* Changing File Names

[jeremyhills]

I seem to remember there is a way of changing file names that keeps the links. For example, I have a number of files in the style of "John Smith" and I would like to change them to be "Smith, John" but retain the links they have already got. Any ideas? Jeremy

[tatewise]

You must change the name of the file using Windows File Explorer and at the same time change the Linked File name within the associated Media record via the Records Window.

A slightly different method is to find the Media item in the Media Window.
Double-click the thumbnail on the right and on the Media Record tab click the blue folder link shown against Location.
That will open Windows File Explorer with the file highlighted to allow it to be easily Renamed.
Then double-click the Media Record highlighted on the left and in the Property Box change the Linked File name.

If done correctly the Media image will still be shown. If not then you will get File not found or X errors.

On reflection Jeremy, I wonder if you are actually talking about the Media record Title?
If so, then that can be changed without affecting links or file-names.

[Jane]

I wrote a plugin ages ago which renames media to match the title of the media record, excluding any characters not allowed in a filename.

[davidm_uk]

Jane - that plugin looks to be VERY useful - does it still work ok with the current version of FH?

[Jane]

Can't think of any reason why it shouldn't work. Try it on the Sample Project if you want to play you can always reset that

[tatewise]

The only caveat is if your Media Title happens to include accented/foreign characters not in the ANSI character set then the filename will have a few unusual characters in their place.

Note that it also prefixes the Title with the letter O the Record Id and an underscore so the full filename will be like:
O123_Media-Title.jpg

All the above can be fixed with a few minor modifications to the Plugin.

[davidm_uk]

Thanks, I'll have a tinker with the plugin.

I always have the same "title" for source record, media record and filename. Helps me find things easily.

[jeremyhills]

Would you be able to let me know when you have tinkered?! Jeremy

[davidm_uk]

Yes OK, might be a few days, bit tied up with other things at the moment.
I haven't looked to see what the plugin does in the way of error checking (eg. if there's already a file with the new name), but all I'm intending to do is modify it to leave off the prefix (eg. O123_) .

[Jane]

Just a word of caution, as the Plugin does not check for duplicates, so make sure you don't have more than one Media with the same Title. Adding the Object Rec Id number avoids that problem.