macOS Simple Applescript in the Finder

One option would be to get the program A Better Finder Rename

http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/

I don't use it but I suspect it will do what you want and a lot more.


Automator might do this for you but I never use that either.

Applescript can definitely do this. If you are not happy with the first two solutions repost and we'll figure that out.

Have you written much Applescript?

You can look at Macscripter.net for code examples.

There is a shareware script that does a lot of renaming:
http://scriptbuilders.net/files/namethosefiles2.1.1.html

How many pictures are you talking about?

You want the new filename to be 5 digits and have the pics renamed based on their creation date?

You really want A better finder rename. I've found it essential for organizing my photo files. There are many ways to organize the files, using data from the files themselves. For instance, you can name the files based on the date they were taken and then numerically ordered - 10-4-10-0001, 10-4-10-0002, etc. That sounds like what you'd need for your purposes, and you wouldn't run the risk of accidentally overwriting files like you might with writing your own code.

What about some sort of Terminal command -


Of course, you'd have to fill in the pathname to the DSC09999.JPG file. And the "-type f" and "-print" aren't really necessary, but it plays safe, in case you hit a directory called 'DSC0xxxx.JPG'.

Practice in a sample directory to get confident with it before using for real. Then keep it for when you need to prefix the files with a '2' or '3', etc.

Just to be safe, yes. Replace the asterisk with [0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9]

For the -newer option, you're safer using the existing format, and no, I don't know of a way to substitute a specific time.

I have had similar issues in the past when working with multiple cameras. so I had maybe 2,500 images using DSC_00001.JPG through to DSC_00400.JPG. A nightmare in the past also when I changed CF cards and battery, the counter would reset to DSC_00001.JPG. At -30C I'd get about 6 shots off before the battery would get too cold to operate, so into my pocket, warm battery out and in, and another 6 shots if I was quick. 16GB CF cards are the best invention ever.

Well you could always replace the absolute path of DSC09999.JPG with another subshell which does a find looking for DSC09999.JPG, ie.
and I though of that first, but what if there are 2 files with that name ? And that will happen when you get to the 19,998th picture, ie. DSC09999.JPG before you rename it with this script.

Did also consider your idea about "touch"ing an empty file with the desired modification date, put somewhere in the higher levels of your photograph directory hierarchy. But then I thought that you have the first DSC09999.JPG anyway. If you'd feel happier, and use that instead of the reference to DSC09999.JPG.

Remember to update it or create another, ie. photo.marker2, when you get to 19,998+ photos.

There is a danger in the script in that once you get above 19,998 photos, you may have some you wish to rename to DSC1nnnn.JPG and some DSC2nnnn.JPG.
If you create the 2nd marker with the appropriate date and time and run that command first it won't be an issue, all the DSC0nnnn.JPGs that need to be renamed to DSC2nnnn.JPG will have been done, and the run of the original command (to rename to DSC1nnnn.JPG) will only pick up those still named as DSC0nnnn.JPG.
I'm also worried about the time accuracy you use for creating the marker files. Could be that the marker file ends up with a modification time just fractions of a second before the DSC09999.JPG it is copied from and you end up renaming DSC09999.JPG to DSC19999.JPG when you didn't intend to.

Why not use automater?