Sequence Numbering Error Renaming Images

[Knoxley]

I have a series of photos of the same object. I want to rename all to have the same file name. For example, I have five images. I give them all the same name. If I enter the name in the "File Name" field in the Library, Metadata screen, each will be named as such:

Bob

Bob_2

Bob_3

Bob_4

Bob_5

LR will automatically rename the files to have a numerical sequence suffix. This is how I want it to work.

However, because of a special naming system that I am using, I need to do the renaming through the "Rename" dialogue. When I use Custom Text, without a sequence, to enter the new file name, the names come out as such:

Bob

Bob_5

Bob_6

Bob_7

Bob_8

You can see that 2, 3 and 4 are skipped over in the sequence that is generated. If there are more images, that number starts at a higher number. For example, if I have 6 images, the numerical suffix starts on _6. The sequence should start at _1 but does not. 

Unfortunartely, becasue I am working with many differnet objects that are batch renamed, they must have their own separate numbering sequences. I cannot add the numbering sequence through the Rename dialog. The sequence needs to use the automatic numbering that is added to files that all have the same name. 

There are no other files in the folder I am using. There is no reason for these numbers to be skipped. 

Thank you

[Rob_Cullen]

And what start number do you enter in the rename dialog?

[Knoxley]

Rob

I am not using the sequence in the Rename dialog. I am using the auto rename that happens when you give multiple images duplicate filenames. It is how the business I work for organizes images. For example, if I give a handful of files the same name, LR will automatically assign a suffix number (-2, -3, -4, and so on) to differntiate them from one another. This is exactly how I want it to work. But it doesn't work properly when using the Rename dialog. 

The reason I don't use the number sequence in the rename dialog is that I am renaming hundreds of items with this rename process. If I used the number sequence, it would add a single sequence to all of the items and I want individual sequences for each item. Thus I am using the duplicate file suffix that LR applies automatically. It only adds a sequence of numbers to duplicate files, not all of the files that are selected. 

It works perfectly, exactly how I want it to work, except the numbers don't start at 1. Which is why I consider it a bug as there are no other files to take up the numbers that are skipped in the sequence. 

[Knoxley]

Here is something for you to test. To make sure it isn't just on my system.

Select 10 photos in LR.

Open the Rename dialog box.

Select "Custom Name" only, without a sequence or anything else.

Type in a custom text. 

Click OK

Look at the names that have been assigned to your photos.

Are they sequential or are the first few numbers skipped?

[Rob_Cullen]

So here is the difference- as I understand it!

1) If you rename without a Rename Preset that includes a "Sequence" option, (ie Custom text only) you are leaving the sequencing for the Operating System (MacOS) to 'work out' and that can be un-predictable. It will also depend on the sequence numbers of files that may already exist in the file location.

2) If you create and use a Rename Preset in Lightroom-Classic that DOES include a "Sequence" component, then the files will be renamed accordingly, with the 'Start Number' provided (1 is the default).

I have never had problems using a "Custom Name- Sequence" Rename Preset.  (Many Slideshows)

[Knoxley]

Yes, I use sequence in renaming all the time. It works great for the applications that I do that need that sort of sorting. This is not one of those applications. I am renaming dozens of items and if I used the Sequence option, it would do a single sequence for all of the items and would look like the following:

Bob_01

Bob_02

Bob_03

Bob_04

Dave_05

Dave_06

Dave_07

Dave_08

What I need is the following:

Bob_01
Bob_02

Bob_03

Bob_04

Dave_01

Dave_02

Dave_03

Dave_04

Can you please do a test of the following? I want to see if this happens on only my machine or other folks machines as well.

Select 10 photos in LR.

Open the Rename dialog box.

Select "Custom Name" only, without a sequence or anything else.

Type in a custom text. 

Click OK

Look at the names that have been assigned to your photos.

Are they sequential or are the first few numbers skipped?

[Knoxley]

Rob

I appreciate your help up to this point. Any chance I can get you to test the following on your machine? I want to find out if mine is an isolated case of it is more widespread. Thank you again.

Select 10 photos in LR.

Open the Rename dialog box.

Select "Custom Name" only, without a sequence or anything else attached to the rename.

Type in a custom text. 

Click OK

Look at the names that have been assigned to your photos.

Are they sequential or are the first few numbers skipped?

[Rob_Cullen]

Yes, I see your problem. (Tested with 15 photos) But why will you not use a Rename Preset {Custom Text}-{Sequence#(001)>}?

Without giving LrC the ability to add a Sequence number (by you using Custom Text only) you are placing the Sequence 'in the hands of the gods' (or the OS).

Save yourself the hassles and use {Sequence} in a Rename Preset.

My screen-clips show-

A)   Rename WITH Sequence   B) Rename 'Custom Text' only:  

[Knoxley]

Rob

You are awesome, thank you for testing that out for me. It looks to be consistantly numbering incorrectly on at least two systems. This would indicate that there is some sort of consistantcy happening here. The goal is to figure out what is forcing the numbers to advance like that and not starting at 1. 

I have a very specific use case that makes using sequence in the renaming system impossible. I use sequence all the time for virtually everything else. I am very familiar with the system and it works perfectly for most of what I do. It does not, however, work for this instance. 

I have dozens of items that all need to be independant of each other. I have several pictures of each item. I want each item to have a NEW sequence. In fact, aside from jumping several numbers, the system is working exactly as I want it to. My goal is to grab all of the items and rename them so that they appear as below:

Bob 1

Bob 2

Bob 3

Bob 4

Larry 1

Larry 2

Larry 3

Larry 4

Hank 1

Hank 2

Hank 3

Hank 4

However, if I use sequence in the renaming process, it will result in the following:

Bob 1

Bob 2

Bob 3

Bob 4

Larry 5

Larry 6

Larry 7

Larry 8

Hank 9

Hank 10

Hank 11

Hank 12

Yes, I can grab each item individually and rename them with individual sequences but the goal here is automation, as I have thousands of items and need the computer to do the heavy lifting for me. That's why we have computers, afterall. 

By the way, I am not renaming each item by hand. I am using QR data stripped off of one image per item that poulates the metadata with the item name. Then the Rename preset writes the item name into the filename slot automatically. That's how thousands of items get a name automatically without any input from me.

[Rob_Cullen]

Tested my brain cells trying to think of a method to achieve your goal- but sadly I cannot 😞

I looked at other 'Rename' apps as well, but have not seen any clues. (Any 'script' writers out there?)

Ideally I would think that when the QR data populates an "item" name- that would be the time to, somehow, include a sequence, thus making each sequence (1, 2, 3,...) specific to the item name.

Good luck with your search.