Preset to preserve file name changing just te end of it

[Valeria Lages]

     Hi,

    I'd like to create a preset to rename automatically when exporting derivative files using just a part of the master file name and changing the end of it, but I think it would be possible only though a macro and I don't know how to do it.

    For example: my master file name is:

    vl_20090618_7007_d_ma   and I want my derivative file (a "normal"  one, without changes) like this:
    vl_20090618_7007_d_no

   So, is it possible to create a preset that preserves all the name and replaces only the termination "ma" for "no"? The same happens wiht original (or) and master (ma) and so on. All my files names have a two letters termination that points which kind of file is.

  As I use to export lots of different files together, a preset would be very useful. Actually I have to rename manually each copy (copy/paste and type the new termination) at Library copy name metadata field and it's boring and a waste of time.

   Could anybody teach me how to create a macro for that?

   Thanks in advance,

     Valeria

[peterkrogh]

Valeria,
I don't think this is possible without some kind of Lua coding (not sure it's possible even then).
John can probably tell if the output module is customizable through Lua.
Peter

[johnbeardy]

Isn't this just something you do with a regular naming preset? So in the export dialog, go into file naming and create one that is filename and custom text. Save the naming preset and you're done.

You can customize export quite extensively, but I've been concentrating my Lua efforts elsewhere. But I don't think this is anything to do with Lua or macros etc.

John

[peterkrogh]

John,
If I understand Valeria correctly, she wants to replace a part of the name with another string.
While you can append to a name, or you can pull out the unique identifier, I don't think you can pull out just a part of the name.
Peter

[johnbeardy]

Peter,

Yes, re-reading it I see you're right. While not a sort of search and replace on the filename, maybe one could simply build a new filename based on the date. Assuming Valeria follows exactly the same YYYYMMDD_vl_ convention as when the master had originally been named, the root of the derivative's name would match.

John

[markpirozzi]

Valeria,

In case there is no macro:   Are you using Export presets to create the derivatives?  If so, you could set your presets to send the derivatives to a specific folder such that all files in that folder would need the same rename pattern.  Some renaming programs let you create a droplet - the droplets could reside in those output folders, so that all you do is drag the the files as a group on top of the droplet to rename them.  A rename program for Macs is a 'A Better Finder Rename', not sure what's available for the PC.

However, your life will be much easier if you would append the names.  Could the derivative be named "...7007d_ma_no" ?

Mark

[johnbeardy]

Or omit the "ma" on the assumption that an image is a master unless there's another letter.

John

[Valeria Lages]

     Peter, John and Mark, thanks for responses.

     In this case, I would omit "ma" without problem as John suggested. But the matter is not replaces "ma" (master) for "no"  (normal), that was just an example.... I have others derivatives files that needs also a two letters termination that, together with the file extension, tell me in a fast way which copy of the image I have.  For instance:

no - normal, without any change
bw - black and white
sh - with sharp applied
la - with layers
fl -  with layers that have been flatted
cr - cropped


and also some combination of two or three of it, depending on each derivative file.

     Besides that, my original files "or"  also demand been replaced by "ma" termination when they become a master file. 

     It is, all my files names have at least two letters at the end, as I explained before... it comes  after my initials, the date, the sequential number, and the letters that tell me how is the original - d (digital), s (slide) or n (negative).

    In the case bellow, for example, I need to export four times the same file, each one with a different termination. Actually I have to copy/paste the name at metadata file name field of Library and manually changes the termination. I couldn't  create a preset  file name for it in the export window because I want to change just the end of the name, preserving all the rest.

     vl_20090620_8050_d_or.nef    (original)
     vl_20090620_8050_d_ma.dng    (master)
     vl_20090620_8050_d_fl.tif      (a high resolution image for delivery which layers have been flatted)
     vl_20090620_8050_d_bw.jpg   (black and white low resolution for email)

     Maybe I will have to do what Mark suggested, to export files to a specific folder and then run a program to change the name. I use Mac and can try "A Better Finder Rename". Can I find it free for download somewhere? Does it work thought macros?

     thank you all,

     Valeria

[Valeria Lages]

  ... just a complementation: I've created the names of my files with different information separated by underline code _  exactly to facilitate changes of part of the name when and if needed. The majority of the programs can work changing information separated by underline code and I'm really surprised to discover  LR can't do that...

    Valeria

[johnbeardy]

"I couldn't  create a preset  file name for it in the export window because I want to change just the end of the name, preserving all the rest."

Valeria - but you can do this. Adding a suffix is easy in the renaming editor, just make it {filename} sh , for example. Or to throw another one at you, do you even need to include such letters in the filenaming? I never do, except in specific cases where I'm preparing images for a magazine article. I can see that an image is b&w, for instance, and at least in my case I'd always leave the colour original as a layer. I wonder how much of this info you really need to bake into the filename.

John

[markpirozzi]

Valeria,

I'm sure you can download and test A Better Finder Rename but it's not free if you rename more than say 10 files at a time.  I've bought a copy about 5 years ago.  Maybe there is something else that's free out there.

I know that you are set on always renaming but let me tell you what I do.  I append all NEF files' name with nef (no underbar).  I append all CRW files with crw and append JPG files with rgb.  When naming derivatives, I only append to the original file name.  If I send the file to photoshop, I append the file name with '_01'.  If I start a new version from the original, it gets appended with  '_02'.  You can add BW, etc. LR has the ability to export a DNG file as copy of the original file with adjustments.  I will do this with my best files using a preset and the preset appends '_copy' to the file name.  Give consideration to adapting to the simplest workflow that does the job...that is where you will eventually end up anyway.  End of soapbox.

Also, can '_d' be replaced with 'd' - it would make the name look simpler, especially to people who receive copies.

Mark

 

[Valeria Lages]

     John and Mark,

    If I create a preset {filename} + my two letters termination as suggested,  the copy name would stay with double termination -  vl_20090620_8050_d_or_ma  - and that's not the idea because or the file is the original or the master one, not both at the same time.... I just want to replace the last two letters of the file name by others two letters, not append more letters.

     I agree a b&w copy is not necessary to have "bw" on its name if you are looking directly to the image. But if I have to find it just trough Finder, as I often do - to send it to someone without having to open LR or BR or even to check if they are  really where they were supposed to after exporting it - , knowing by the name which copy file is each one is helpful.

     Imagine having in the same folder different copies with the same name and just copy 1, copy 2 , copy 3 etc  to differ them. How are you going to know which is the one you are looking for if you are not looking to the image? For me, having the termination with a kind of "explanation" about each copy is definitively practical, not redundant. Mainly to avoid taking a wrong copy by accident...

     Even in LR or in Bridge, where I've choose to have the file name on the top of the cell image, I like to see quickly which copy of the image I'm looking at, without having to check in the metadata field. Often I have several different copies of the same image, with different treatments and derivations, and I do prefer to know trough its name what is each one of this.

     About the underbar between each information on the file name: it is to become easier to the programs to separate infomation and change/rename it all over the workflow for the rest of the file life.. I'm not thinking about nowadays, but in the future... if I need I can do anything with the names I've created, including discard my d/s/n system or my two letters termination system. To do that, it's easier to the programs if all the information are separated by underbar because they can treat each information separately. 

      I've asked about a program to replace my last two letters (and it's in the end of the name not by coincidence, it's to facilitate the change also) because I imagine there is many that do it easily. If not, I will ask someone to create it for me, as I've did with others automatic steps in my workflow. Any other program suggestion?


     Valeria

[markpirozzi]

Valeria,
 
I don't view vl_20090620_8050_d_or_ma as double labeling but more of a path to get to the master.  The last two letters tell you what version of the file it is.  Sometimes I will take a file through Lab mode and save that version with _LAB appended - then take a copy of that, flatten it, convert to RGB and finish up. That final photoshop version will then end with _LAB_RGB. I'll know that I went through Lab to get to the final version but it ends in RGB so I know it's a RGB file.

A Better Finder Rename will do what you want easily.  It is capable of very complicated renames.  In one operation you can do many things by having a series of steps and it does the steps in the order you specify.  It will insert/delete text at position points or before/after certain text strings, add sequence numbers at position points or before/after certain text strings, replace text (1st or 2nd or 3rd... occurrence) with text you specify, truncate file names - the list is very long what you can do including pulling dates and times from files.  (It won't undo renames by hitting an undo command however.) 

Mark

[peterkrogh]

   vl_20090620_8050_d_or.nef    (original)
     vl_20090620_8050_d_ma.dng    (master)
     vl_20090620_8050_d_fl.tif      (a high resolution image for delivery which layers have been flatted)
     vl_20090620_8050_d_bw.jpg   (black and white low resolution for email)

I would say that the first three of these suffixes are unnecessary. The NEF is going to be the original (archived separately, I assume), and the DNG is going to be the master original file. Why are these necessary at all?  I also don't get why these are derivatives?

It looks like all this coding is just making things complicated, without providing any value, unless I'm missing something.
Peter

[Valeria Lages]

   Ok, Peter, in this case of a nef file, it is obvious this is the original one. But I have some jpeg original files that I do want to differ from a jpeg low resolution for e-mail which the original is a nef, for example. I have also original tiff files that I got from scanned slides and I do want to differ them from a tiff ready to deliver which the original is a nef. So, I consider  my "or" a necessary information to me.

    Valeria