windows - Batch Files to Remove minus sign from Filenames

I am attempting to clean-up some file-names in a particular folder and I'm wondering how I would go about creating a batch file to remove a minus sign from the beginning of each file-name.

I have a bunch of files withthe pattern -FileName.pdf and I'd like to remove the minus sign from the front so I just have FileName.pdf.

So far, I have the following command:

dir /B > Batch.txt
for /f "tokens=1,2" %i in (Batch.txt) DO ren "%i %j" %l

Is there anything simpler I could use?

Thanks in advance

Answer

I'd like to remove the minus sign from the front

Use the following batch file:

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
for /f "tokens=*" %%i in ('dir /b -*.pdf') do (
  set _fname=%%i
  echo ren %%i !_fname:~1!
  )

Notes:

• This will remove the first character from all filenames matching the expression -*.pdf.


• Replace echo ren with ren when you are sure the batch file will rename correctly.

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Further Reading

• An A-Z Index of the Windows CMD command line - An excellent reference for all things Windows cmd line related.


• dir - Display a list of files and subfolders.


• enabledelayedexpansion - Delayed Expansion will cause variables to be expanded at execution time rather than at parse time.


• for /f - Loop command against the results of another command.


• set - Display, set, or remove CMD environment variables. Changes made with SET will remain only for the duration of the current CMD session.


• setlocal - Set options to control the visibility of environment variables in a batch file.