Microsoft KB Archive/320167

= HOW TO: Rename Multiple Files in Windows XP with Windows Explorer =

Article ID: 320167

Article Last Modified on 10/26/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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This article was previously published under Q320167





IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * How to Rename Multiple Files with Windows Explorer
 * Notes



SUMMARY
This step-by-step article describes how to use Windows Explorer to rename multiple files in Windows XP.

How to Rename Multiple Files with Windows Explorer

 * 1) Start Windows Explorer. To do so, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
 * 2) Select multiple files in a folder. To do so, press and hold down the CTRL key while you are clicking files.
 * 3) After you select the files, press F2.
 * 4) Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

NOTE: When you complete the preceding steps, the highlighted state of all files except one disappears, so it may appear as if you are only renaming one file. However, after you press ENTER, all of the files are renamed. When you rename multiple files, all of the renamed files have the same name with a number in parentheses appended to the name to make the new file name unique. For example, if you type BUDGET as the new name, the first file is named BUDGET. All of the remaining selected files are named BUDGET(x), where x is a unique number, starting with (1).

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