Sequence Numbering Rule

Need to add numbering to batch files? Generate 001, 002 or A, B, C in one click, and even support skipping numbers and zero-padding.

What this feature can help you with

• Organize photos/documents: A pile of files without order, want to add 001, 002, 003 numbering for easy sorting
• Chapter marking: Use A, B, C or One, Two, Three to tag files with more structure than plain numbers
• Even/skip numbering: Need to generate 002, 004, 006 sequences, manual editing is too tedious
• Shared numbering for batches: Use the same numbering for every two files (like front and back scans), want automatic grouping

Quick Start (3 steps)

1. Click the "Add Rule" button → Select "Sequence Numbering"
2. Keep the default settings (these defaults work for most common numbering needs):
   • Position: Prefix (add numbering at the beginning of filename)
   • Separator: Leave empty (no separator, or use _ if you want an underscore)
   • Sequence Type: Numbers 0-9 (generates 1, 2, 3...)
   • Start Number: 1 (start numbering from 1)
   • Repeat Count: 1 (each file gets a different number)
   • Step: 1 (normal increment, change to 2 for skipping)
   • Min Length: 1 (no zero-padding, change to 3 for 001, 002)
   • Ignore Extension: ON (only change filename, keep suffix unchanged)
3. Click preview first to check the result, apply it only if everything looks correct

Detailed Examples

Example 1: Basic Number Numbering

❌ Original files: report.docx, data.xlsx, photo.jpg 😫 Problem: Files have no order, want to number them like 1_report.docx, 2_data.xlsx

✅ Operation:

• Sequence Type: Numbers 0-9
• Start Number: 1
• Step: 1
• Position: Prefix

✅ Result: 1_report.docx, 2_data.xlsx, 3_photo.jpg

Why this setup: Keep the default configuration to achieve the most common auto-increment numbering. The Ignore Extension option is enabled by default, so the .docx suffix stays unchanged.

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Example 2: Zero-padding + Even Number Sequence

❌ Original files: clip1.mp4, clip2.mp4, clip3.mp4, clip4.mp4 😫 Problem: Want to generate 002, 004, 006, 008 even numbering with zero-padding

✅ Operation:

• Sequence Type: Numbers 0-9
• Start Number: 2
• Step: 2
• Min Length: 3
• Position: Replace Filename
• Ignore Extension: ON

✅ Result: 002.mp4, 004.mp4, 006.mp4, 008.mp4

Why this setup: Step 2 generates even sequences, min length 3 auto-pads with zeros (2 → 002) for easy sorting by number. "Replace Filename" converts to pure numbering.

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Example 3: Letter Marking + Share Numbering for Every Two Files

❌ Original files: contract_front.jpg, contract_back.jpg, invoice_front.jpg, invoice_back.jpg 😫 Problem: Front and back scans are pairs, want to mark them as A, A, B, B

✅ Operation:

• Sequence Type: Uppercase Letters
• Start Number: 1 (corresponds to letter A)
• Repeat Count: 2 (use each letter twice)
• Position: Prefix

✅ Result: A_contract_front.jpg, A_contract_back.jpg, B_invoice_front.jpg, B_invoice_back.jpg

Why this setup: Repeat count 2 makes every two files share the same letter for automatic grouping, no manual work needed.

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Example 4: Chinese Numbers + Insert at Specific Location

❌ Original files: Chapter-intro.md, Chapter-principle.md, Chapter-summary.md 😫 Problem: Want to insert Chinese numbers between "Chapter" and the rest, to become "Chapter One", "Chapter Two"

✅ Operation:

• Sequence Type: Chinese Lowercase Numbers
• Start Number: 1
• Position: After Specified Text → Enter Chapter

✅ Result: ChapterOne-intro.md, ChapterTwo-principle.md, ChapterThree-summary.md

Why this setup: Use "After Specified Text" to precisely locate the insertion point and avoid changing other parts. Chinese numbers give filenames more structure.

Content You Need to Fill In

Basic Settings

• Sequence Type Choose the numbering format, available options:

  • Numbers 0-9 (default): generates 1, 2, 3..., supports zero-padding
  • Lowercase Letters: generates a, b, c..., wraps to aa, ab... after 26
  • Uppercase Letters: generates A, B, C..., wraps to AA, AB... after 26
  • Chinese Lowercase Numbers: generates One, Two, Three...
  • Chinese Uppercase Numbers: generates 壹, 贰, 叁...
  • Roman Numbers: generates I, II, III...
  • Custom: input your own character set (like 甲乙丙丁), cycles through each character

• Start Number What number to start the first file with, like 1 or 5 (cannot be left empty, default is 1)

• Step How much to increment each time, like 1 (normal increment) or 2 (even numbers) (default is 1, change to 2 or higher for skipping)

• Position Where to add the numbering, same as "Insert Text" rule, options:

  • Prefix (default): add at the beginning of filename, like 1_filename.txt
  • Suffix: add at the end of filename (before extension), like filename_1.txt
  • Replace Filename: directly replace the entire filename with the number
  • Absolute Position: insert at a specific character position
  • Before Specified Text: insert before specific text
  • After Specified Text: insert after specific text

Advanced Options (don't need to change, defaults work fine)

• Custom Character Set Only appears when "Custom" type is selected. Input characters to cycle through, like 甲乙丙丁, ABC. Automatically filters out invalid filename characters (\ / : * ? " < > |). (When characters run out, they cycle; for example, 3 characters means the 4th file restarts from the 1st character)

• Repeat Count Default is 1, each file gets a different number. Change to 2 to make every two files share the same number (good for front/back scans). Change to 3 to make every three files share the same number.

• Min Length Only available when "Numbers 0-9" is selected. Default is 1, no zero-padding. Change to 3 to auto-pad with zeros (1 → 001, 12 → 012).

• Reset Number on Folder Change Default is unchecked, all files get sequential numbering. When checked, numbering resets to start number whenever folder path changes. (Good for scenarios where you need independent numbering in each subfolder)

• Ignore Extension Default is checked, only change filename, keep .jpg, .png suffixes unchanged. If you really want to change the suffix (like changing 001.jpeg to 001.jpg), uncheck this.

Common Questions

❓ Why is the numbering repeating?

Check if "Repeat Count" is greater than 1.

• If set to 2, every two files share the same number (1, 1, 2, 2...)
• Change it back to 1 for normal increment

❓ What happens when letter numbering exceeds Z?

It continues cycling to generate AA, AB, AC... This is normal. If you have too many files, consider switching to number numbering instead. Letter numbering works best for a small number of files.

❓ Min length not working?

Only works when "Numbers 0-9" is selected. Other types (letters, Chinese, Roman numbers, custom) don't support zero-padding.

❓ Custom character set changed after input?

The system automatically filters out invalid filename characters (\ / : * ? " < > |). If your characters were removed, it means they're not allowed in filenames.

❓ How to use folder reset feature?

Check "Reset Number on Folder Change". Numbering resets to the start number whenever the folder path changes. Good for scenarios where you need independent numbering in each subfolder (like starting from 001 in every folder).

Advanced Techniques

• ✅ Combine with "Insert Text": First add numbering with this rule, then use Insert Text to add a prefix (like 2024-)
• ✅ Combine with "Find & Replace": First clean up old numbering, then generate new numbering with this rule
• ✅ Combine with "Date & Time": Use date to mark batches, use numbering to mark sequence within batch (like 20240115-001)

What to Look at Next

• Insert Text: Add extra content before/after numbering
• Find & Replace: Clean up old numbering or placeholders first
• Date & Time: Combine with dates for timestamp-based batch numbering