Easy random file renaming on Mac

File Management:

Easy random file renaming on Mac

Sometimes you will need an easy way to rename files. In my case I need to rename files because I need to randomly display images on a tv slideshow. The files are uploaded to Dropbox and then displayed on the tv with YoDeck. There is currently no way to randomize how they are displayed so I create random letter filenames to “randomly” show the images.

 

Method 1: Automator

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Automator, you can watch this video to learn more. 

• Create new Automator
• Select Run Shell Script and drag it to your main window
• Change the settings to:
  • Worflow receives current: files or folders in Finder.app
  • Input is: entire selection
  • Image: action
  • Color: black
• In the Run Shell Script the following:
  • Shell: /bin/bash
  • Pass input: as arguments
  • Code:

  #!/bin/bash
  
  # Function to generate a random string
  rand_string() {
      local length=10
      local chars='abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789'
      local result=""
      for (( i=0; i<$length; i++ )); do
          result+=${chars:RANDOM%${#chars}:1}
      done
      echo "$result"
  }
  
  # Process each selected item
  for item in "$@"; do
      if [ -d "$item" ]; then
          # If it's a folder, process all image files inside
          for file in "$item"/*.*; do
              if [ -f "$file" ]; then
                  ext="${file##*.}"  # Extract file extension
                  new_name="$(rand_string).$ext"
                  mv "$file" "$item/$new_name"
              fi
          done
      elif [ -f "$item" ]; then
          # If it's a single file, rename it
          dir="$(dirname "$item")"
          ext="${item##*.}"  # Extract file extension
          new_name="$(rand_string).$ext"
          mv "$item" "$dir/$new_name"
      fi
  done

  • Save as something like Randomize Filenames
• To use, in Finder (or on the desktop) right click on the folder containing the files you want to rename and inside the Quick Actions menu, click on Randomize Filenames.

 

 

Method 2: Bash

• Coming Soon