Rename files in bulk with names that make sense
Scanner output like doc_0001.pdf, phone photos named IMG_2231.JPG, invoices called download (7).pdf. Renaming them one by one is dull and error-prone. Your todo.is agent reads each file, builds names from a pattern you choose, like the date, supplier and amount from inside an invoice, and gives you the renamed files with a before-and-after list.
The prompt
- Rename the attached files [ATTACH THE FILES] in bulk. Use this naming pattern: [NAMING PATTERN]. Get the details from [WHERE TO FIND THE DETAILS]. Use only letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores, dates as YYYY-MM-DD, and keep the original file extension. If two files would get the same name, add -2, -3. If a detail is missing, write UNKNOWN instead of guessing. Show me the first 10 new names to approve, then [DELIVERY], plus an Excel list of old name → new name.
What to change
- [ATTACH THE FILES]: Attach the files (up to 50 MB each), or say "they're on my computer" to get a script instead.
- [NAMING PATTERN]: E.g. "date_supplier_amount" → 2026-03-14_Northwind_249.00.pdf, "Client-Project-v01" or "Holiday-Lisbon-001".
- [WHERE TO FIND THE DETAILS]: E.g. "inside each invoice", "the date the photo was taken (EXIF)", "the title on the first page" or "the current names, just reformat them".
- [DELIVERY]: E.g. "send the renamed files back as a ZIP" or "write a Windows/Mac script that renames the files on my computer with a preview first".
Example result
- Bulk rename report: 64 invoice PDFs
- Pattern: date_supplier_total.pdf (date as YYYY-MM-DD)
- Before → after (first 8)
- • download (7).pdf → 2026-01-09_Northwind-Supplies_249.00.pdf
- • download (8).pdf → 2026-01-12_Brightline-Energy_118.40.pdf
- • scan_0003.pdf → 2026-01-15_Okafor-Print-Studio_960.00.pdf
- • Invoice.pdf → 2026-01-21_Northwind-Supplies_74.99.pdf
- • Invoice (1).pdf → 2026-01-21_Northwind-Supplies_74.99-2.pdf (same day and amount, check for a duplicate)
- • INV_88213.pdf → 2026-02-02_Cloudharbor_29.00.pdf
- • doc20260214.pdf → 2026-02-14_Mesa-Office-Rent_1850.00.pdf
- • scan_0011.pdf → UNKNOWN_Fernhill-Logistics_310.00.pdf (no date found)
- How details were found
- • Date: the invoice date, not the due date or the download date
- • Supplier: the company name in the header, shortened ("Northwind Supplies Ltd." → Northwind-Supplies)
- • Total: the final amount including tax, with a dot for decimals
- • Two scanned invoices were read with OCR first
- Needs your eye
- • 3 files marked UNKNOWN (missing date or unreadable total)
- • 1 likely duplicate: two Northwind invoices on 21 Jan for 74.99
- Files
- • Invoices_renamed.zip with all 64 PDFs
- • rename_log.xlsx: old name, new name, date, supplier, total, notes. Handy as a quick expense list too
- Naming rules that age well
- • Start with the date as YYYY-MM-DD so files sort in time order in any folder
- • No spaces or special characters like / : * ? which break on some systems
- • Short words joined with hyphens, parts separated with underscores
- • Add a version at the end (v01, v02) for drafts, never "final_final"
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and write the naming pattern you want, with one example name.
- Attach the files in todo.is, or send them to your agent on Telegram or WhatsApp as documents.
- Approve the first 10 new names, or adjust the pattern.
- Download the ZIP and the Excel log. For files on your computer, run the script in preview mode first.
Tips for a better result
- Give one finished example name. "Like 2026-03-14_Northwind_249.00.pdf" removes all guesswork.
- Put the date first, as YYYY-MM-DD. It's the only date format that sorts correctly by name.
- For photos, the date taken (EXIF) is more reliable than the file's modified date, which changes when files are copied.
- Keep the Excel log. It's your undo list and doubles as an index of what's in the folder.
- For more than a few hundred files or very large videos, ask for a script and run it on your computer instead of uploading.
rename files in bulk: FAQ
- How do I rename multiple files at once? Choose a naming pattern and let your agent apply it to every file, either by sending back renamed files or with a script you run on your computer.
- Can it rename files based on their content? Yes. Your agent reads PDFs, Word files and images, so it can name invoices by date and supplier or contracts by client. Scans are read with OCR.
- Can I rename photos by the date they were taken? Yes. Your agent reads the date stored in each photo (EXIF) and builds names like 2026-07-14_Lisbon_001.jpg. Screenshots and edited images sometimes lack this date.
- Can I undo a bulk rename? Keep the before/after list. The script version also writes an undo file that restores the old names.
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