Tab-Delimited File List Usage Example

Using the tab delimited file lists is not very hard, but requires care and some existing knowledge about plain text files.

This little example is meant to make it easier to use this feature by providing a step-by-step account of a typical usage scenario.

intelligence or ability to cope with “nearly” correct input data. There is none.

Step 1: Use Better Rename to create a file list template as a starting point

• Open Better Rename
• Select the files you want to rename in the Finder
• Drag & drop them into the Better Rename preview list (the list on the right)
• Adjust the rename settings so that they are as close as possible to the file names you want (selecting the Rename from file list action in the Advanced & Special category will yield a list with unchanged names which can be a useful starting point)
• Select Save File List… in the File menu
• In the dialog choose Preview Changes and leave the Include only files whose names would actually be changed checkbox unchecked
• Save the file

We now have a “skeleton” file list file in the proper format

Step 2: Make changes to the list file

In this example, we will use the TextMate text editor to make changes to the file list.

• Open the file list file in TextMate
• Make changes to the new name column (2nd column)

Step 3: Apply changes using Better Rename

• Launch Better Rename
• Select the Rename from file list action in the Advanced & Special category
• Select both the file name and extension from the Change: popup menu
• Click the Browse… button
• Locate your file list file and click Open
• Drag & drop the files you want to rename into the preview list (Better Rename does not put them there automatically)

You can now see the old and the new file names from your file list.

• Click Perform Renames to rename the files in the usual manner

You can make changes in your file list at any moment and clicking the Reload button will load those changes into Better Rename.