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Dealing with file name conflicts

What is a file name conflict?

There is a very simple rule about folders:

  • each file in a folder must have a unique name

This is simply so that the computer and you yourself can distinguish between files without having to look at what's inside.

This also means that when you are renaming files, you can't choose file names that are already taken. This is a "file name conflict".

How does A Better Finder Rename help me deal with file name conflicts?

Obviously, the more files you rename, the higher the probability that one or more of the new files names are already taken.

Especially when you choose actions that "truncate" or remove parts of the original file names, you are at danger of getting into trouble, e.g.

You want to remove the last 4 characters of a file name:

  • "hello_1" becomes "hel"
  • "hello_2" alos becomes "hel"

You now have a file name conflict.

The first thing that A Better Finder Rename (starting with version 7.2) does is warn you that there is conflict.

Note the warning icons in the right most column.

In case, you didn't notice the warnings in the preview, a dialog will appear when you try to proceed with the rename.

If you decide to proceed anyway, the program will let you choose a new name manually when the "problem" files are renamed: