Can I automatically number files? [Mac)

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
December 18, 2023
5 replies
3551 views

Hi there! I often have to number batches of images exported from PDFs. Here's an example:

I have a bunch of images named PN_1.jpg. PN_2.jpg, etc. These have been exported from a magazine PDF named "PN." I want them to remain in the same order, but I want to rename them... 1.jpg, 2.jpg, 3.jpg... etc. JUST numbers.

So I would be happy with a way to do this right from when I export them from the PDF OR just renumbering them after I export them.

I'm sure there is a way to do this, but I can't figure out how. These images will be uploaded to a website, so they have to be named a specific way.

I'm using an iMac.

Thank you!

Correct answer DigitalChickster

I figured it out! It's a two-step process, but in the Finder, I select all the images, choose "Rename" choose "Format", then "Name and counter"... then type any word in to the "Custom Format" window... and "Start numbers at 1." Then I use Bridge to go in and remove everything before "01,", "02," etc. Worked fine!

DigitalChicksterAuthor

Inspiring

I posted a few weeks ago about automatically numbering images. Very helpful people pointed me to Bridge... where I was able to figure it out! However, I'm having an issue with the process. I did post in the Bridge forum, but haven't got a response. So I thought I'd try here.
Here's what's going on. For my job, I am sent magazine PDFs. I export each page as an image. These images will be uploaded (by someone else) to a website... where they have to be named a specific way. Thanks to all of your help, I figured out how to do this using the batch feature in Bridge... for some PDFs.... (for example: the PDFs that have "page 3" as the actual page 3). However, often, a magazine's page 1 is technically page 3 of the PDF. But I need it to be named "01." So... how do I take a bunch of images in a folder and rename them starting with 01.jpg, then 02.jpg, etc. This seems like it would be simple, but I can't seem to get it right. It seems like I would need to remove the cover pages from the bunch of images. Then just name the remaining images, starting with 01. But I just can't figure out how to rename them completely... only how to remove part of the name.

Thanks in advance! And let me know if you need more info from me. I'm sure this isn't easy to follow.

DigitalChicksterAuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

I figured it out! It's a two-step process, but in the Finder, I select all the images, choose "Rename" choose "Format", then "Name and counter"... then type any word in to the "Custom Format" window... and "Start numbers at 1." Then I use Bridge to go in and remove everything before "01,", "02," etc. Worked fine!

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

You should be able to do the same thing in a single step with Bridge:

DigitalChicksterAuthor

Inspiring

Hi all! I'm new to Bridge, so I assume this is a dumb question. But I can't figure it out. For my job, I am sent magazine PDFs. I export each page as an image. These images will be uploaded (by someone else) to a website... where they have to be named a specific way. I have figured out how to do this using the batch feature... for some PDFs. The PDFs that have "page 3" as the actual page 3 of the PDF... this works fine. However, often, these magazines' page 1 is technically page 3 of the PDF. But I need it to be named "01." So... how do I take a bunch of images in a folder and rename them starting with 01.jpg, then 02.jpg, etc. These seems like it would be simple, but I can't seem to get it right. Thanks in advance! And let me know if you need more info from me. I'm sure this isn't easy to follow.

DigitalChicksterAuthor

Inspiring

I figured it out! It's a two-step process, but in the Finder, I select all the images, choose "Rename" choose "Format", then "Name and counter"... then type any word in to the "Custom Format" window... and "Start numbers at 1." Then I use Bridge to go in and remove everything before "01,", "02," etc. Worked fine!

DigitalChicksterAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks, all! I have used Bridge very little, so I never think to use it. I will do some research and figure out how to use it for my purposes! Thank you!

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

I'd suggest that you zero pad the files, such as 001.pdf etc. This ensures that file 10 displays in sequence as 010.pdf after file 001.pdf

DigitalChicksterAuthor

Inspiring

I agree, however I have to name them the way the website is set up... it's an automatic process for these images to uploaded... so I have to follow the naming convention.