Replacing a specific string from a directory of files using bash

Question

I am trying to replace a list of filenames inside a directory. For example

cd /home/towers
ls

c3_slo_live_ox_dns_m2m_pcg.yaml
c3_slo_live_ox_dns_service_pcg_physnet4.yaml
c3_slo_live_ox_dns_service_pcg_physnet2.yaml

to

cd /home/towers
ls

c3_dsd_live_ox_dns_m2m_pcg.yaml
c3_dsd_live_ox_dns_service_pcg_physnet4.yaml
c3_dsd_live_ox_dns_service_pcg_physnet2.yaml

Which is the best way? can we use sed? Any example that I should try?

what do you mean by "reaplace a list" in context of files in directory? — Alex Bender, Oct 27 '22 at 12:10
`for f in * ; do mv "$f" "${f/slo/dsd}" ; done` -- bash parameter expansion. — j_b, Oct 27 '22 at 13:36

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 27 '22 at 12:26

0

If you what you wanted is to rename the files according a replacement pattern you could try something like this:

for file in *;do mv $file $(echo $file|sed 's/_slo_/_dsd_/'); done

This will loop through every file in your current directory and replace the _slo_ string with _dsd_

I recommend you double check that this pattern isn't used unintentionally in other parts of your filenames before you commit to it.

answered Oct 27 '22 at 12:26

kiyell

432
2
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Probably try https://shellcheck.net/ on this before trying to use it; it contains several beginner mistakes. – tripleee Oct 28 '22 at 06:58

potong · Answer 2 · 2022-10-27T18:08:03.287

0

This might work for you:

rename 's/_slo_/_dsd_/' *

This uses the perl rename program.

edited Oct 27 '22 at 18:08

answered Oct 27 '22 at 17:36

potong

55,640
6
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Not working, rename: not enough arguments – Siddharth Oct 28 '22 at 10:57
@Siddharth if you summon the manual i.e. `man rename` do you get author `Larry Wall` if not this is not the perl version of rename. – potong Oct 28 '22 at 13:29

Replacing a specific string from a directory of files using bash

2 Answers2