Structured Data Rules
Use structured data rules to add sequences, dates, random IDs, and zero padding.
Too many files to sort? Want to add dates or numbers to each file? Structured data rules help you do it in bulk.
Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Function | Visual Example | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sequence Generation | Add serial numbers to files | photo.jpg → 001_photo.jpg | Batch numbering, file sorting |
| Date Time Formatting | Insert date and time stamps | report.docx → 2024-01-15_report.docx | Version management, time tagging |
| Random Character Generation | Generate random identifiers | document.pdf → document_A7B9C2.pdf | Unique identification, prevent duplicates |
| Zero Padding | Add or remove leading zeros | Chapter1.txt → Chapter001.txt | Sorting optimization, unified numbering |
Multi-Rule Pipeline
Renamio supports executing multiple rules in sequence, letting you handle complex processing in one go.
Common Combinations:
- Date + Sequence: First add date prefix
report.docx→2024-01-15_report.docx, then add sequence →2024-01-15_001_report.docx - Cleanup + Sequence: First remove the messy
IMG_20231201_prefix, then add unified001_,002_sequences - Zero Padding + Sorting: Unify
Chapter1,Chapter10toChapter001,Chapter010so files sort in the correct order
💡 Why use a pipeline? Because manual operations across multiple steps are easy to miss some files and inefficient. A pipeline ensures every file goes through the complete process.
Operation Tips
-
⚠️ Check preview before applying Confirm that numbers and date formats look right before clicking "Apply", to avoid unexpected changes
-
🔢 Keep digit counts consistent If you have 100+ files, use 3 digits for sequence numbers (
001), otherwise1and10will sort incorrectly -
📅 Choose the right date format
2024-01-15is better for sorting than01-15-2024. For files organized by date, useYYYY-MM-DDformat
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does the sequence always start from 1? Can I start from a different number? A: Yes, you can. In the sequence rule, there's a "Start Value" option. Change it to the number you want.
Q: I want to add the file's modification time, but it shows the current time instead? A: Check the "Time Source" option. The default is "Current Time". Change it to "File Modification Time" to read the file's own timestamp.
Q: The sorting is still messed up after zero padding?
A: Check if you have enough digits. For example, if you have 1000 files, 3 digits (001) aren't enough—use 4 digits (0001).
💡 If you're still unsure, click on the rule name to see specific examples for each rule.