Replace filename prefix in a directory using python

Question

How to change the file name prefix in a directory. I need to replace the white space in the file name prefix"Mohammed " to "Mohammed".

Directory:

C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-1.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-1.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-2.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-2.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-3.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-3.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-4.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-4.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-5.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-5.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-6.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-6.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-7.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-7.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-8.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-8.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-9.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-9.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-10.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad _eng-10.wav

I need to change them to

C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-1.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-1.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-2.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-2.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-3.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-3.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-4.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-4.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-5.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-5.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-6.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-6.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-7.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-7.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-8.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-8.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-9.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-9.wav
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-10.txt
C:\Mohammad_eng\Mohammad_eng-10.wav

How to achieve that? Note: I am new in python scripting.

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 23 '19 at 18:46

Please use the following, tested and verified, this will work.

import glob, os


print("File rename Sample- rename()")


def replace(dir, pattern, titlePattern, replaceFromStr, replaceToStr):
    for pathAndFilename in glob.iglob(os.path.join(dir, pattern)):
        title, ext = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(pathAndFilename))
        os.rename(pathAndFilename,
                  os.path.join(dir, titlePattern % title.replace(replaceFromStr, replaceToStr) + ext))


replace(r'C:\Mohammad_eng', r'*.wav', r'%s', "Mohammad ", "Mohammad")
replace(r'C:\Mohammad_eng', r'*.txt', r'%s', "Mohammad ", "Mohammad")

Checked this solution, it is a great solution with "glob module that finds all the pathnames matching", thank you for the support. — Whatman, Apr 23 '19 at 18:53

Michael H. · Answer 2 · 2019-04-23T18:53:25.647

1

See How to rename a file using Python

# call this script from the respective folder
import os
import re

for filename in os.listdir('.'):
    match = re.match(r'Mohammad (.*)', filename)
    if match:
        new_filename = 'Mohammad' + match.group(1)
        os.rename(filename, new_filename)

This goes through all filenames and directory names and checks whether the name matches the specified pattern. If so, it will rename the file dropping the space.

edited Apr 23 '19 at 18:53

answered Apr 23 '19 at 18:38

Michael H.

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Where do i specifiy the directory path ("C:\Mohammad_eng")? – Whatman Apr 23 '19 at 18:42
Like the comment says: Call the script from the folder `C:\Mohammad_eng`, i.e. in PowerShell type `cd C:\Mohammad_eng`, store this script as `script.py` in `C:\Mohammad_eng` and then type `python script.py` in PowerShell. – Michael H. Apr 23 '19 at 18:47

Replace filename prefix in a directory using python

2 Answers2