Renaming and combining files ?

[Rita]

I have two files one with left side images of a book the other with right side images of the same book Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land in order ? The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as ? 1 1a or 2a 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out the settings. And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them in a file together ? I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like Thanks! Rita

[dknodel@swbell.net]

Is this something that browser "Convert and Modify>Concat>Horizontal" could handle?  Hmm filenames there also determine the order IIRC?DavidFrom: Rita <littleflowersfamily@yahoo.com>Reply-To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com>Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:22:56 -0000To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com>Subject: [gcmac] Renaming and combining files ?   I have two files one with left side images of a book the other with right side images of the same book Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land in order ? The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as ? 1 1a or 2a 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out the settings. And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them in a file together ? I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like Thanks! Rita

[Rita]

Hmmm ? I looked at that, and don't 'think' it would work ? the file names are all the same from a camera IMG_4567.tif etc so, with 300 plus of these images in two files, would need a way to combine without renaming them all by hand. Eek! Thanks, ~Rita --- In gcmac@yahoogroups.com, "dknodel@..." <dknodel@...> wrote: > > Is this something that browser "Convert and Modify>Concat>Horizontal" could > handle? Hmm filenames there also determine the order IIRC? > > David > > From: Rita <littleflowersfamily@...> > Reply-To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com> > Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:22:56 -0000 > To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com> > Subject: [gcmac] Renaming and combining files ? > > > > > > > > > > > > > I have two files > > > > one with left side images of a book > > the other > > with right side images of the same book > > > > Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land > > in order ? > > > > The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as > > ? > > 1 > > 1a > > or > > 2a > > 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? > > > > And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? > > I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out > > the settings. > > > > And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them > > in a file together ? > > > > I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like > > > > Thanks! > > Rita > > > > > > > > > > >

[dknodel@swbell.net]

Eek indeed.  But I have used GC to 'automatically' rename many files at a time; it takes a bit to get the naming right, there are several rename tabs/options.  Rename them to a new folder (safety first, hehe) and then concat?I use 7.6.1 (403) but I don't remember this changing much in recent versions.  Perhaps Thorsten will weigh in on this when it is day in Germany.There may be a way to do pages from a book I haven't had to use…DavidFrom: Rita <littleflowersfamily@yahoo.com>Reply-To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com>Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:49:18 -0000To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com>Subject: [gcmac] Re: Renaming and combining files ?   Hmmm ? I looked at that, and don't 'think' it would work ? the file names are all the same from a camera IMG_4567.tif etc so, with 300 plus of these images in two files, would need a way to combine without renaming them all by hand. Eek! Thanks, ~Rita --- In gcmac@yahoogroups.com, "dknodel@..." <dknodel@...> wrote: > > Is this something that browser "Convert and Modify>Concat>Horizontal" could > handle? Hmm filenames there also determine the order IIRC? > > David > > From: Rita <littleflowersfamily@...> > Reply-To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com> > Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:22:56 -0000 > To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com> > Subject: [gcmac] Renaming and combining files ? > > > > > > > > > > > > > I have two files > > > > one with left side images of a book > > the other > > with right side images of the same book > > > > Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land > > in order ? > > > > The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as > > ? > > 1 > > 1a > > or > > 2a > > 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? > > > > And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? > > I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out > > the settings. > > > > And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them > > in a file together ? > > > > I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like > > > > Thanks! > > Rita > > > > > > > > > > >

[Robert Poland]

Rita, If you're into Applescript, I have a script that I use to add a two digit number to the start of a file name based on the modification date. On Feb 11, 2012, at 4:49 PM, Rita wrote: > > Hmmm ? I looked at that, and don't 'think' it would work ? > > the file names are all the same from a camera > IMG_4567.tif > etc > > so, with 300 plus of these images in two files, would need a way to combine without renaming them all by hand. Eek! > > Thanks, > ~Rita > > > --- In gcmac@yahoogroups.com, "dknodel@..." <dknodel@...> wrote: >> >> Is this something that browser "Convert and Modify>Concat>Horizontal" could >> handle? Hmm filenames there also determine the order IIRC? >> >> David >> >> From: Rita <littleflowersfamily@...> >> Reply-To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com> >> Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:22:56 -0000 >> To: <gcmac@yahoogroups.com> >> Subject: [gcmac] Renaming and combining files ? >> >>> >>> I have two files >>> >>> one with left side images of a book >>> the other >>> with right side images of the same book >>> >>> Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land >>> in order ? >>> >>> The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as >>> ? >>> 1 >>> 1a >>> or >>> 2a >>> 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? >>> >>> And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? >>> I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out >>> the settings. >>> >>> And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them >>> in a file together ? >>> >>> I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like >>> >>> Thanks! >>> Rita---------------- Robert Poland - Fort Collins, CO

[Alfred J Treder]

Rita,That should be easy. Since you're trying something for the first time, make sure that you retain a separate set of originals, and work only with copies.You probably meant that you have two folders of files, one folder of left-hand pages and one of right-hand pages. That's what I will assume, since dealing with multipage files is much more cumbersome, I think. If you do have multipage files, and just two of them, my first step would be to separate the pages into individual files first.With GC, you can use Rename to add an index to either the front or the back of the filename, and you can make the core filename whatever you want. I would make the core filename for all the files exactly the same, something like BookName. Remember that the index you add should have the same number of digits for every file, so it will sort correctly. So if you have hundreds of pages, all the indices should be three digits. A typical result will be of the form 001BookName, 002BookName, etc. or BookName_p001, BookName_p002, etc. But when you do the Rename operation, number all the left-hand pages with odd numbers and all the right-hand pages with even numbers. Then you can mix the two folders of renamed files and they will sort into the appropriate sequence. Details are in the next paragraph.[I have the latest version of GC, so the window I see is probably a little different from the one you see. However, I believe the same options and operations were there in many earlier versions, which I have also used over the years.] There are many kinds of things you can do with the name in Rename, but you need only two kinds, "Name & Extension", and "Index", which are two of the submenu names you will see once you screw up your courage and hit the Rename button (after selecting the files you want to rename). The renamed files will stay in the folders they are in, so you want to have these as copies of the originals, in a separate folder. Go for the  "Name & Extension" menu and select "Change filename", and then enter whatever you want for BookName in the little text window. Next select the menu "Index" and select "Add new". Further down that menu you can pick "Index Position", "Offset", and "Step". You want to select 2 as the Step value, so the renumbering will give you every other number in sequence. Pick "Number of Digits" to equal those of your largest page number (3 for hundreds, 2 for tens). You should see a window with your selected files listed and how they will look after the changes are made. When you like what you see, hit "Rename" in the lower part of the menu window.This should work. Al“ Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ”-- Scott Adams On Feb 11, 2012, at 3:22 PM, Rita wrote:   I have two files one with left side images of a book the other with right side images of the same book Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land in order ? The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as ? 1 1a or 2a 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out the settings. And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them in a file together ? I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like Thanks! Rita

[Rita]

Hi Al, Okay this looks great! And just to confirm these are all individual images in two files. Each file about 150 each. Now, I did a test file. and not sure if this worked. My GC is not formated like yours, so I tried to match up what your wrote with. It's a bit different but I'm pretty sure I got the settings correct. I used: Under Index: Add Index Offset was -1 (to get the numbering to start at 1) Digits 3 (for 000 spaces) Step 2 Also checked here was Remove Existing Index, Begin, Before Name Then under another window called Name: I checked Change Name and put the new Bookname in the box Under Extention, I checked: Rename only files (not folders) What I got when I said GO The left side started with 001 but everything after that is 1341 1343 1345 1347 and so on. Then Right file looks like: 002 1004 1008 1010 1012 The only thing I changed on the second run Right Side was under Index I removed the checkmark for Change Index (as I thought this was ruining it) So, now I'm really stumped. Why would the both numbering start with 001 or 002 correctly but then go on to use other numbers ? I can't see how these numbers would sort these two files so not going to try them. Maybe it's just too late for my brain, but I guess I'll just wait for you to chime in for this one. I was so excited at first! I guess it was easier to read than to 'do' correctly ! THanks and will wait to hear from you, sigh ~Rita --- In gcmac@yahoogroups.com, Alfred J Treder <altreder@...> wrote: > > Rita, > > That should be easy. Since you're trying something for the first time, make sure that you retain a separate set of originals, and work only with copies. > > You probably meant that you have two folders of files, one folder of left-hand pages and one of right-hand pages. That's what I will assume, since dealing with multipage files is much more cumbersome, I think. If you do have multipage files, and just two of them, my first step would be to separate the pages into individual files first. > > With GC, you can use Rename to add an index to either the front or the back of the filename, and you can make the core filename whatever you want. I would make the core filename for all the files exactly the same, something like BookName. Remember that the index you add should have the same number of digits for every file, so it will sort correctly. So if you have hundreds of pages, all the indices should be three digits. A typical result will be of the form 001BookName, 002BookName, etc. or BookName_p001, BookName_p002, etc. But when you do the Rename operation, number all the left-hand pages with odd numbers and all the right-hand pages with even numbers. Then you can mix the two folders of renamed files and they will sort into the appropriate sequence. Details are in the next paragraph. > > [I have the latest version of GC, so the window I see is probably a little different from the one you see. However, I believe the same options and operations were there in many earlier versions, which I have also used over the years.] There are many kinds of things you can do with the name in Rename, but you need only two kinds, "Name & Extension", and "Index", which are two of the submenu names you will see once you screw up your courage and hit the Rename button (after selecting the files you want to rename). The renamed files will stay in the folders they are in, so you want to have these as copies of the originals, in a separate folder. Go for the "Name & Extension" menu and select "Change filename", and then enter whatever you want for BookName in the little text window. Next select the menu "Index" and select "Add new". Further down that menu you can pick "Index Position", "Offset", and "Step". You want to select 2 as the Step value, so the renumbering will give you every other number in sequence. Pick "Number of Digits" to equal those of your largest page number (3 for hundreds, 2 for tens). You should see a window with your selected files listed and how they will look after the changes are made. When you like what you see, hit "Rename" in the lower part of the menu window. > > This should work. > > Al > > " Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. " > > -- Scott Adams > > On Feb 11, 2012, at 3:22 PM, Rita wrote: > > I have two files > > one with left side images of a book > the other > with right side images of the same book > > Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land in order ? > > The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as ? > 1 > 1a > or > 2a > 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? > > And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? > I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out the settings. > > And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them in a file together ? > > I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like > > Thanks! > Rita >

[Alfred J Treder]

Rita,Now I have a better calibration on how you're thinking, so this may sound a little different.First, let's clarify a term you are using. Actually, two terms. What you call "images" are that, but they are in the form of "files". You can properly call them "image files". Each image is a file. A collection of files is put in a folder, so you have a folder of files. These are the terms as GC uses them.In another post I saw you talk (isn't that a strange phrase? but it's true) about your images as named IMG_2345, IMG_2346, etc. Each image is a file with that name, of course. I have seen that format before, and I understand it. The camera names each image file as the concatenation of the prefix "IMG_" and an index number that must have started as 0001 when the camera was brand new, and will go back to 0001 after it reaches 9999. The camera always assigns such indices in numerical sequence, but only for new exposures, so if any exposure was deleted the sequence number for that frame would seem to be skipped when you look at what is left in the camera. When the book was photographed page by page, I would think it was done in sequence, so if NO frames were deleted in that process, all the odd-numbered files would be one side (left or right) and the even-numbered files would be the other side. You probably aren't that lucky with 300 exposures, but it's possible. If it were true, you could just put all the image files in one folder and they would automatically sort into what you want. But you have what must be two folders of about 150 files each, which have somehow been segregated into left-hand pages and right-hand pages. And that was done probably because the image file numbers as they came out of the camera were not all neatly odd-numbered for left side and even-numbered for right side (or vice versa). They might even have had to go back and reshoot some pages which didn't turn out well enough the first time, so some of the final images may have index numbers that look out of sequence. You haven't talked about that yet, but it seems it must be part of your problem. So, in your reply, please tell me about the apparent order of the image files in the two folders, and how you know which is a left page and which is on the right. Is that determined only by the appearance of the imaged page? If so, somebody must have sorted through the images visually, and put left-looking pages in one folder and right-looking pages in the other folder. Given that the folders are correctly filled, what does a list of image filenames look like? Are the indices all either odd or even, with no apparent gaps in sequence? How are the pages, either left or right, put into correct numerical page sequence? Inquiring minds crave details like these.Now, in GC:There is no need to "Remove Existing Index", although part of your existing filename is an index. That option should be unchecked, to reduce any confusion. GC does not need to look at the existing filename and decide that part of it is an index to be removed. If you are using "Change Name", GC will gladly replace the entire name (including the numbers in it) with whatever you put in the little window, so those numbers disappear. Under the "Extension" Menu, you don't need to choose anything, I think, and the extension will remain what it was (you said it was "tif"). You do not want to change the extension at all, since that is sacred info. When you start the renaming process, the files are already in some order, probably numerical order of the numbers in the filename. GC will preserve exactly that sequence of files and give them the neat index numbers you specify. But it will do that only for the files that are selected in the folder. If you want to rename all the files in the folder you have to select all of them. I do not understand the results you got. Maybe you didn't completely spell out those results. It looks like there is no Bookname in the new names, unless you meant Bookname is to be implied as showing up either before or after the numbers you listed. You said the first result was 001, followed by 1341, 1343, 1345, which is very strange since the first result is three digits and the others are four, besides the fact that the four digits don't seem to have followed from 001 or even 0001. Then the Right file starts with a three digit 002 and proceeds normally except with an unwanted 1 at the front. This confuses me. Show me a list of the old filenames and the corresponding new filenames. This is a workable problem. Let's keep going here. Al“ The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.”-- Lily Tomlin On Feb 11, 2012, at 7:37 PM, Rita wrote:   Hi Al, Okay this looks great! And just to confirm these are all individual images in two files. Each file about 150 each. Now, I did a test file. and not sure if this worked. My GC is not formated like yours, so I tried to match up what your wrote with. It's a bit different but I'm pretty sure I got the settings correct. I used: Under Index: Add Index Offset was -1 (to get the numbering to start at 1) Digits 3 (for 000 spaces) Step 2 Also checked here was Remove Existing Index, Begin, Before Name Then under another window called Name: I checked Change Name and put the new Bookname in the box Under Extention, I checked: Rename only files (not folders) What I got when I said GO The left side started with 001 but everything after that is 1341 1343 1345 1347 and so on. Then Right file looks like: 002 1004 1008 1010 1012 The only thing I changed on the second run Right Side was under Index I removed the checkmark for Change Index (as I thought this was ruining it) So, now I'm really stumped. Why would the both numbering start with 001 or 002 correctly but then go on to use other numbers ? I can't see how these numbers would sort these two files so not going to try them. Maybe it's just too late for my brain, but I guess I'll just wait for you to chime in for this one. I was so excited at first! I guess it was easier to read than to 'do' correctly ! THanks and will wait to hear from you, sigh ~Rita --- In gcmac@yahoogroups.com, Alfred J Treder <altreder@...> wrote: > > Rita, > > That should be easy. Since you're trying something for the first time, make sure that you retain a separate set of originals, and work only with copies. > > You probably meant that you have two folders of files, one folder of left-hand pages and one of right-hand pages. That's what I will assume, since dealing with multipage files is much more cumbersome, I think. If you do have multipage files, and just two of them, my first step would be to separate the pages into individual files first. > > With GC, you can use Rename to add an index to either the front or the back of the filename, and you can make the core filename whatever you want. I would make the core filename for all the files exactly the same, something like BookName. Remember that the index you add should have the same number of digits for every file, so it will sort correctly. So if you have hundreds of pages, all the indices should be three digits. A typical result will be of the form 001BookName, 002BookName, etc. or BookName_p001, BookName_p002, etc. But when you do the Rename operation, number all the left-hand pages with odd numbers and all the right-hand pages with even numbers. Then you can mix the two folders of renamed files and they will sort into the appropriate sequence. Details are in the next paragraph. > > [I have the latest version of GC, so the window I see is probably a little different from the one you see. However, I believe the same options and operations were there in many earlier versions, which I have also used over the years.] There are many kinds of things you can do with the name in Rename, but you need only two kinds, "Name & Extension", and "Index", which are two of the submenu names you will see once you screw up your courage and hit the Rename button (after selecting the files you want to rename). The renamed files will stay in the folders they are in, so you want to have these as copies of the originals, in a separate folder. Go for the "Name & Extension" menu and select "Change filename", and then enter whatever you want for BookName in the little text window. Next select the menu "Index" and select "Add new". Further down that menu you can pick "Index Position", "Offset", and "Step". You want to select 2 as the Step value, so the renumbering will give you every other number in sequence. Pick "Number of Digits" to equal those of your largest page number (3 for hundreds, 2 for tens). You should see a window with your selected files listed and how they will look after the changes are made. When you like what you see, hit "Rename" in the lower part of the menu window. > > This should work. > > Al > > " Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. " > > -- Scott Adams > > On Feb 11, 2012, at 3:22 PM, Rita wrote: > > I have two files > > one with left side images of a book > the other > with right side images of the same book > > Is there a way to rename these files so when put together they will all land in order ? > > The two files would need to have a way to have the files to be named such as ? > 1 > 1a > or > 2a > 2b or something more creative ? Anyone have any ideas ? > > And what tool would I use to accomplish this ? > I've tried Rename, and it 'looks' like it might work, but I can't figure out the settings. > > And after what should I use to combine, unless I could safely just throw them in a file together ? > > I'm using GC 6.7 it looks like > > Thanks! > Rita >

[Rita]

Hi Al, Okay inquiring minds. Let me try answer this bit by bit, here goes: > Now I have a better calibration on how you're thinking, so this may sound a little different. +++Oh, I hope so! > First, let's clarify a term you are using. Actually, two terms. What you call "images" are that, but they are in the form of "files". You can properly call them "image files". Each image is a file. A collection of files is put in a folder, so you have a folder of files. These are the terms as GC uses them. +++Okay sorry if I wasn't clear. yes, these are all tiff files, shot by a camera, of the pages of a book. All the right side was done first (i think) then all the left side. This was for ease of not having to move the book. +++So, final output was 300 images/files of book pages, but out of order, since all the right side (again I think right was first) and all the left side. They were shot seperately, so once one side was done, it was put in a file, and the other side was done. That is how they ended up in two files. Left and Right. (and so numbers are not consequetive or correct per se. > In another post I saw you talk (isn't that a strange phrase? but it's true) about your images as named IMG_2345, IMG_2346, etc. Each image is a file with that name, of course. I have seen that format before, and I understand it. The camera names each image file as the concatenation of the prefix "IMG_" and an index number that must have started as 0001 when the camera was brand new, and will go back to 0001 after it reaches 9999. The camera always assigns such indices in numerical sequence, but only for new exposures, so if any exposure was deleted the sequence number for that frame would seem to be skipped when you look at what is left in the camera. When the book was photographed page by page, I would think it was done in sequence, so if NO frames were deleted in that process, all the odd-numbered files would be one side (left or right) and the even-numbered files would be the other side. You probably aren't that lucky with 300 exposures, but it's possible. If it were true, you could just put all the image files in one folder and they would automatically sort into what you want. +++yes, the camera numbers all the images as they are taken. There was not many reshots, so only perhaps one or two that need to be fixed. But, all the images in LEFT, are in the correct order. going from pg 2 to 4 to 6 to 8 etc. Of the book page numbers. RIght side is in correct order too, even though the numbering won't work to combine. > But you have what must be two folders of about 150 files each, which have somehow been segregated into left-hand pages and right-hand pages. And that was done probably because the image file numbers as they came out of the camera were not all neatly odd-numbered for left side and even-numbered for right side (or vice versa). They might even have had to go back and reshoot some pages which didn't turn out well enough the first time, so some of the final images may have index numbers that look out of sequence. You haven't talked about that yet, but it seems it must be part of your problem. So, in your reply, please tell me about the apparent order of the image files in the two folders, and how you know which is a left page and which is on the right. Is that determined only by the appearance of the imaged page? If so, somebody must have sorted through the images visually, and put left-looking pages in one folder and right-looking pages in the other folder. Given that the folders are correctly filled, what does a list of image filenames look like? +++As I said it was easy to seperate the two sides. Just did all the left side, put them in a file, finished all the right side, put them in another file. Simple to sort. And yes, only on looking at the image itself now can you see the page. The numbers are all keeping them in order, but make no sense for putting them two sides together and hoping they will sort properly. your asking for file names ? Do you want file names after they were renamed or file names as they originally are ? Are the indices all either odd or even, with no apparent gaps in sequence? How are the pages, either left or right, put into correct numerical page sequence? Inquiring minds crave details like these. +++Okay, to save time here, the files with the new renames look like this: LEFT: 001Balt, 1341Book, 1343Book, 1345Book, 1347Book, 1349Book and so on, looks like all two by two like that all the way to 1663Book Right Side: 002Book, 1008Book, 1010Book, 1012Book, 1014Book all the way until 1332Book again two by two. > Now, in GC: > There is no need to "Remove Existing Index", although part of your existing filename is an index. That option should be unchecked, to reduce any confusion. GC does not need to look at the existing filename and decide that part of it is an index to be removed. If you are using "Change Name", GC will gladly replace the entire name (including the numbers in it) with whatever you put in the little window, so those numbers disappear. > > Under the "Extension" Menu, you don't need to choose anything, I think, and the extension will remain what it was (you said it was "tif"). You do not want to change the extension at all, since that is sacred info. > > When you start the renaming process, the files are already in some order, probably numerical order of the numbers in the filename. GC will preserve exactly that sequence of files and give them the neat index numbers you specify. But it will do that only for the files that are selected in the folder. If you want to rename all the files in the folder you have to select all of them. > > I do not understand the results you got. Maybe you didn't completely spell out those results. It looks like there is no Bookname in the new names, unless you meant Bookname is to be implied as showing up either before or after the numbers you listed. You said the first result was 001, followed by 1341, 1343, 1345, which is very strange since the first result is three digits and the others are four, besides the fact that the four digits don't seem to have followed from 001 or even 0001. Then the Right file starts with a three digit 002 and proceeds normally except with an unwanted 1 at the front. This confuses me. Show me a list of the old filenames and the corresponding new filenames. > > This is a workable problem. Let's keep going here. +++Okay, so looking at the first one from 001 to 1341 is only one in each folder ,I don't really care, as I could manually sort those. So that is not the big concern here, just to clear that up. What is the concern is that I need two folders with the files named properly so they will sort correctly when they are thrown together. I am just repeating what we already know I guess, but just wanted to make that clear. So, here are some of the original file names: Left: IMG4719.tif IMG4721.tif IMG4722.tif and so on until IMG4882.tif Right: IMG4549.tif IMG4550.tif IMG4551.tif IMG4552.tif As far as the settings I used, perhaps something threw it off. I added the name Book to be added after the number. Frankly doesn't matter how many numbers it uses to sort them as long as we get a good sort by twos on left and by twos on right so they will come together correctly. So could be 5 digit even. I hope this answers your questions, if I've forgotten anything that might be important let me know. Thanks for helping me sort this out! Really appreciate all your time. ~Rita

[Alfred J Treder]

Rita,We are definitely making progress. One minor thing: the images are files, you agree, but when you put a collection of files into something, that something is a folder, not a file. You actually CAN put files into one file, making a larger multipage file. I believe you can do that with TIFF and with PDF files. However, that is similar to gluing them into a scrapbook, because getting them individually out of the big scrapbook means effectively breaking the glue or cutting up the page, if you get my metaphor. So, I'm pretty sure you have a FOLDER of left page images (files) and another FOLDER of right page image files. That must be true, or you wouldn't be getting each image file renumbered (even if weirdly) by GC otherwise.I understand now how you got two folders of image files, left and right, and how they are in order within the folders but can't be meshed without renaming the files. Apparently all the repeat shots were done at the time of the original shoot rather than later, because you indicated some missing sequence numbers but no need to stick a later shot back in with earlier ones (other than the left/right problem). Makes it much simpler.Here is what you said about results of your first try:**********************************************************************************************************************************************+++Okay, to save time here, the files with the new renames look like this:LEFT: 001Balt, 1341Book, 1343Book, 1345Book, 1347Book, 1349Book and so on, looks like all two by two like that all the way to 1663BookRight Side: 002Book, 1008Book, 1010Book, 1012Book, 1014Book all the way until 1332Book again two by two.***********************************************************************************************************I think you meant that LEFT starts with 001Book, 1341Book, 1343Book, 1345Book. That seems to mean there is an offset of 1339 added to all the indices except the very first one, which is possible, I guess. There is a selectable offset in this function of GC, and the entry for it is right there with the entries for number of digits and how much to increment the index each iteration. You should have noticed any such number and wondered about it, so I wonder what that menu page showed you. If you entered any number for offset, it would be zero, I would think. Anyway, check that.The right side has a different apparent offset of 1004, as if you changed your entry for offset. Another weirdness is that you set the number of digits to three, and got three for the first file, but all the others have four. It's possible that GC will give you four digits as the result even if you pick 3, if it needs the room to express the result of adding the offset plus the index increment. So maybe the number of digits isn't really weird, and the only funny thing is the offset, which changes each time you do it. If you check your settings and find that there is a zero entry for offset, or a blank there, then somehow your current copy of GC is putting in an offset behind the scenes, so to speak. If that was happening, it wouldn't be so weird that the offset changes each time you run. That would be a malfunction of the software, and who knows what SHOULD come out. But fixing that is probably as simple as putting the preference files in the trash and then restarting GC. If that sounds weird, let me know, because it's a different topic that will take this conversation in an entirely different direction. Al“ Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ”-- Arthur C. Clarke On Feb 12, 2012, at 7:57 PM, Rita wrote:   Hi Al, Okay inquiring minds. Let me try answer this bit by bit, here goes: > Now I have a better calibration on how you're thinking, so this may sound a little different. +++Oh, I hope so! > First, let's clarify a term you are using. Actually, two terms. What you call "images" are that, but they are in the form of "files". You can properly call them "image files". Each image is a file. A collection of files is put in a folder, so you have a folder of files. These are the terms as GC uses them. +++Okay sorry if I wasn't clear. yes, these are all tiff files, shot by a camera, of the pages of a book. All the right side was done first (i think) then all the left side. This was for ease of not having to move the book. +++So, final output was 300 images/files of book pages, but out of order, since all the right side (again I think right was first) and all the left side. They were shot seperately, so once one side was done, it was put in a file, and the other side was done. That is how they ended up in two files. Left and Right. (and so numbers are not consequetive or correct per se. > In another post I saw you talk (isn't that a strange phrase? but it's true) about your images as named IMG_2345, IMG_2346, etc. Each image is a file with that name, of course. I have seen that format before, and I understand it. The camera names each image file as the concatenation of the prefix "IMG_" and an index number that must have started as 0001 when the camera was brand new, and will go back to 0001 after it reaches 9999. The camera always assigns such indices in numerical sequence, but only for new exposures, so if any exposure was deleted the sequence number for that frame would seem to be skipped when you look at what is left in the camera. When the book was photographed page by page, I would think it was done in sequence, so if NO frames were deleted in that process, all the odd-numbered files would be one side (left or right) and the even-numbered files would be the other side. You probably aren't that lucky with 300 exposures, but it's possible. If it were true, you could just put all the image files in one folder and they would automatically sort into what you want. +++yes, the camera numbers all the images as they are taken. There was not many reshots, so only perhaps one or two that need to be fixed. But, all the images in LEFT, are in the correct order. going from pg 2 to 4 to 6 to 8 etc. Of the book page numbers. RIght side is in correct order too, even though the numbering won't work to combine. > But you have what must be two folders of about 150 files each, which have somehow been segregated into left-hand pages and right-hand pages. And that was done probably because the image file numbers as they came out of the camera were not all neatly odd-numbered for left side and even-numbered for right side (or vice versa). They might even have had to go back and reshoot some pages which didn't turn out well enough the first time, so some of the final images may have index numbers that look out of sequence. You haven't talked about that yet, but it seems it must be part of your problem. So, in your reply, please tell me about the apparent order of the image files in the two folders, and how you know which is a left page and which is on the right. Is that determined only by the appearance of the imaged page? If so, somebody must have sorted through the images visually, and put left-looking pages in one folder and right-looking pages in the other folder. Given that the folders are correctly filled, what does a list of image filenames look like? +++As I said it was easy to seperate the two sides. Just did all the left side, put them in a file, finished all the right side, put them in another file. Simple to sort. And yes, only on looking at the image itself now can you see the page. The numbers are all keeping them in order, but make no sense for putting them two sides together and hoping they will sort properly. your asking for file names ? Do you want file names after they were renamed or file names as they originally are ? Are the indices all either odd or even, with no apparent gaps in sequence? How are the pages, either left or right, put into correct numerical page sequence? Inquiring minds crave details like these. +++Okay, to save time here, the files with the new renames look like this: LEFT: 001Balt, 1341Book, 1343Book, 1345Book, 1347Book, 1349Book and so on, looks like all two by two like that all the way to 1663Book Right Side: 002Book, 1008Book, 1010Book, 1012Book, 1014Book all the way until 1332Book again two by two. > Now, in GC: > There is no need to "Remove Existing Index", although part of your existing filename is an index. That option should be unchecked, to reduce any confusion. GC does not need to look at the existing filename and decide that part of it is an index to be removed. If you are using "Change Name", GC will gladly replace the entire name (including the numbers in it) with whatever you put in the little window, so those numbers disappear. > > Under the "Extension" Menu, you don't need to choose anything, I think, and the extension will remain what it was (you said it was "tif"). You do not want to change the extension at all, since that is sacred info. > > When you start the renaming process, the files are already in some order, probably numerical order of the numbers in the filename. GC will preserve exactly that sequence of files and give them the neat index numbers you specify. But it will do that only for the files that are selected in the folder. If you want to rename all the files in the folder you have to select all of them. > > I do not understand the results you got. Maybe you didn't completely spell out those results. It looks like there is no Bookname in the new names, unless you meant Bookname is to be implied as showing up either before or after the numbers you listed. You said the first result was 001, followed by 1341, 1343, 1345, which is very strange since the first result is three digits and the others are four, besides the fact that the four digits don't seem to have followed from 001 or even 0001. Then the Right file starts with a three digit 002 and proceeds normally except with an unwanted 1 at the front. This confuses me. Show me a list of the old filenames and the corresponding new filenames. > > This is a workable problem. Let's keep going here. +++Okay, so looking at the first one from 001 to 1341 is only one in each folder ,I don't really care, as I could manually sort those. So that is not the big concern here, just to clear that up. What is the concern is that I need two folders with the files named properly so they will sort correctly when they are thrown together. I am just repeating what we already know I guess, but just wanted to make that clear. So, here are some of the original file names: Left: IMG4719.tif IMG4721.tif IMG4722.tif and so on until IMG4882.tif Right: IMG4549.tif IMG4550.tif IMG4551.tif IMG4552.tif As far as the settings I used, perhaps something threw it off. I added the name Book to be added after the number. Frankly doesn't matter how many numbers it uses to sort them as long as we get a good sort by twos on left and by twos on right so they will come together correctly. So could be 5 digit even. I hope this answers your questions, if I've forgotten anything that might be important let me know. Thanks for helping me sort this out! Really appreciate all your time. ~Rita