Any trick available to rename files based upon their names in a .pdf?

[WimYogya]

I have a collection of sound files for my video editing (nature, traffic etc.). Around 2000 mp3/wav tracks.
Unfortunately they have very generic names (like 0001.wav) which give no clue about their contents and therefore are not searchable.
Their names are shown in a .pdf file that came with the collection.

Although I doubt it:
Is there any trick to use the .pdf names and (automatically?) rename the files accordingly?
Or is copy/paste one by one really the only solution?

Curious!
Thanks,

Wim

 

[br4]

Here's how I would do what you want:

1. copy the names from the PDF file into a spreadsheet (one name per row)
2. create a column with the DOS command to rename the original file name to the new file name (ex: ren oldfilename.mp3 newfilename.mp3). Either include the complete path in the copy or change the directory before running the rename commands.
3. copy the new column's contents into a BAT file
4. run the BAT file to do the copying

Hope this helps, let me know if you need help.

 

[WimYogya]

Hello Brother Four!

Thanks for the Great Step Forward!
It seems it should work like you describe it, but... I have 2 major problems:
1. I only understand how to copy/paste the .pdf content in an Excel spreadsheet. The other instructions give a vague sense of understanding but I am totally lost when I am supposed to DO it...
2. Even with step 1 there is a strange problem. MANY of the track numbers in the .pdf file change completely when I paste them into Excel, in a sort of (wrong) date or number format. Whatever I do, it can NOT be changed. See more in the description below.

The track number format in the .pdf is 1-1, 2-1, 3-1 etc for each of the 28 cd's which have usually between 50-80 tracks
Incidentally a certain track includes more than ONE sound, then the numbering can be (example): 34-1, 34-2, 34-3 etc.
Most .pdf track names are copied normally into Excel.
But the first 30 or so tracks of EACH cd changes the numbers into: 1.jan and other date values. If I change it in number, general, text, whatever, it becomes 42745 or similar.
If I copy the whole .pdf in WORD instead of Excel, the numbers are displayed normally. But when I copy/paste the WORD content into EXCEL, the same strange reformatting happens for many track number cells.

So my first question is: how to get a proper Excel copy of the PDF?

And then?
You did offer help, which I appreciate a LOT, but how detailed can you help?
I am not a newbie, but more a regular user than an anything of an expert. The term BAT rings a vague bell, like 'an instruction to automatically fulfill certain tasks'. But how? Absolutely no clue!

So please inform me what help will be possible. If private messaging is possible here (I never used it), I could perhaps send you a file and you modify it (partly) and send it back. Is that an option?

Again: thanks a lot for showing the path!
Wim

 

[br4]

The reason your values are not displaying as you think they should is due to the formatting of the cells. One way I remove formatting is to copy to a text file and then from the text file to Excel.

I just reread your initial note and have to ask: does the PDF file have each line similar to 0001.wav naturecall1.wav ? That is the corresponding file name that you want to use along with the actual file name?

Without actually seeing the file, I'm not sure what's in it.

I know this does seem complicated, but it isn't after you've done it a few times (I've done this many, many times).

BAT is short for batch file, which contains DOS commands. It is executed/run from a command prompt.

I'll be happy to help. I don't think you can attach a file in a private message, so I'll PM you and send you my email address.