Guide
Rename files from a list in a spreadsheet
Photos named IMG_4101.jpg, scans called Document 12.pdf: when the right names are already in a spreadsheet, Copycell renames the files from it without retyping anything.
Step by step
- 1
Open your list
Open the spreadsheet with the new names in Copycell: a CSV or Excel file, or cells pasted with ⌘V.
- 2
Switch to Renamer mode and choose the folder
Click Renamer in the toolbar (⌘7), then Open Folder. The folder appears next to your data.
- 3
Rename one file
Click a name in your list to copy it, select the file it belongs to, and press Return. The file takes that name, keeping its extension.
- 4
Or rename a batch
Select several names in a column and press ⌘C, then select the same number of files and press Return: the first file gets the first name, and so on.
- 5
Tidy the names
In Settings choose a naming style (kebab-case, snake_case, camelCase…) and how duplicates are numbered. Numbering mode numbers files in order instead. Every rename can be undone with ⌘Z.
Good for
- Team or student photos named after each person
- Product images named by SKU from a stock list
- Invoices or scans named by customer or order number
Questions
How do I rename files on a Mac using names from Excel?
Open the Excel file (or a CSV) in Copycell, switch to Renamer mode and choose the folder. Copy a name from the list, select the file, and press Return. For a batch, copy several names and select the same number of files.
Does it change the file type?
No. The extension is kept, so photo.jpg renamed to ava-thompson becomes ava-thompson.jpg.
What if two files end up with the same name?
Copycell adds a number, in the style you choose in Settings, such as ava-thompson (2).jpg or ava-thompson-2.jpg.
Can I undo it?
Yes. Every rename can be undone with Command-Z, one at a time or all the way back.