Renaming files or directories in the Microsoft Windows operating system can be performed in several ways, some of which are discussed below.
Instructions
Step 1
Call the main menu of the Microsoft Windows operating system by clicking the "Start" button and go to the "Run" item to initiate the procedure for renaming the selected file or directory using the "Command Line" tool.
Step 2
Enter the value cmd in the "Open" field and confirm the execution of the launch command by clicking the OK button.
Step 3
Enter value
rename drive_name: full_path_to_selected_file old_file_name new_file_name
or
ren drive_name: full_path_to_selected_file old_file_name new_file_name
into the command interpreter text box and confirm execution by pressing the softkey labeled Enter.
Step 4
Remember that this command:
- cannot be used to change the file names of different volumes;
- not intended for moving files to another directory;
- cannot be used if there is an existing file named new_file_name.
Step 5
Use the following syntax to perform a rename of all files in the current directory with the selected extension:
ren *. old_extension *. new extension
or choose syntax
ren old_directory_name new_directory_name
to perform the procedure for changing the name of the selected directory.
Step 6
Use the MoveFile function to move the selected file or directory, since changing the full file name is interpreted by the Windows OS file system as both a rename and a move:
movefile old_file_name new_file_name
and confirm the execution of the command by pressing the function key Enter.
Step 7
Modify the command syntax to move the selected file or directory to a different drive and use the existing name:
movefileex old_file_name new_file_name dwflags, where the last parameter implies setting flags
MoveFile_Copy_Allowed and MoveFile_replace_existing
and confirm the execution of the command by pressing the function key Enter.
Step 8
Use the capabilities of Visual Basic to perform the operation of renaming selected files and directories:
Change "drive_name: / old_file_name", "new_file_name"
using the My. Computer. FileSystem. RenameFile method.
