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how to rename a file

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Primejimbo

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Aug 10, 2008
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Ok I am new to Mac and I have some photos I uploaded from a camera. I wanted to rename the pictures. On Windows I just right click and clicked on "rename" and that was it.
Would it be the same to rename all types of files?
I did a search on the forum and found nothing. Thanks.
 
Primejimbo said:
Ok I am new to Mac and I have some photos I uploaded from a camera. I wanted to rename the pictures. On Windows I just right click and clicked on "rename" and that was it.
Would it be the same to rename all types of files?
I did a search on the forum and found nothing. Thanks.
Click to expand...

2 quick and painless ways. You can "Get Info" on the file and rename it there (text box entry midway down the get info panel) OR the easy way is the old (as it is in windows it's the same here) click and click again and the file name MINUS the extension will be highlighted. In windows the extension is highlighted but in OS X the extension is not so all your renaming is the filename.
 
I'm assuming you're not using iPhoto right? If you are, then edit the title for the picture (found in the picture information box that appears in the lower left corner ... assuming you've clicked on the little circle 'i' in the bottom left).

If you just have pictures sitting in a folder or on the desktop then select (single click) the image and press the return key. It will highlight the name and you can edit to your heart's content. (That works for all files and folders BTW ;) )
 
OK, assuming you are doing it in the finder just click the filename once to select it, and then either wait a couple of seconds and click it again OR press return/enter and the name will be highlighted in light blue and be editable. Just press enter OR click somewhere else when done to set the new name.

Edit: OK, too slow on the draw! ;)
 
kkat69 said:
2 quick and painless ways. You can "Get Info" on the file and rename it there (text box entry midway down the get info panel) OR the easy way is the old (as it is in windows it's the same here) click and click again and the file name MINUS the extension will be highlighted. In windows the extension is highlighted but in OS X the extension is not so all your renaming is the filename.
Click to expand...

When I do it the 1st way it's not a JPEG anymore, it opens in quicktime for some reason:confused:
The 2nd way works great.. THANKS!!!
 
sickmacdoc said:
OK, assuming you are doing it in the finder just click the filename once to select it, and then either wait a couple of seconds and click it again OR press return/enter and the name will be highlighted in light blue and be editable. Just press enter OR click somewhere else when done to set the new name.

Edit: OK, too slow on the draw! ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks, this way works the best. Like I said before the other way changes the type of file from a JPEG to a plain text and it opens in quicktime.
 
Primejimbo said:
Thanks, this way works the best. Like I said before the other way changes the type of file from a JPEG to a plain text and it opens in quicktime.
Click to expand...

In the first way did you change the extension too?For example something.jpg to something?

Another more easy way is to hit Enter(or return,same button).With this you''ll mark only the name and not the extencion!;)
 
gusious said:
In the first way did you change the extension too?For example something.jpg to something?

Another more easy way is to hit Enter(or return,same button).With this you''ll mark only the name and not the extencion!;)
Click to expand...

yup, it changed my extension.
 
gusious said:
You fixed it right?
Click to expand...

Nope, I didn't need the file so I just deleted it. I was testing on files I really don't need. How would I fix it?
I also remembered 1 time I copied an image from a site and I renamed it and it changed the extension and changed the type a file it was again (opening w/ quicktime player again).
 
Primejimbo said:
Nope, I didn't need the file so I just deleted it. I was testing on files I really don't need. How would I fix it?
I also remembered 1 time I copied an image from a site and I renamed it and it changed the extension and changed the type a file it was again (opening w/ quicktime player again).
Click to expand...

In your image you could put the extension .jpg and would open normally with preview!;)
 
riscy said:
As above, to rename multiple files, you can also use Name Mangler.
Click to expand...

I have to give the nod to Name Mangler as well. I use it daily to rename several hundred pictures for my web sites--it really does it all--and is easily configurable to suit your needs. It's free too (donations requested).
 
So, sorry, can I just clarify, since I'm switching to a Mac asap:

You can also change the extension of a file using these methods?
Because I often get sent things with a .abc (for example) extension and need to change them to .rar or .pdf for example.
 
How to rename a file

As my friend said Assuming you are doing it in the finder just click the filename once to select it, and then either wait a couple of seconds and click it again OR press return/enter and the name will be highlighted in light blue and be editable. Just press enter OR click somewhere else when done to set the new name.

Edit: OK, too slow on the draw!
 
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