How to batch rename with a unique identifier

@Stephen Marsh thanks for remembering those previous conversations. I think the problem was already solved.

Yes, the problem was solved, however, your script isn't directly available.

It can't hurt to have other options, which was the point of the post. For example, the whole reason that I created the Excel template to help me batch rename in Proper Case is that Adobe Bridge only offers Original case/UPPERCASE/lowercase – but not Proper Case. This has always been a glaring omission in my opinion.

The script is still a work in progress. I've tested it and it works consistantly for me.

Let me know if you run into any problems or need help.

Things to know:

I tried to make the UI self-explanatory and there are instructions.

You must use the supplied CSV format. Do step 1 (export a list of your files). Only use the resulting spreadsheet columns.

The first column, "File Folder Path" must be included. It allows you to work with files visible when you set Bridge to "Show items from subfolders".

I separated out the file names and extensions to, hopefully, make it easier to see and edit.

You can change the file extension format (.JPG to .jpeg). There is a safeguard that prevents you from changing the file type.

Here is the code.

Copy the code text to the clipboard

Paste the code text into a plain-text editor (not in a word processor)

Save as a JavaScript file: rename_files_from_csv.jsx

Installation

1. Start Bridge
2. Go to Preferences

    Windows

      - Go to Edit --> Preferences --> Startup Scripts

    Mac:

      - Go to Adobe Bridge --> Preferences --> Startup Scripts

3. Click "Reveal My Startup Scripts".  This will open the correct folder
4. In this folder, copy the the downloaded file "rename_files_from_csv.jsx"
5. Close the folder
6. Quit Bridge
7. Start Bridge
8. When prompted, confirm the installation of "rename_files_from_csv"

Look for the menu "Metadata Deluxe" at the top of the Bridge window.

#target bridge

if (BridgeTalk.appName == 'bridge')

/*
Terms and Conditions of Use:
MIT License

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.
*/

if(BridgeTalk.appName == 'bridge'){
    // menu text
    var mdMenu = "Metadata_Deluxe"; // computer friendly.  filenames - don't use spaces, use _  example:  Metadata_Deluxe
    var mdMenuLabel = mdMenu.split("_").join(" ")  // human friendly, replace _ with space
    var RnfcsvMeI = "Rename  Files From CSV";
    var RnfcsvMeIVersion = "1.0.0";
    var RnfcsvMeICodeDate = "2023-02-28";

    //Create a menu option within Adobe Bridge
    var findMdMenu = MenuElement.find (mdMenu);
    if (findMdMenu == null){
         var addMdMenu = new MenuElement ('menu', mdMenuLabel, 'before Help', mdMenu);
        }
    var RnfcsvMenuExpImp = new MenuElement ('command', RnfcsvMeI, 'at the beginning of '+mdMenu);
    RnfcsvMenuExpImp.onSelect = function(){runRnfcsv()};
    

      /* enable after debugging
    try{
        // create menu item in Tools
        var Rnfcsv = MenuElement.create('command', 'Rename  Files From CSV', 'at the end of Tools');
        Rnfcsv.onSelect = function(){runRnfcsv()};
        }
    catch(e){
        alert(e + ' ' + e.line);
        }
    */
    }

function runRnfcsv(){ 
    try{ 
        // folder and file location variables
        if (Folder.fs == "Windows"){
            var slash = "\\";
            }
        else{
            var slash = "/";
            }

        // Main windows
        var dialog = new Window("palette", "Rename Files From CSV", undefined, {resizeable: true, closeButton:true});
            dialog.minimumSize = [450,450];
            dialog.orientation = "column";
            dialog.alignChildren = ["fill","top"];
            dialog.spacing = 20;
            dialog.margins = 16;

        var group1 = dialog.add("group", undefined);
            group1.orientation = "row";
           // group1.alignChildren = ["left","center"];
            group1.spacing = 10;
            group1.margins = 0;
        /*
        var statictext1 = group1.add("statictext", undefined, undefined, {name: "statictext1"});
            statictext1.text = "Current folder: "+currentFolderPath;
  */
        var instButton = group1.add("button", undefined, "Instructions");
        instButton.alignment = ["right","top"];
        instButton.onClick = showInst;
        		// instruction windows  
          function showInst(){
            var instructionsText = 
            "    In Bridge\n"+
            "       Select the files you want to rename\n" +
            "       Open the script\n"+
            "          Click 'Create List'. This will save a CSV list of the current file names\n\n" +
            "    In a spreadsheet\n"+
            "       Open the CSV list of files.\n"+
            "          If your filenames have special characters, import the list as UTF8\n" +
            "       Enter new the filenames in 'New File Name' column\n" +
            "       You can change New File Extension case and variation, i.e. .jpg = .jpeg = .JPG = .JPEG\n" +
            "       You cannot change New File Extension type, i.e. .jpg ≠ .tiff\n" +
            "       Save as CSV UTF8 text file (.csv)\n\n" +
            "    In Bridge\n"+
            "       Open the script\n"+
            "          Specify the CSV file as the source\n"+
            "          Click 'Rename Files'"
            
            var instructions = new Window("palette", "Instructions");  
            ExportInstText = instructions.add("statictext", undefined, instructionsText, {multiline:true});
            ExportInstText.minimumSize = [600,300];
            ExportInstText.maximumSize = [600,300];              
            instructionsCancelBtn = instructions.add("button", undefined, "Close");
            instructionsCancelBtn.onClick =  function(){ 
                instructions.hide();
                instructions.close();
                dialog.active = true;
                }
               instructions.show();
               instructions.active = true;
			}
      
      //  var spacer1 = dialog.add("statictext", undefined, "");
      //  spacer1.minimumSize = [20,20];

        var panel1 = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Step 1");
            panel1.orientation = "column";
            panel1.alignChildren = ["left","top"];
            panel1.spacing = 5;
            panel1.margins = 10;

         var statictext3 = panel1.add("statictext", undefined, "Create CSV (Comma Separated Values) list of selected files and current names");

        var button1 = panel1.add("button", undefined, "Create List");
            button1.minimumSize = [140,40];
            button1.alignment = ["center","top"];
            button1.onClick = exportToFile;

        var group2 = panel1.add("group", undefined);
            group2.orientation = "row";
            group2.alignChildren = ["left","center"];
            group2.spacing = 10;
            group2.margins = 0;

        var statictext4 = group2.add("statictext", undefined, undefined);
            statictext4.minimumSize = [350,20];
            statictext4.text = "";

        
        var panel2 = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Step 2");
            panel2.orientation = "column";
            panel2.alignChildren = ["left","top"];
            panel2.spacing = 10;
            panel2.margins = 10;

        var statictext6 = panel2.add("group");
            statictext6.orientation = "column";
            statictext6.alignChildren = ["left","center"];
            statictext6.spacing = 0;
            statictext6.add("statictext", undefined, "- Open the list of files in a spreadsheet");
            statictext6.add("statictext", undefined, "- Enter new names in 'New File Name' column");
            statictext6.add("statictext", undefined, "- Save as CSV UTF8 text file (.csv)");
            

        var panel3 = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Step 3");
            panel3.orientation = "column";
            panel3.alignChildren = ["left","top"];
            panel3.spacing = 10;
            panel3.margins = 10;

        var statictext7 = panel3.add("statictext", undefined, "Rename files using CSV file");

        var group3 = panel3.add("group", undefined);
            group3.orientation = "row";
            group3.alignChildren = ["left","center"];
            group3.spacing = 10;
            group3.margins = 0;

        var edittext1 = group3.add("statictext", undefined, "browse for file");
            edittext1.minimumSize = [320,25];
            edittext1.justify = "right";

        var button2 = group3.add("button", undefined, "Browse");
            button2.onClick= getRenameFilePath;
            
        var checkbox1 = panel3.add("checkbox", undefined, "Preserve current filename in XMP metadata");
        checkbox1.alignment = "center";
        checkbox1.value = true;
        
        var button3 = panel3.add("button", undefined, "Rename Files");
            button3.minimumSize = [120,40];
            button3.alignment = ["center","top"];
            button3.enabled = false;
            button3.onClick = renameFiles;

        var button4 = dialog.add("button", undefined, "Close");
            button4.alignment = ["right","top"];
            button4.onClick = closeWindow;

        dialog.show(); // window is defined, now open it

        // Functions
        function closeWindow(){
            dialog.close();
            }

        function exportToFile(){ 
            var selectedFiles = app.document.selections;
            
            if(selectedFiles.length == 0){
                 app.beep();
                 Window.alert("You must select at least one file");
                 return false
                }
            else{
                // Open the Save dialog to choose a file name and directory for the export file
                var dataExport = File.saveDialog("File List", "Comma separated:*.csv" );		
                // Create empty variables to store pass/fail data during export
                var filePass = 0;
                var fileFail = 0;
                
                if (dataExport){
                    dataExport.encoding = "UTF8";
                    dataExport.open ("w", "TEXT", "ttxt"); // open text file so values can be written
                    dataExport.write ("File Folder Path,"); // write column header 1
                    dataExport.write ("Current File Name,"); // write column header 2
                    dataExport.write ("Current File Extension,"); // write column header 3
                    dataExport.write ("New File Name,"); // write column header 4
                    dataExport.write ("New File Extension"); // write column header 5
                   // dataExport.write ("Content Date Created,"); // original creation date
                  //  dataExport.write ("File Date Created"); // file creation date

                    for (var L1 = 0; L1 < selectedFiles.length; L1++){
                        if(selectedFiles[L1].spec instanceof File){ // if selectedFiles is a file, we don't want to list folders
                        try{
                            /* other methods
                                var fileFullName = selectedFiles[L1].spec.fullName; // path and file name with UTF-8 encoded special characters
                                var filePath = selectedFiles[L1].spec.path; // just the file directory with UTF-8 encoded special characters
                                var filePathClean = Folder.decode(selectedFiles[L1].spec.path); // just the file directory showing spaces and other special characters
                                var fileName = selectedFiles[L1].spec.name; // just the file name with UTF-8 encoded special characters
                                var fileExtension = '.' + fileName.substr(fileName.lastIndexOf('.')+1);
                                var fileNameClean = File.decode(fileName); // just the file name showing spaces and other special characters
                                */
                            var filePath = selectedFiles[L1].path; // directory and file name showing spaces and other special characters
                            var splicePathIndex1 = filePath.lastIndexOf (slash) // index of last "/"   
                            var justDirectory = filePath.substr(0,splicePathIndex1+1); // just the file directory based on lastIndexOf ("\\")
                            var justFileName = selectedFiles[L1].name // just the file name showing spaces and other special characters
                            var fileNameExtensionIndex = justFileName.lastIndexOf ("."); // index of last "."
                            var fileName = justFileName.substr(0, fileNameExtensionIndex);  
                            var fileNameExtension = justFileName.slice(fileNameExtensionIndex+1) // just the file extension based on lastIndexOf (".")                     
                            /* NOT IMPLEMENTED read DateTimeOriginal and DateCreated
                                var fileContentDateCreated = "";
                            if (selectedFiles[L1].hasMetadata){
                                var md = selectedFiles[L1].synchronousMetadata; // read embedded metadata
                                var xmp = new XMPMeta(md.serialize()); // read embedded XMP
                                var fileDateCreated = selectedFiles[L1].spec.created.getFullYear() // 2016-11-10T08:03:13-07:00
                                var x = new Date(); // get file date created and format to ISO
                                x = selectedFiles[L1].spec.created;
                                var YYYY = x.getFullYear();
                                var MM = x.getMonth();
                                    if(MM < 10){MM = "0"+MM}
                                var DD = x.getDay();
                                    if(DD < 10){DD = "0"+DD}
                                var TT = x.toTimeString(); // x.getHours()+":"+x.getMinutes()+":"+x.getSeconds();
                                    TT = TT.split(" GMT").join("");
            $.writeln(YYYY+"-"+MM+"-"+DD+"T"+TT)
                                var fileContentDateCreated = "";
                                var exifDateTimeOriginal = xmp.getProperty(XMPConst.NS_EXIF, "DateTimeOriginal"); // Exif Date Time Original
                                var psDateCreated = xmp.getProperty(XMPConst.NS_PHOTOSHOP, "DateCreated"); // IPTC (Photoshop) Date Created
                                if(exifDateTimeOriginal){
                                    fileContentDateCreated = exifDateTimeOriginal;
                                    }
                                if(psDateCreated){
                                    fileContentDateCreated = psDateCreated;
                                    }
                                }
                            */
                            dataExport.write ("\r"); // write return to start file list	
                            dataExport.write(justDirectory+","); // write image file path
                            dataExport.write(fileName+","); // write image file name
                            dataExport.write("."+fileNameExtension+","); // write image file extension
                            dataExport.write(","); // write empty value for new file name
                            dataExport.write("."+fileNameExtension); // write image file extension
                           // dataExport.write(fileContentDateCreated+","); // write content date created
                           // dataExport.write(YYYY+"-"+MM+"-"+DD+"T"+TT); // write file date created
                            filePass++;
                            }
                        catch(e){
                            fileFail++;
                            }
                        } // CLOSE if(selectedFiles instanceof File == true)
                        } // CLOSE   for (var L1 = 0; L1 < selectedFiles.length; L1++)         
                    dataExport.close(); // Close the exported text file
                    dialog.close();
                // show completed message
                alert("List of "+filePass+" files saved to: "+dataExport.fullName)
                statictext4.text = "List save to "+dataExport.fullName;
                edittext1.text = dataExport.fullName;          
                    } // CLOSE if (dataExport)
            } // CLOSE if(selectedFiles.length == 0) else
        } // CLOSE function exportToFile()

        // browse for CSV rename file path
        function getRenameFilePath(){
        var filePath = File.openDialog("File List", "Comma separated:*.csv,Comma separated:*.txt");
            if(filePath){
                edittext1.text = File.decode(filePath.fsName) //  C:\Users\Computer User\Desktop\test.csv
                button3.enabled = true;
                }
            }
            
        // rename files
        // TODO should the original filename be saved in case of a misnaming mistake? NS_XMP_MM  mpMM:PreservedFileName
        function renameFiles(){
            var renamePass = 0;
            var renameFail = [];
            var writeXMPFail = [];
            var textFileLoad = File.encode(edittext1.text); // data source text file
            var textFileLoad = File (textFileLoad); // open the data text file
            textFileLoad.open ('r');
            var textFile = textFileLoad.read().split ('\n');
            textFileLoad.close(); 
            var textFileHeaders = textFile[0].split (","); // split first row by commas into currentName and newName column headers
   
            if(checkbox1.value == true){ // if Preserve current filename is selected, load add needed XMP components
                // Load the XMP Script library
                if (ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript == undefined)  ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript = new ExternalObject('lib:AdobeXMPScript');
                // register xmpMM namespace
                var NS_XMP_MM = "http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/";
                XMPMeta.registerNamespace (NS_XMP_MM, "xmpMM");
                }
           
            // validate CSV file before running rename         
            var csvFail = 0;
            var csvProblem = [];
             for (var L3 = 1; L3 < textFile.length; L3++){ // starting with the second row, split row by comma into currentName and newName column values
                try{ 
                    if(textFile[L3].length > 0){ // make sure each row of textFile has data because Excel adds an empty row when it saves changes    
                        var testTextFileRead = textFile[L3].split (",")     
                        var testCurrentDirectory = testTextFileRead[0];
           
                        var testCurrentName =  testTextFileRead[1];
                        var testCurrentExtension =  testTextFileRead[2];
                        var testNewName = testTextFileRead[3];
                        var testNewExtension =  testTextFileRead[4];
                        // Current File Name and New File Name have same file extension
                        var testCurrentExtension = testTextFileRead[2].toLowerCase().split("jpeg").join("jpg").split("tiff").join("tif");
                        var testNewExtension = testTextFileRead[4].toLowerCase().split("jpeg").join("jpg").split("tiff").join("tif");
                      //  var testCurrentFile = testCurrentDirectory+testCurrentName
                      //  var testCurrentExtensionIndex = testCurrentFile.lastIndexOf (".");
                      //  var testCurrentExtension = testCurrentFile.slice(testCurrentExtensionIndex+1).toLowerCase().split("jpeg").join("jpg").split("tiff").join("tif");
                      //  var testNewExtensionIndex = testNewName.lastIndexOf (".");
                      //  var testNewExtension = testNewName.slice(testNewExtensionIndex+1).toLowerCase().split("jpeg").join("jpg").split("tiff").join("tif");
                        // has File Folder Path
                        if(!testCurrentDirectory){                        
                            csvFail++;
                            csvProblem.push("Row "+L3+" Current Directory: no value");
                            }
                        // has Current File Name
                        if(!testCurrentName || !testCurrentExtension){
                            csvFail++;
                            csvProblem.push("Row "+L3+" Current File Name/Directory: no value");
                            }
                        // has New File Name
                        if(!testNewName || !testNewExtension){
                            csvFail++;
                            csvProblem.push("Row "+L3+" New File Name/Extension: no value");
                            }
                        /*
                        // New File Name has .file extension
                        if(testNewExtension.length < 2 || testNewExtension.length > 4){  // test for 2 to 4 characters after testNewExtensionIndex
                            csvFail++;
                            csvProblem.push(testNewName+": no file extension");
                            }
                        */
                        // Current File Name and New File Name have the same extension 
                        if(testCurrentExtension != testNewExtension){
                            csvFail++;
                            csvProblem.push("Row "+L3+testCurrentName+testCurrentExtension+": different file extension than: "+testNewName+testNewExtension);
                            }
                        }
                    }
                catch(e){
                        csvFail++;
                        }
                    }
            // if validate CSV file failed, show report and don't rename 
           // alert(csvProblem.join("\n"));
            if(csvFail > 0){
                var csvErrorWindow = new Window("palette", "CSV FIle Error", undefined, {closeButton:true});
                csvErrorWindow.alignChildren = ["center","top"];
              //  csvErrorWindow.minimumSize = [600,500];
                csvErrorMessage1 = csvErrorWindow.add("statictext", undefined, "Bad news: there are problems with the CSV file that will prevent proper renaming")
                csvErrorList = csvErrorWindow.add ("edittext", undefined, csvProblem.join("\n"), {multiline:true});
                csvErrorList.minimumSize = [450, 300];
                csvErrorList.maximumSize = [450, 300];
                csvErrorWindowOkBtn = csvErrorWindow.add("button", undefined, "Close");
                csvErrorWindowOkBtn.onClick =  function(){ 
                    csvErrorWindow.hide();
                    }
                csvErrorWindow.show();
                }
            
            if(csvFail == 0){
            for (var L1 = 1; L1 < textFile.length; L1++){ // starting with the second row, split row by comma into currentName and newName column values
                try{      
                if(textFile[L1].length > 0){ // make sure each row of textFile has data because Excel adds an empty row when it saves changes 
                var textFileRead = textFile[L1].split (",")     
                
                var currentDirectory = textFileRead[0];
                var currentName =  textFileRead[1];
                var currentExtenstion =  textFileRead[2];
                var newName = textFileRead[3];   
                var newExtenstion =  textFileRead[4];

            // if Preserve current filename is selected, write current filename to XMP
            if(checkbox1.value == true){
                try{
                    var changeXMP = currentDirectory+currentName+currentExtenstion;
                    // get XMP from file
                    var xmpFile = new XMPFile(changeXMP, XMPConst.UNKNOWN, XMPConst.OPEN_FOR_UPDATE);
                    // delete existing XMP
                    var xmpData = xmpFile.getXMP();xmpData.deleteProperty(NS_XMP_MM, "PreservedFileName");
                    // add new XMP
                    xmpData.setProperty (NS_XMP_MM, "PreservedFileName", currentName);
                    // save new XMP to file
                    if (xmpFile.canPutXMP(xmpData)) {
                        xmpFile.putXMP(xmpData);
                        }
                    xmpFile.closeFile(XMPConst.CLOSE_UPDATE_SAFELY);
                    }
                catch(e){
                    writeXMPFail.push(writeXMPFail);
                    }
                } 

                // rename file
                var currentFile = new File(currentDirectory+currentName+currentExtenstion);             
                currentFile.rename(newName+newExtenstion);
                renamePass++;
            }
        }
        catch(e){
                renameFail.push(currentFile);
                }
            } // CLOSE for (var L1 = 1; L1 < textFile.length; L1++)
       dialog.close();

    //    alert(renamePass+" files renamed");

// Show report that import is complete
var complete = new Window("palette", "Rename Complete"); 
//    complete.preferredSize = [400,400];
var filesForRenaming = textFile.length-1;
complete.spacing = 3;
complete.alignChildren = 'center';
complete.header = complete.add('statictext', undefined, "Success!");
complete.msg1= complete.add('statictext', undefined, renamePass+" files renamed");
complete.msg1.preferredSize = [400,40];
complete.msg1.justify = 'center';
// List of files that could not be opened to write metadata
complete.problem1 = complete.add('group');
complete.problem1.orientation = 'column';	
complete.problem1.maximumSize = [0,0];
complete.problem1.header = complete.problem1.add('statictext', undefined, "But...");
//complete.problem1.header.graphics.font = ScriptUI.newFont ('Arial', 'BOLD', 16);
complete.problem1.msg1 = complete.problem1.add('statictext', undefined, "These files could not be opened for renaming:");
complete.problem1.list = complete.problem1.add ('edittext', [0, 0, 500, 150], renameFail.join("\n"), {multiline:true});
// If there are files that couln't be opened, make problem1 visible		
if (renameFail.length > 0){
    complete.problem1.minimumSize = [500,400];
    }
complete.okBtn = complete.add('button', undefined, 'Close');
complete.okBtn.onClick =  function(){ 
    complete.hide();
    }
complete.show();

                } 
            } // CLOSE if(csvFail == 0)
        } // CLOSE TRY 
    catch(e){
    alert(e + ' ' + e.line);
    }
} // CLOSE runRnfcsv()