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Free Excel spreadsheet with macros to bulk/batch rename, copy and move files in Windows Explorer

Sat, 2021-01-23 12:48 — Michael Dew
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File Bulk Rename spreadsheet (By downloading I agree to accept all risk of loss or damage through use of spreadsheet)623.41 KB
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Free Excel spreadsheet with Visual Basic macros which allow bulk renaming, copying, and moving of  files or folders in Windows Explorer. The following tabs in the spreadsheet offer the following functionality:

Rename files in place: Tool to rename files in their existing locations. The new name data can be created in Excel, typically using the original file names as starting data and then manipulating the data as needed e.g. using “find and replace”, or functions such as LEFT, RIGHT, LEN, VLOOKUP, etc.

Create subfolders: Tool to create empty subfolders (up to three levels) in the specified parent folder. Useful, for example, to create library of year and month folders for photographs.

Rename paths ("Move"): Tool to rename any part of the path e.g. just the file name, just the folder path, or both.

Copy to folders (& can rename): Tool to put copies of listed files into specified target folders. The target folders do not need to already exist, but will be made by the macro as needed.

Helper sheet (Build file names): Helper sheet to assist with building useful file names from pre-existing data. File metadata e.g. date modified, or photo date last taken, can be extracted from files using the FileList Software described in the previous video at https://youtu.be/6E1Th5RTTBk

 

Security issues

The spreadsheet was developed using macros (programmed in visual basic) and in order for the spreadsheet to operate your security settings in Microsoft Excel must be set to allow macros to run.  To enable macros in Excel 2016 (similar procedures will apply in other versions of Excel) click:
  • File (i.e. the menu on the top left)
  • Options
  • Trust Centre
  • Trust Centre Settings
  • Macro settings
  • Enable all macros
 
Macros can pose a security risk because they make your computer perform certain steps automatically, but are typically only dangerous when made to be that way by a computer programmer with a malicious intention – hence the warning when you change the security settings in Excel. However, the macros available in the spreadsheet available for download on this page are made with good intentions and should not harm your computer.
 
Users downloading and using this spreadsheet do so entirely at their own risk and agree to accept all risks associated with using the spreadsheet. 
 
The spreadsheet is open and users familiar with macros can review (and modify) the code.

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