Batch Rename

[pb_raza]

I'd like to use Batch Rename to name my file to have the year, month & date in the filename. When I try to use the date format variables it doesn't work. For example, when I try to use the four digit year by puttling 'Y' in the name template field, is just give me a "Y" when I'm looking to get 2017 from the EXIF data.

I must be missing something, please help!

[Franky]

Try this {EXIF:Date Taken [Y-m-d]} what will give 2024-03-20

[Phred]

However, neither {Date Taken:[Y-m-d]} nor {Creation Date:[Y-m-d]} work.
They're taken as literals.

Like pb_raza, I'd like to use {Y-m-d} to pre-pend the write date, for instance, for images that don't have EXIF or IPC etc data.

I'm wondering what the purpose of the date format variables is.
Any possibilities?

[user0]

However, neither {Date Taken:[Y-m-d]} nor {Creation Date:[Y-m-d]} work.
They're taken as literals.

reenter name template using ▶, you will see the difference

[Phred]

Yes, thanks user0, that's where I got the syntax from, and how I inferred what else might work.

The trouble, for me*, is that I'm after a date prefix on a filename in yyyy-mm-dd style, not a date & time one.

Anything further?

*and possibly many others after this becomes a discovery, if successful.

[user0]

1. ▶ > select desired date variable
2. ▶ > Date format variable > select desired format variable
(it will be auto inserted into your date variable)

[Phred]

Ahha! That did it nicely thanks user0.

I failed to take a step to the right:- those variables aren't just there for information. They're active controls.

I was able to prefix my filenames - from Browser view, Tools, Batch rename - with Y hyphen m hyphen d
yielding {Creation Date[Y-m-d]}

plus adding space underscore before the filename variable
yielding {Creation Date[Y-m-d]} _{Filename}
that I like.

#1 I see what you mean when you say "..▶ > select desired date variable" first, e.g. Accessed date or Modified date or Creation date from the Date format variables ▶ dropdown. That inserts the default long date & time. Then we must choose internal modifiers like Y m d h m or s.

#2 I note that those variables as active controls are very active: they don't like typed in {m}, for example, literals. That results in malformed {mY], say, that doesn't work. Just keep the field clean in the area in which you're inserting.
Indeed, a variable insertion appears to search for any braced ( { } ) expression to the left of the insertion point, placing any single variable within that braced expression. That can cause errors (sometimes invisible), but it's how the expressions are built up/modified.

#3 Further, you can type all the expressions and characters in, as long as you obey the internal rules of syntax.

SOLVED, imo.


PS This can all be done easily in Total Commander's Multi-rename Tool, but it's useful to have another device in the toolkit.
PPS That 'Clear templates' button clears the previous expressions you have created, the ones in the entry-field dropdown, nothing more, but you do lose them.