? batch rename images sequentially.

kleerkoat

complete noob here. curious if this is even possible before I slog through it.

I'd like to select multiple images and rename them sequentially. I found a watermark app but it doesn't have a tool to do sequential numbering but it will rename per filename possibly with a prompt to enter a "start from" number.

any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance.

ccc

You would like to select multiple images from the iOS camera roll, local file system, dropbox, etc.?

You would like to store the resulting images where?

ccc

If reading and writing to the local file system, then something like this should work...

import os

# create four dummy files

in_file_names = ['in_file_number_{}.txt'.format(i) for i in xrange(7, 11)]
print(in_file_names)

for file_name in in_file_names:
    if not os.path.isfile(file_name):
        with open(file_name, 'w') as out_file:
            out_file.write('This file was only created for a demo.\n\tYou can safely delete this file.')

# The real app starts here...

def rename_files(in_file_names, out_file_fmt = '', starting_number = 1):
    out_file_fmt = out_file_fmt or 'freshly_watermarked_file_{:0>3}.txt'
    for in_file_name in in_file_names:
        out_file_name = out_file_fmt.format(starting_number)
        assert not os.path.isfile(out_file_name), 'File already exists: ' + out_file_name
        os.rename(in_file_name, out_file_name)
        starting_number += 1

rename_files(in_file_names)

kleerkoat

something simple would be awesome, just a camera roll multi-select and saving back to camera roll using the sequences. That would be better so it would be closer to my skill level for learning.

my wish was worded a little off i just noticed. the prompt for a start number would let you add images to a sequence.

thank you for the reply!

omz

It's currently not possible to set the file name when saving an image to the camera roll.

dgelessus

Do images in the camera roll even have names? They do of course when you plug your device into a computer and access it via the Windows Explorer or iPhoto, but who knows if those names are real. Old-fashioned audio CDs also don't have any files or file names, yet most operating systems show the individual tracks as named/numbered files.

ccc

@dgelessus: Yes. Images of the iOS camera roll do have file names.

The output of:

import photos
print(photos.pick_image(include_metadata=True))

Contains: u'filename': u'IMG_0921.PNG'

If you cancel the image picker, the code above throws an exception which I believe is a bug!

kleerkoat

well, that's a bummer.

good news for me, the dev of the watermark app (http://plumamazing.com/win/iwatermark-pro/) replied to my suggestion and worked it in for the next weeks update.

bad news for you guys, I might have wasted your time ;-)

ccc that is going in my reference library though! thank you for that.