Renaming in 4.23 - Extensions Missing

[BlueNight]

I've got some unexpected behavior that interferes with how I use Irfanview at work. (Yes, we bought a commercial license.) I was renaming some files, and it didn't retain the original extensions.

I'm running XP 2002 sp2 on a 2.13 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2gb ram (DELL Optiplex). I recently upgraded from 4.10 (with zoom scroll bugfix) to 4.23.

Part of my job includes digital archiving of architectural blueprints, and this often involves renaming the scans to match the document index.

First, I named the files A1.1.tif, S2.3.TIF, E1.6.tif, etc., in the scanning program (not IrfanView). Then, I attempted to rename them using the batch rename feature. I was renaming them in this manner:

Building name - document name - page index.tif

where page index is the aforementioned A1.1, S2.3, etc. I used "Building name - document name - $N" as the renaming template.

I had done this dozens of times before in 4.10 without any problems. However, this was my first time with 4.23. I was surprised to see the .tif extension had disappeared!

I fixed those files, then ran a test. The test files included multiple periods, and the test renaming template had spaces and dashes. I added the files to the list of files to be renamed by using the "add all" button while viewing the directory where the files were stored. The resulting test files were missing their extensions. Here is a screenshot of the results, and the settings I used:

Anyone else get this bug?

[Sam_Zen]

Before anything else : using multiple periods in file names still is asking for trouble.
Since only the real .tif extension is missing then maybe this is caused by Windoze, because it has a mode to hide extensions.

[BlueNight]

Before anything else : using multiple periods in file names still is asking for trouble.

Yeah, but that's how the client likes it.

Since only the real .tif extension is missing then maybe this is caused by Windoze, because it has a mode to hide extensions.

That would have been my first guess, except I have it disabled on this machine, and so it didn't even cross my mind.

The command line (CMD.EXE, formerly COMMAND.COM) still has problems with wildcards when multiple periods are involved. Does Irfanview now use the OS's rename command?

[BlueNight]

I just ran into it again. Out of the fifteen or so files I was renaming "building name - document name - $N" where $N was a page name, file "AD-1.2.tif" lost its extension. It was the only one with two periods. I'm not sure if I used "add all" or if I dragged them onto the lower filename window from the folder containing them. Does this occur for you?

[Skippybox]

I don't think this has anything to do with hiding extensions in Explorer.

There does appear to be a difference in how extensions are retained in 4.23. You must remember that renaming can include the extension. It is useful in batch rename to be able to change an extension, or its case (e.g. JPG to jpg).

So, because you are using periods it probably is confusing the new method of renaming. Therefore, the tif extension is discarded for some strange one of your own making. Usually the filename has no other periods and so the extension is retained. Additionally, even if multiple periods existed, the filename was retained in 4.10 and maybe 4.20. Yet, not 4.23. I am not sure why this is, but many things have changed in this version. This could very well be a bug, but it doesn't have to be. I though, don't like the confusion it creates, especially since you can't tell what will happen before the rename.

What you should do is exchange your variable $N (original filename without extension) for $F (original filename with extension). Then the extension will have to be retained.

There is also the $O (extension) to choose from, or simply adding .tif, but each has its own usefulness. You could, for example, fix the misnamed files in batch using any of the patterns I mentioned.

Side note: You may like the Multi-rename tool in FreeCommander. More powerful than IrfanView's rename with preview and undo plus more.

[BlueNight]

Thanks; I'll try that.

Edit: Urgh. I can't BELIEVE I didn't see that. It says very clearly $N is "without extension".

However, to be fair, it had always worked before. I guess reliance on deprecated features has its consequences.