Can you create a RegEx using folder structures in file names?

Saturday, April 14, 2012 3:38 AM

0

I have many folders structured thus:-

Author1
--first book title.txt
--second book title.rtf
--third book
----third book Title.doc
----Cover.jpg

Author2
--Another book title.epub

etc.

What I want:-

Author1
--first book title - Author1.txt
--second book title - Author1.rtf
--third book
----third book Title - Author1.doc
----Cover.jpg

Is there a RegEx that will append an " - " and the Author to each book title using the Multi Rename Tool? The first 2 books are difficult enough and I suspect the third book structure is impossible?

There can be 1 to many book titles and different file types involved in each Author folder.

I also suspect that RegExs only work at one level :(

I'll be more than happy with any solution that will save me manual effort :)

I have about 400 authors and I have already done a couple of hundred manually

Thanks in anticipation :D

All Replies

Monday, April 16, 2012 8:31 AM

Moderator

Hi Louwind,

Welcome to the MSDN Forum.

Actually, I don't suggest you to use Regular expression.

Please try the following code:

    Private Sub Button3_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click

        Dim dir As DirectoryInfo = New DirectoryInfo("D:\ChangeAuthors")
        For Each subDir In dir.GetDirectories()
            RenameFiles(subDir.FullName, subDir.Name)
        Next
    End Sub

    Private Sub RenameFiles(filePath As String, authorName As String)
        Dim dir As DirectoryInfo = New DirectoryInfo(filePath)

        For Each f In dir.GetFiles()
            My.Computer.FileSystem.RenameFile(f.FullName, f.Name & " - " & authorName & "." & f.Extension)
        Next

        For Each dic In dir.GetDirectories()
            RenameFiles(dic.FullName, authorName)
        Next
    End Sub

During my test, my folder structure is like this:

I hope this will be helpful.

Best regards,

Mike Feng
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.

Marked As Answer by Mike FengMicrosoft Contingent Staff, Moderator Saturday, April 21, 2012 7:45 AM

Monday, April 16, 2012 9:49 AM

1
Try

"^(?<head>\w+\sbook\s)(?=\w+\.(txt|rft|doc|equb))(?<title>.+)$"

Then use Replace method as follows(Use replace method):
```
Replace(input, @"${head}-${title}");
```
string

pattern = @"(?<head>\w+\sbook\s)(?=[^.]+\.(txt|rft|doc|equb))(?<title>.+)";
Regex r = new Regex(pattern);
string input = @"first book aa.txt";
Console.WriteLine(r.Replace(input, @"${head}- ${title}"));

Please Mark it as answer, if it helps solve your problem.
- Edited by Phape Tuesday, April 17, 2012 5:33 AM