Renaming with Regular Expressions

[Michael Bulgrien]

Scooter Team:

If I select two or more files that have the same name in a multi-file selection and choose "Rename" from the context menu, regular expressions are disabled. Is there a reason for this? I could have a common regular expression that I am using to rename several different file names, but only select groups of files with matching file names in each selection. It seems to me that regular expressions should be allowed here...

[Aaron]

When selecting multiple files with the exact same name, it is similar to selecting a single file with that name. If you type in the name you wish to use, it will then just use it for both.

BC2 behaved similarly when selecting a single file (though did not have the additional logic for "if both files are named the same").

I don't personally use the Regular Expression rename often (unless I'm troubleshooting someone's particular issue); would enabling it in this case be useful for a particular way you are using the application?

[Michael Bulgrien]

would enabling it in this case be useful for a particular way you are using the application?

I already stated such a situation... If a user writes a regular expression and wants to paste it into multiple rename operations (including selections of multiple files of the same name).

If I'm renaming files in a consistent manner using a regular expression, it is easier to paste that expression in than manually figuring out what the resulting file name will be and typing it in when regular expressions are disabled.

[Michael Bulgrien]

Frankly, although I can't think of a reason why regular expressions shouldn't be enabled on multiple files of the same name (it feels like a bug not to have the option to do so) I'm not going to make a big fuss if you don't enable them. It's a nit. But if it is not difficult to implement...I would appreciate the flexibility it would add.

[Seeker]

For some reason, I just think I should say "Thanks" here, and "Yeah I agree."

Take care.