Change Filename Using a Wildcard

[NorthernProject]

Hi!

I have files being downloaded with different file names. There is only one file in the folder at any time.

The file names are like:

account-registration_443541.pdf

Where 443541 is a random number.

I'd like to change this to:

account-registration.pdf

[ccstone]

Hey @NorthernProject,

Here's a typical method for working with strings:

Change File Name Using a Regular Expression v1.00.kmmacros (6.9 KB)

There's your basic functionality.

Now – how do you propose to use it?

• Do you want this macro to run on demand?
• Do you want it to run automatically?

Please be more specific about your entire process.

-Chris

[NorthernProject]

I like it to run automatically. When the macro runs it looks in a directory with one file and chances that filename.

[ccstone]

Okay, you need to look at:

• Folder trigger.
• For Each action.
  • Folder Contents collection.
• Split Path action.
• Move or Rename a File action.

Those should give you all the tools needed to complete your task.

Holler if you get hung up on something.

[NorthernProject]

Thank you for you guidance @ccstone.

That took me to this solution:

Best regards

"Set your wifi password to 2444666668888888. So when someone asks for it, tell them it's 12345678."

[Nige_S]

@NorthernProject

That took me to this solution:

Some of that may be for troubleshooting as you wrote the macro, but:

• You don't need to open the Finder selection to rename the files
• If you are selecting multiple files your macro will break because you are appending to LocalFileList -- the "Move" action won't receive a correct file path, even if you move it inside the "For Each", and trying to name all the selected files 123.pdf will cause problems
• If you are just renaming a file but leaving it in the same place, you don't need the file path in the "to" field of the action -- just use the new name
• Using a "static" name like "123.pdf" could cause problems unless you always, always, move any previously renamed files before running the macro again

All you actually need to "rename a single selected file to 123.pdf without moving it" is:
Rename Selected File.kmmacros (1.2 KB)

But do have a think about what you'd eventually like to do. For example, you could "watch" your Downloads folder and any time a file whose name matched a pattern arrived you could automatically rename it -- no intervention from you. But that does mean you need a naming scheme that offers unique names (or both renames and moves the file) to prevent conflicts.