Changing extensions of "multiple" files...?

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Using XP Home edition, I have 150 files in a folder and wish to change the file type or extensions of all of these files from "file" to "flv", do I have to rename each file one at a time or is there a way that I can change all 150 files in one shot?

 

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rename *.file *.flv You must be in the folder in which you are trying to change the file extensions or you must include the path if you are not.

However, if you are going to play with things like this why not use regular file extensions such as .txt, .doc, .odt, .pdf, etc...?

 

don't understand ffreeloader, as I've mentioned in my original post, I don't wish to have to rename each individual file to change the extension, I am looking for a way to change all 150 files in one shot or am I misunderstanding you?

 

Do you have a computer to use?

 

yes, the one I am on right now writing this message.
p.s.This is my home pc so I can do whatever experiments from this machine.

 

The command freddy has given you will change the extension of all the files without renaming the files.

 

Well, I was just wondering why you didn't just try what I showed you.

If you don't want to use your "real" files create a folder and populate it with a bunch of empty text files. Then navigate to that folder with the cd command and use the rename syntax that I showed you in my first reply.

 

Mike, I don't think it has been mentioned explicitly yet - you should be at a command prompt to do the above, ie click Start > Run then type "cmd" (no apostrophes) ans click OK. Once at a black command prompt screen, simply follow the above first class advice.

 

ooops.

 

yes, I did not realize that this was a command to use in DOS, will gie it a try in a short while.

 

When the cmd prompt opens up it always shows
c:\documents and settings\mike>

I added
cd \oldies addition

to change now to
c:\oldies addition

which is the folder containing the files in question so now I add rename*.file*.flv so now it looks like this
c:\oldies addition>rename*.file*.flv

and I hit enter but I get this message:
rename*.file*.flv is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

What am I doing wrong?

 

remember everybody telling you to put a space between the command and the variable?

 

rename*.file*.flv

you forgot the space

rename *.file *.flv

 

yes mike, you forgot the spaces.

so its:

commandprompt>rename *.file *.flv

notice the spaces between rename, *.file and *.flv.

 

what you guys are telling me suggest to me that I haven't grasped the "space" thing so I guess I will have to go back to that before moving on to anything else, I will address this in a few but first let's deal with the task at hand, what I am seeing in the cmd prompt now looks like this

c:\oldies addition>rename *.file *.flv

If this is correct, I am getting this message when I hit enter:

The system cannot find the file specified

only thing I can think of is that ffreeloader wrote above
"You must be in the folder in which you are trying to change the file extensions or you must include the path if you are not."

Since "Oldies Addition" is the folder and not the files themselves, how do I proceed [if this is the problem]?

 

the folder needs to contain the files with the .file extention.
[edit] or the files are there but actually don't have a .file extention.

 

You're correct, the files in that folder does not have the extensions, I will go change them now and try again.

 

Damn damn damn, now this changes everything, initially I should have stated that the files do NOT have extensions and I am trying to add the .flv extension to all of them, so sorry for this, did not realize this so how does this change things?

 

whats the actual extension for the files in the folder?

 

if they don't have an extention, then do this:

ren [space] *. [space] *.flv
just leave off the "file" part of your previous command.