UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Is there a way to use Vim or Ex to rename all files in a folder? For example if i have a folder with Apples1.txt, Apples2.txt, Apples3.txt, could I rename all files so they are Oranges1.txt, Oranges2.txt, Oranges3.txt ?

I know with :bufdo %s/apples/oranges/g|update you can do this for inside the files, but I need to do it for the file names.

Mods, please move this if it's in the wrong forum. Thanks in advance.

so any reason that you don't like to use mv command to rename them?

I tried a few variations on mv *apples* *oranges* but I can't get it to work. Is that what you mean?

Code:

for file in $(ls *.txt)
do 
  new=$(echo $file |sed "s/Apples/Oranges/")
  mv $file $new
done

ls is not necessary, it is better to be specific about the pattern otherwise there will be error messages and it is better to use quoting, e.g:

Code:

for file in apples*.txt
do     
  mv "$file" "$(echo $file |sed "s/apples/oranges/")"
done

or
bash/ksh93:

Code:

for file in apples*.txt
do     
  mv "$file" "${file/apples/oranges}"
done

posix in this particular case:

Code:

for file in apples*.txt
do     
  mv "$file" "oranges${file#apples}"
done

if you have rename, then use

Code:

rename 's/Apples/Oranges/' *