Need to replace several character pairs at once

[adorablepancreas]

Newbie here. No luck so far trying to create and save a (text file with a) set of character pairs... and then load the rename-pairs and execute the RENAME. Documentation not helpful yet. Character translation window lacks complete instructions. It sounds like I should be able to create a text file with the character replacement pairs (syntax? comma delimited? separate lines?), load my rename-pairs (I even tried pasting them into the character translation window!), select my files (that part I get), and RENAME. Could someone help me with the exact steps?

Here are a few of the pairs: &=amp,%=percent, =_

I realize that there is a symbol replacement command, but I need to retain a few symbols. What is the exact order of the steps I need to follow? I can do character replacements one by one. I can select files in subfolders. I know where the character translation window is. I don't really know what gets saved when I SAVE.

Final step would be, I think, sending the rename-pair file, with instructions (!) to a few other users.

[Stefan]

See if hat thread will help you:

* Board index ‹ Bulk Rename Utility ‹ BRU Support < Character Translations HowTo
http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1329&p=3705

[adorablepancreas]

Thanks, Stefan, but I'm still not understanding this. So let me try to learn more some more:

1. How does Import Rename-Pairs work? (It's a command under FILE, and sounds like it might be useful). What extension should the Rename-Pairs document have? txt? bru? Should the pairs in the document be separated by commas? or command-enter line breaks? Can someone give me an exact example, that is, text that would change $ to DOLLAR and % to PERCENT... at the same time? After the file is imported, will I immediately see the new names in the right column? Will I need to do something to prevent these changes being saved and repeated each time I open the app?

2. If I decide to use "Character Translations" (under OPTIONS), can I paste rename-pairs there? When to the entries I paste there take effect? Will I see changes in the right column before closing the window? Would text that works in #1. above also work here? Or is the important-rename-pairs strategy completely different from using "character translations"? If I am successful using this strategy, how can I save the name-pairs(?) and re-use them?

Thanks!

[Stefan]

Thanks, Stefan, but I'm still not understanding this. So let me try to learn more some more:

1. How does Import Rename-Pairs work? (It's a command under FILE, and sounds like it might be useful). What extension should the Rename-Pairs document have? txt? bru? Should the pairs in the document be separated by commas? or command-enter line breaks? Can someone give me an exact example, that is, text that would change $ to DOLLAR and % to PERCENT... at the same time? After the file is imported, will I immediately see the new names in the right column? Will I need to do something to prevent these changes being saved and repeated each time I open the app?

2. If I decide to use "Character Translations" (under OPTIONS), can I paste rename-pairs there? When to the entries I paste there take effect? Will I see changes in the right column before closing the window? Would text that works in #1. above also work here? Or is the important-rename-pairs strategy completely different from using "character translations"? If I am successful using this strategy, how can I save the name-pairs(?) and re-use them?

Thanks!

Just read the help and the post from the above given link.
Then try it out and you can answer your question yourself.

>How does Import Rename-Pairs work?
Read the help about "Renaming From A Text File"

>What extension should the Rename-Pairs document have? txt? bru?
If you would try clicking at that entry you would see. I guess .txt would be fine.

> Should the pairs in the document be separated by commas? or command-enter line breaks?
Read the help about "Renaming From A Text File" for an example.

> Can someone give me an exact example, that is, text that would change $ to DOLLAR and % to PERCENT... at the same time?
Use "Character Translations" , not "Rename-Pairs" for that, read the post from the above given link for an how-to..
"Character Translations" is like: "$=D,O,L,L,A,R" to exchange matched signs and chars in all file names with them behind the equal sign.
"Rename-Pairs" is like: "Track001.mp3|Headlong.mp3" to exchange one exact file name with an replace string found in an text file.

>After the file is imported, will I immediately see the new names in the right column?
Read the help about "Renaming From A Text File"

> Will I need to do something to prevent these changes being saved and repeated each time I open the app?
It's still stored in that text file, just use it next time again.

>If I decide to use "Character Translations" (under OPTIONS), can I paste rename-pairs there?
Yes, that's how it works. There is no [Import] or [Load] button.
Read the post from the above given link.

>When to the entries I paste there take effect? Will I see changes in the right column before closing the window?
Read the post from the above given link.

>Would text that works in #1. above also work here?
No.
>Or is the important-rename-pairs strategy completely different from using "character translations"?
Yes. Why else we would have it two times?

>If I am successful using this strategy, how can I save the name-pairs(?) and re-use them?
Read the post from the above given link.

>Thanks!
You are welcome.

But i strongly suggest you making an backup of your files before going into such adventures.