UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,

I want to rename several files like this:
example:

Code:

A0805120817.BHN
A0805120818.BHN
.....

to:

Code:

20120817.0805.N
20120818.0805.N
......

How can i do this via terminal or in shell bash script ?

thanks,
LP

Is this a homework assignment?

If it is, this thread needs to be closed and you need to resubmit your query in the Homework & Coursework Questions forum using the rules specified in here.

If it isn't, this thread needs to be moved to an appropriate technical forum and you need to more clearly specify the renaming procedures. I can see several possible ways to rename files that would match your 2 file sample.

Hi Don Cragun,

It's not a homework. But i understand if you want to close the thread. I'm new in this forums.

I will search in other links.

Sorry to bore you and other users,
LP

You could try

Code:

for a in *.BHN; do echo mv $a 20${a:5:6}.${a:2:4}.N; done

It will print the resulting renaming commands. Once happy with that, remove the echo

Welcome to the UNIX and Linux Forums.

We don't need to close the thread. I have moved it from the Post Here to Contact Site Administrators and Moderators forum (which is intended for resolving site issues) to a technical forum intended to help with relatively simple shell scripting problems.

Please explain the rules that govern how files are to be renamed. For instance with your sample input, any of the following would work:Give us a clear statement that identifies what files are to be processed and how the names are to be transformed and we'll be happy to help you find a way to do it.

What RudiC suggested doesn't seem to do what you want. A slight variation on his suggestion:

Code:

echo mv $a 20${a:5:6}.${a:1:4}.N

implements a different possibility: Change any file whose name ends in ".BHN" to "20" followed by the 6 characters in the original name starting with the 6th character followed by a period followed by the 4 characters in the original filename starting with the 2nd character followed by ".N".

Hi Don Cragun,

The command that you gave me solves my problem:

Code:

'for a in *.BHN; do echo mv $a 20${a:5:6}.${a:2:4}.N'

the ouput after echo printing is:

Code:

mv A0770130514.BHZ       20130514.0770.N

Thanks a lot for the solution and the contribute of RudiC!
I understand the logic of variable a and the numbers position count.

LP