Search and replace text in windows?

[mrapoc]

Hey guys

im after a tool to search for a certain character or whatever in whichever directory I specify and replace it with something else

In this example I have a lot of "_" in my music collection folder titles for example:

High_Contrast-Tough_Guys_Dont_Dance

i need a program to search, find and replace the _ with a space (ideally)

cheers

[Simon]

I'd find that useful too, but have never come across anything that can do it.

[Rik]

Everything I've seen works on text within files, Sam, but I can't think of one that works on file names. I'm just wondering, though, whether anything could be done with a batch file?

[Sebby]

In one batch file:

Code Select Expand

for /r c:\filestorename\ %%K in (*.*) do call c:\rename.bat "%%K"
pause
exit

Then in rename.bat:

Code Select Expand

@echo off
set fname="%~n1"
set ext=%~x1
set fname=%fname:_= %
ren "%~f1" %fname%%ext%
)

Very rough and ready, but tested and working.

It could be spruced up a bit to perhaps ask for the directory that contains the files to be renamed, for example.

[Rik]

Thanks, Sebby. 

[mrapoc]

excellent

edit:

how do i use it

i put it in my music directory and as follows

1st batch:

Code Select Expand

for /r D:\My Music\ %%K in (*.*) do call D:\My Music\rename.bat "%%K"
pause
exit

rename batch:

Code Select Expand

@echo off
set fname="%~n1"
set ext=%~x1
set fname=%fname:_= %
ren "%~f1" %fname%%ext%
)

[Sebby]

You probably need to do "D:\My Music\" and "D:\My Music\rename.bat" because of the spaces.

[Dopamine]

I use the freeware Bulk Rename Utility, which amongst many options has a "replace x with y" function.

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

[Sebby]

That's much better than my solution, thanks.