Smart Rename

Whenever you take pictures on vacation or for any other purpose, you probably end up with one too many that initially intended. The camera names files in a specific way, which you might want to change for better identification. If this is the case, then applications like Smart Rename can help you out, letting you use various rules.

After a quick and effortless setup process, you’re free to check out the set of features, and renaming filters. However, before doing so, you might want to check whether or not .NET Framework is installed on your computer, because it’s one of the required components for functionality, but modern Windows iterations come with it as a default feature.

With the main window up, accommodation only takes a little while, thanks to the simplicity of the design, and the organized structure that makes things easy to identify. You need to add a folder inside a specific field, and you need to use the built-in browse dialog, because drag and drop is not supported.

Unfortunately, the application can’t automatically refresh its state after your actions, meaning you need to press a button after every change to generate a preview, and this includes loading files as well. When adding them, it’s possible to configure extension, and name filters, and whether or not to include subdirectories.

The list of renaming rules is not that abundant, and the way these are configured might not appeal to everyone. There’s a dedicated field where you must manually write rules down. Sadly, you can’t just add or paste them, even though there’s a list that shows them in the form they need to be, with relevant info so you know what they do.

Bottom line is that renaming multiple files with the tools Windows puts at your disposal can quickly get frustrating. This is where Smart Rename comes in handy, capable of getting the job done right, but with a little patience on your behalf, because of the slightly difficult method of adding rules.