Replacing images in a project

[rrprec]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to After Effects, and I'm putting together a project that consists of putting together a sequence of 3D renders (JPEGs) to create an animation. We also used clipping channels and some 3D passes. For each rendered sequence, we have the same amount of images, what changes is just the initial number in the file name, example:
01.RGB_color.0000 to 0071, 01.Alpha.0001 to 0071 and so on, and in the next sequence, we have the same filenames, just changing to 02.RGB_color.0000, 02.Alpha.0000...

The project with the files "01.xxx" is ready. My doubt is:
Is it possible to automatically replace files starting with 01 in the project with files starting with 02 that are in another folder? And then change it to 03, 04, etc...
The current project has a total of 1225 images.

I will be grateful for any help and clarification

[Rick Gerard · Accepted solution]

If you imported your source footage as an image sequence replacing the footage in the Project Panel is as easy as selecting the original file name and using the File/Replace Footage menu. If you imported the images as individual files instead of an image sequence, then you are stuck with renaming folders or the image sequences. 

The most efficient way to handle this kind of project is to treat the image sequences the same way you would treat a movie file. Each image sequence should be in a separate folder on the hard drive. Import all of the image seauences that you need for the shot you are working on. AE is designed to create shots, not edit movies, so each comp you create should be a shot. Then create your first comp using the first image seaquence. 

If you need to stack your render passes in the same comp, just drag them in. If you need different comps from the different image seauences, but the comps need to have the same modifications, you can duplicate the first comp in the Project Panel, open the duplicate, then select the image seauence layer in the comp, select the replacement sequence in the Project Panel, then hold down the Alt/Option key and drag the replacement footage from the Project Panel to the Timeline. When you release the mouse, the source footage will be replaced. 

[rrprec]

@Rick Gerard , thanks for the detailed explanation!