Can we change the upper/lower case of filenames in Windows Explorer?

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  1. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1, 32 bit
       #1

    Can we change the upper/lower case of filenames in Windows Explorer?


    Hi.

    When I try to change the case from upper to lower or vice versa of filenames n windows explorer, the changes are not accepted. Also, adding or deleting of spaces in existing filename words is also not being accepted. I have admin privileges.

    Thank you for help.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #2

    Hi Seymoria, welcome to the Seven Forums.

    Filenames in Windows Explorer are not case sensitive. This means that for Windows, the filenames ThisIsMyDocument.doc, THISISMYDOCUMENT.DOC and tHiSiSmYdOcUmEnT.DoC are all the same, the file would be found and can be referred to using any of these or any other combination of upper and lower case letters, as long as the name itself stays the same.

    Therefore, if you have a file document_1.doc but you'd like to change the first letter to upper case D, selecting rename and changing the first d to D does nothing. Windows simply does not understand it, for it there was no change as the first letter did not change.

    You need to work around this by renaming the file first to something else, then rename it again to Document_1.doc, this time using the upper case D. I use a neat trick here, changing the first letter from lower to upper case: I select rename, delete just the first letter of the filename, the one with lower case, then rename again this time entering the upper case first letter.

    Kari
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1, 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for your welcome message. I hope to have a useful experience here.

    I have been using Windows XP for many years and this problem was never there. So I am sure there must be some setting in Windows 7 for case sensitive typing of filenames.

    I am already doing it the way you suggested but I have to delete the whole word and retype it which takes more time for maybe 1000+ files names. I am just doing it for better presentation of my filenames.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #4

    I can understand your frustration. However, there really is nothing you can do for this. Last post in this short thread gives a good explanation: Making Windows 7 case-sensitive. Is it possible?

    Kari
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 259
    Win7 sp1 Pro 64bit / XP sp2 Pro (games only)
       #5

    I don't think you have to delete the whole name. Just select rename and use the LEFT ARROW only to go to the first letter and delete it. Do the same thing again and put whatever you want. The arrow key will prevent the whole name delete. Might also be an idea to check mark HIDE EXTENTIONS OF KNOWN FILE TYPES FIRST. This will prevent an accidental ext change this may cause grief.
    Art.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #6

    Wandering one said:
    I don't think you have to delete the whole name. Just select rename and use the LEFT ARROW only to go to the first letter and delete it. Do the same thing again and put whatever you want. The arrow key will prevent the whole name delete. Might also be an idea to check mark HIDE EXTENTIONS OF KNOWN FILE TYPES FIRST. This will prevent an accidental ext change this may cause grief.
    Art.
    As I told in my first post in this thread:
    Kari said:
    I use a neat trick here, changing the first letter from lower to upper case: I select rename, delete just the first letter of the filename, the one with lower case, then rename again this time entering the upper case first letter.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 32bit
       #7

    Changing only the case of a filename actually works; the change is just not shown.
    Refresh the folder (F5) and you'll see the new filename.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 29
    Windows® 7 (64-bit)
       #8

    I was looking for something else pertaining to this subject, but stopped here and read this one anyway, because I was immediately "Wtf?" when I saw it. So I gotta tell everyone, I don't know what I'm doing different than you all for whom this is an issue, but I rename Windows 7 (Pro 64-bit) file names from upper to lower or vice-versa all the time, have done so for years, and have yet to see the behavior you're describing.   Heck I went and tested it just before posting this, thinking "am I going nuts here or what?" since all of you obviously didn't make this up.

    To be clear : I'll use Kari's example (second post in thread) :  if I have a file called ThisIsMyDocument.doc and rename it (using either "right-click Rename" or hitting F2) to THISISMYDOCUMENT.DOC, the file actually gets renamed to THISISMYDOCUMENT.DOC, and if I then rename it to tHiSiSmYdOcUmEnT.DoC, it actually gets renamed to tHiSiSmYdOcUmEnT.DoC. In fact I just went and entered this very example to be absolutely 100% certain, and yup, works fine. Always has... that's why I'm really curious now to find out what's different in my case that allows it to work.

    I don't have a clue, but I can't believe I'm the only one for whom this works fine! Where I actually see the exact behavior you describe is on my Android device, through any file manager... I gotta do exactly what was described here, i.e. going through an intermediary modification first and only then going back to the original name but with the modified case. Never had in problem in Windows though, go figure.
    Last edited by GuccizBud; 09 Jul 2019 at 14:57.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 181
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1
       #9

    I'm confused, too! I do know you can't save two distinct files with the same alpha characters but different case, at least not in Word, text editors, etc. That may be when the "tricks" are needed! But I can easily change the case of existing files as described by GuccizBud. (Or, GUCCIZbUD . . . :))
    Last edited by gini; 19 Dec 2015 at 09:48.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 721
    Windows 10, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, OS X El Capitan
       #10

    There's no need to be suspicious about the information in this thread; it dates back almost two years old now. And we all know how quickly technology and its related information changes.

    I never saw Kari's facts regarding the renaming issue to be consistently correct, or ever correct in practise, because, I too, was never ever able to experience or replicate the renaming behaviour he claims exists. I presume that Kari's explanation was based off information that was relevant at the time of early 2014, despite never remembering such an issue.

    Though, I do recall a time where if you were to rename a file to the same name but just with different capitalisation, Windows Explorer will not show those changes until one refreshes the Explorer window. Exactly how Bultro, in this thread, describes.

    Renaming items in Windows 7 seems to work flawlessly now though. No need to perform double renames, no need for a refresh of anything. Renames work first try now. At least from my recent experiences of Windows 7.

    If you still feel alone in all this renaming confusion, GuccizBud, feel invited to create a poll on this topic, "do file renames work for you?".
      My Computer


 
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