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Rename Folders and Files
If you're old enough to remember the days when filenames
were limited to the 8.3 naming convention you understand how
nice it is to give a file a meaningful name. All the
restrictions aren't gone as filenames are limited to 256
characters, including spaces, and there are some special
characters that aren't allowed, but compared to how it used
to be the world is the limit.
Just because you can rename files and folders at
will and give them extraordinarily long and complex names
doesn't mean that you should. Many of the locations you'll
deal with filenames will have a hard time displaying extra
long filenames, but if you keep them somewhere between 15 -
30 characters all should be well.
Finally, here's a true story about what not to do with
filenames. I know a user that had an intense dislike for
folder and filename abbreviations. As he ran across names
that irritated him he renamed them. He got away with it for
a while, but eventually he strayed into the system files and
files that depend on specific names to function properly.
Needless to say the system ground to a halt. The moral of
the story; if you created the file or folder, rename it all
you want. If not, it's best to leave it alone unless you're
willing to deal with some very unpleasant consequences. That
said, here are some ways to rename a file or folder
presented in no special order.
Before I list the different methods for renaming, there
is one element that's going to be common to all the methods.
Look at the highlighted file in the screen capture below.
The box surrounding the filename (or folder name) will
appear anytime a file renaming operation is initiated. This
gets a little bit tricky, and here's why.
- If you start to type a new filename, the old
filename will disappear the second you strike the first
key on the keyboard. That's fine as long as you want a
completely new name. Not so good if you intended to edit
the old name.
- To edit the current filename without making it
disappear, do one of two things; use the mouse to place
an insertion point to begin the editing or use the arrow
keys to place the insertion point. Either way, the old
filename will remain visible for easy editing. Hit Enter
to complete the edit.
Rename Using the F2 Key
This is my favorite method as well as being the easiest,
simplest, and quickest method to rename files. No matter
where you are, single click the file to be renamed and hit
the F2 key. The editing box will appear surrounding the
filename. Complete the edit and hit Enter.
Rename Using A S - L - O - W Double
Click
What's a slow double click? Click the file to be renamed
once -- wait about two seconds - then click it one more
time. The editing box will appear surrounding the filename.
Complete the edit and hit Enter.
Rename Using the File Menu Select the folder or
file to be renamed then click File > Rename. The editing box
will appear surrounding the filename. Complete the edit and
hit Enter.
Rename Using A Right Click Right click
the folder or file to be renamed then click Rename. The
editing box will appear surrounding the filename. Complete
the edit and hit Enter.
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