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
| • | 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. |
| • | 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. |
| • | 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
| Format | Meaning |
Italic | Information that the user must supply |
Bold | Elements that the user must type exactly as shown |
Ellipsis (...) | Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line |
Between brackets ([]) | Optional items |
Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} | Set of choices from which the user must choose only one |
Courier font | Code or program output |