In the final box, press the combination of keys you want to use to invoke this command. If you choose something that is already used for another menu option, this will override that existing one.

Click Add and DONE!

I was so excited to try this, and I did but in vain.
Multiple times, different shortcuts, relaunched finder... nothing worked

 

[MacInWin]

Try this: Get to the file you want to rename however you do it, then CMD-i, tab three times to get to the Filename box, enter the new name, then return and the file will be renamed. CMD-w closes the window.

 

[Nicolas1974]

Try this: Get to the file you want to rename however you do it, then CMD-i, tab three times to get to the Filename box, enter the new name, then return and the file will be renamed. CMD-w closes the window.

unfortunately, It won't work if I do multiple files/folders and not use it for rename but to add text to the existing name. File --> Rename works wonders, too bad there isn't a workable shortcut for it

As for your trick, you could just go to the file, press enter and the file name would be ready open for changes.

 

[MacInWin]

Sorry, I don't know what you are trying to do. "Adding text to the existing name" is, by definition, renaming the file.

But I'll drop out now, sorry for butting in.

 

[pm-r]

I have hundreds of folders and subfolders to rename, add text to....

You might want to have a look at some of these suggestions and hopefully some of them should work for you:

Google Search

- Patrick
=======

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I was so excited to try this, and I did but in vain.
Multiple times, different shortcuts, relaunched finder... nothing worked

Can you screen cap what you set and post it? It should work. I have related tips to come, but let’s figure out why this isn’t working first. If the setting was done correctly, it’d show up in the menu with the shortcut that you set listed.

 

[Slydude]

No there is no real pattern, just a simple keyboard shortcut for File-->Rename... or Right-click-->Rename

My spider sense is tingling and I wonder if I didn't do a good job asking the question. Do either the current filenames or the names that you want to use follow some kind of pattern? If either conditions is true then a script might be useful

 

[Nicolas1974]

Can you screen cap what you set and post it? It should work. I have related tips to come, but let’s figure out why this isn’t working first. If the setting was done correctly, it’d show up in the menu with the shortcut that you set listed.

 

[Nicolas1974]

Sorry, I don't know what you are trying to do. "Adding text to the existing name" is, by definition, renaming the file.

But I'll drop out now, sorry for butting in.

My apologies, didn't mean to be arrogant.
I want to add for example "ABC" in all my folder names (in front of whatever they are named now, without changing their current names).

 

[Nicolas1974]

My spider sense is tingling and I wonder if I didn't do a good job asking the question. Do either the current filenames or the names that you want to use follow some kind of pattern? If either conditions is true then a script might be useful

Unfortunately, they don't. They're not in the same place either...
I want to add for example "ABC" in all my folder names (in front of whatever they are named now, without changing their current names).
Right click - Rename or File - Rename works, but I need to use the mouse, which is what I'm trying to avoid

 

[Lifeisabeach]

There's your problem. You have 3 entries, all with the same shortcut, but you have entries for simply "Rename..." and 2 others to rename 2 or 3 entries. These latter 2 shouldn't exist. I'm not sure why you made all 3 of these, unless you are on an older version of macOS where that menu item changes based on how many are selected? In Monterey, it always says "Rename..." regardless of how many are selected.

If that menu item is changing on you, then you are out of luck in this regard. BUT! There is another solution involving a 3rd party renaming tool. Check out Name Mangler. It's not free, but inexpensive and has some features that you will find useful. Firstly, when you launch the app, if you have a Finder window open, it will automatically add all items that are selected in that Finder window to its file list to process. The next handy feature is that it will remember your rename history and automatically set the renaming rule to the last one used while also giving you the option to switch to another one in your history. So, if you have a common renaming scheme, it's there ready to go.

Now, there are mouseless ways to invoke the app. You can use CMD-Spacebar and type the name, then launch it that way. ANOTHER way, which gets a little complicated, is to create an Automator script that launches Name Mangler for you; save that script as a Service (so it's in your right-click menu); then use my original tip to assign a keyboard shortcut that invokes this script and launch it that way. Basically, Name Mangler is more or less integrated into Finder with this combination of tricks.