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Rename (ren)
Changes the name of a file or a set of files.
Syntax
rename [Drive:][Path] filename1 filename2
ren [Drive:][Path] filename1 filename2
Parameters
[ Drive : ][ Path ] filename1 : Specifies the location and name of the file or set of files you want to rename.
filename2 : Specifies the new name for the file. If you use wildcards (* and ?), filename2 specifies the new names for the files. You cannot specify a new drive or path when renaming files.
/? : Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
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Renaming files
You can rename all files matching the specified file name. You cannot use the rename command to rename files across drives or to move files to a different directory location.
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Using wildcards with rename
You can use wildcards (* and ?) in either file name parameter. If you use wildcards in filename2, the characters represented by the wildcards will be identical to the corresponding characters in filename1.
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Rename will not work if filename2 already exists
If, for filename2, you specify a file name that already exists, rename displays the following message:
Duplicate file name or file not found
Examples
Suppose you want to change the extensions of all the file names in the current directory that have the extension .txt; for example, you want to change the .txt extensions to .doc extensions. To make this change, type:
ren *.txt *.doc
To rename a file or directory named Chap10 to Part10, type:
ren chap10 part10
Formatting legend
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Format |
Meaning |
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Italic |
Information that the user must supply |
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Bold |
Elements that the user must type exactly as shown |
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Ellipsis (...) |
Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line |
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Between brackets ([]) |
Optional items |
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Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} |
Set of choices from which the user must choose only one |
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Courier font |
Code or program output |
