In my switch from Mac to Windows, most things have worked smoothly while running Windows 10. I have always been very much into all the fine nuances and details of any workflow or program you are working within and I am a huge ambassador for really learning all the small details that can make your life easier and more efficient.

One of my favorite things about the Mac was all the small little apps that folks would help my workflow. Renaming files is a huge deal in my workflow – nobody likes the default DSC_XXXX filenames that come from your camera. And yes, you can change the 3-digit prefix in camera, but still, sometimes a different numbering structure is best. My favorite way to do it was an app called A Better Finder Rename. The great news? There’s a version for Windows!

Powerful Renaming

More than Bridge’s sequential numbering batch rename, Better File Rename offers some serious levels of customization. 

Just like in the Mac version, we are given powerful features like text, case conversion, truncation and more, including regular expression substitution. 

The interface is easy, just drag and drop your files onto the renaming window and you are given a live preview of what the file names will be when you confirm the task. Tag-based renaming even allows you to tap into file metadata and use values in your new renaming. Possibilities for that include bit depth, pixel dimensions, video frame rate and so forth.

To even further enhance the power of this program, is to create a droplet/preset. Once you define how you want to change your filenames, you can save a droplet that can run silently. Just drop your images onto the applet, and the task is done. I highly recommend this, as it keeps a level of consistency within your various sessions. Which for someone who embraces my OCD moments is a very welcomed thing. Consistency and organization is never a bad thing when we deal with the number of files that a photographer does.

There’s no risk here, give the free trial a bash and I know you’ll be incredibly pleased with this tool you may not have known existed but now you won’t ever want to be without. It’s definitely one of my favorite tools.

Check out the free trial on the official website.