File Renamer for Windows

Where do you go if you have several files to rename and organize? You hunt for software that will give your tired fingers a break from the sore monotony of renaming files one by one. If you are on such a lookout, then look at D-FileMU.

D-FileMU is a small, lightweight free software that belies its pocket-size with its punch. The 125 KB size download does not tax even a dial-up connection nor does it take a chunk out of your system resources. It is a relatively uncomplicated piece of software and in the same mold as another renaming utility called ‘Renamer’ covered here earlier.

The first thing I liked about the software was that it didn’t require any installation. I could run the program from any location and yes, even from my USB drive.

The file renaming operation is divided into three steps.

Step One lists the 17 different ways you can rename a file. Some of the common tasks which the software covers include

• Changing the case of the filenames.
• Changing file extensions of filenames.
• Adding strings to the beginning and end of the filenames.
• Adding numbers in sequence to the beginning or end of the filenames.
• Changing the file attributes i.e. read only (+r) or hidden (+h) or archive (+a).
• Completely renaming the files.

…and so on.

Step Two takes you a bit further into the selection of the files you want to rename. You can choose files individually, or by file extension or apply both the choices. Thus, files can be selected from disparate locations spread out on your hard drive or can be worked upon as a collection.

Step Three lists the files that are to be worked upon. A ‘Preview’ function to see the changes that will take place is very helpful. A click of the ‘Perform Changes’ button and the operation is complete.

With the operation complete, a box will prompt you to inform that the program has made the changes to the files. If there were any errors encountered during the process, the program will also display another box notifying you that there were errors and ask if you wish to view them or not.

A button which says ‘View Process File’ opens up a file which contains a detailed step by step account of what changes were made to which files. Similarly, a button that says ‘View Error File’ opens up a file which displays the list of errors (if any) that occurred during the renaming operation.

The user might have to take the program through a few runs to get the perfect file names with all the correct attributes in place.

Therefore, following a three step process your entire gamut of files gets new names. The program can also be used from the command line, but I guess that would be more for expert hands.

D-FileMU has all the attributes of a good freeware program – fast, light and accurate. What it slightly suffers from is a non-functioning developer website and lack of updates. But the mirror download sites allow us to get the software.

D-FileMU Version 1.7.4 is compatible with WinXP and Win2000.