This is part of the HicEst documentation

Meaningful JPG names: How to change the original names

JPG names mostly are a few letters and numbes. This script prefixes EXIF times to original names. Rename again in a spreadsheet table. Undo and Redo.

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"Rename Photos.hic"
This example script is part of the HicEst Download file.
The script should give you the basic ideas,
you can change it as you like without leaving the script.

Scan all drives for a given type of files (here JPG image files)
The user selects a directory and for all JPGs contained:
1. Extract the exposure date from the file inherent EXIF data
2. If no EXIF data available use the image file creation time instead
3. ⇾ Build a new name "YYMMDD-HHMMSS-3DigitSerialNr OriginalName^--.jpg"
4. The "-" are placeholders for possible manual changes (quality, use, etc.), "^" are text separators.
5. Protocol stores old names and new names for optional UNDO and REDO operations.
6. Protocol can be edited in any text editor.
7. The Windows default program to display JPGs (e.g. Irfanview) shows the image before the name is changed
8. Adjust the display programs window size and location to fit the screen with HicEsts dialog window
9. Optionally start a dialog to change the image name information again
10. Optionally opens a MatrixExplorer spreadsheet-like dialog to show or display all images
11. With 2 or 3 clicks Matrix Explorer shows group sorted columns as cluster sorts.

Table 1:

original_to_timestamp_serial_original

(1) Original: photo file names, different cameras	(2) EXIF times embedded in JPGs (time the photo was taken). When not found the file time is used.	(3) New file names: originals prefixed by time stamps (colons cannot be used in file names)
13-5-19 058.jpg	2013:05:19 17:18:56	130519-171856-058 13-5-19 058.jpg
20170720_195917.jpg	2017:07:20 19:59:17	170720-195917-917 20170720_195917.jpg
21500011.JPG	2004:07:29 04:42:36	040729-044236-011 21500011.jpg
DSC_6271.jpg	2012:12:07 13:53:40	121207-135340-271 DSC_6271.jpg
Uncle George.JPG	2001:04:16 22:11:52	010416-221152-000 Uncle George.jpg
br 11 027 003.jpg	2011:09:29 17:15:40	110929-171540-003 br 11 027 003.jpg
AAAA0006.JPG	2005:06:24 18:12:40	050624-181240-006 AAAA0006.jpg
101-0122_IMG.JPG	2002:09:18 19:35:50	020918-193550-122 101-0122_IMG.jpg
IMG_5463.JPG	2016:04:24 08:35:31	160424-083531-463 IMG_5463.jpg

Table 2:

edited_and_2_fields_added

(3) current photo file names plus 2 separators "^" and placeholders "-"	(4) Some original names changed in MatrixExplorer. 1st "-" replaced by quality marker, 2nd by usage marker
130519-171856-058 13-5-19 058^-^-.jpg	130519-171856-058 info^3^-.jpg
170720-195917-917 20170720_195917^-^-.jpg	170720-195917-917 flower tree^7^A5.jpg
040729-044236-011 21500011^-^-.jpg	040729-044236-011 speeding car^3^delete.jpg
121207-135340-271 DSC_6271^-^-.jpg	121207-135340-271 George and brother^8^A4.jpg
010416-221152-000 Uncle George^-^-.jpg	010416-221152-000 Uncle George^6^cal02 A4.jpg
110929-171540-003 br 11 027 003^-^-.jpg	110929-171540-003 daisies^6^-.jpg
050624-181240-006 AAAA0006^-^-.jpg	050624-181240-006 Peugeot 404^4^-.jpg
020918-193550-122 101-0122_IMG^-^-.jpg	020918-193550-122 Dodge^-^-.jpg
160424-083531-463 IMG_5463^-^-.jpg	160424-083531-463 Clarissa Johan^6^sent.jpg

Table 3:

matrix_explorer_export

All columns can be searched, sorted, filtered with MatrixExplorer.
See Table 4 for cluster sorts.

date-time-serialNr	name	quality	usage
130519-171856-058	info	3	-
170720-195917-917	flower tree	7	A5
040729-044236-011	speeding car	3	delete
121207-135340-271	George and brother	8	A4
010416-221152-000	Uncle George	6	cal02 A4
110929-171540-003	daisies	6	-
050624-181240-006	Peugeot 404	4	-
020918-193550-122	Dodge	-	-
160424-083531-463	Clarissa Johan	6	sent

Table 4:

cluster_sorted_table

.
View is exported from Matrix Explorer

The column-top buttons toggle ascending, descending, and no sort
The track bars set the maximum number of clusters
The More button allows search, filter, export, etc.
How to generate cluster sorted tables see SORT

The "Rename Photos.hic" example script is part of the HicEst Download file.

The comments may be a little short. But there are many more found here.

CALL F2 ! subroutine F2..F9 can also be called via key or icon
END
!
SUBROUTINE F2 ! Select drive (also via F2 key)
REAL :: nJPGs, nDIRs
CHARACTER Path*260, PathDatTime*200, Filter*40, FMT*20, drivesC_Z*24, EXIF*10000, IDnames*40000
CHARACTER DIRlist="dir.txt", JPGlist="oldJPGs.txt", changedList='newJPGs.txt', Protocol="JPGprotocol.txt"
CHARACTER allJPGs*260, PathAndName*260, CurrentFileName*260, ChangedFileName*260, TransferredIDsName*260, recommended*780
WRITE(FIle=DIRlist, DELETE=1, ERror=0) ! how to delete a disk file
drivesC_Z = &( SYSTEM(DIR= CHAR(66+ $1)&":\*.", FIle=DIRlist, SORt="p pa", APPend) ) ! how to list all base directories of all drives
WRITE(FIle=JPGlist, DELETE=1, ERror=0)
call F3
END
!
SUBROUTINE F3 ! select directory (also via F3 key)
ALARM(0) ! turn off all currently pending SUBROUTINEs
ALIAS(Base=IDnames, Length=10000, String=IDs, L=1000, S=ID2s, S=ID3s, Length=200, S=previousID, S=ID, L=100, S=previousID2, S=previousID3, S=ID3, S=ID2)
ID = nJPGs && "JPGs in" && allJPGs
OPEN(FIle=DIRlist, Format='"";,,;', FiLTer="2:16", LENgth=nDIRs) ! how to open a file for matrix explorer using a filter
DLG(Edit=DIRlist, RowSel=row, Format="A40", RowTitle="RADio:,", CALL="NextDir", Button="Undo Redo",Line,W=2, CALL="Undo_Redo", Align="\. and \.. to go up 1 directory",BC=15, TItle=ID) ! how to call matrix explorer with row radio buttons for callback
CALL NextDir
END
!
SUBROUTINE NextDir ! callback from DLG in F3
OPEN(FIle=Protocol, RePLace)
Path = DIRlist(row,1) ! path is drive:\directory how to read a single element from an opened CSV-file
EDIT(Text=Path, Right="\.", Left, Left="\", Mark1, End, Mark2, Delete)
allJPGs = Path & "\*.jpg"
SYSTEM(DIR=allJPGs, FIle=JPGlist, SORt="n nd", FileSize=nJPGs)
nDIRs = SYSTEM(DIR=Path & "\*.", FIle=DIRlist, SORt="p pa")
IF( nJPGs > 0 ) WRITE(Messagebox="?YA1", Name, OnButton="CheckOrSet_YYMMDD_HHMM_nnn") nDIRs, "|Edit" && nJPGs && "JPGs in" && allJPGs & "?" ! how to read a single element from an opened CSV-file
CALL F3
END
!
SUBROUTINE CheckOrSet_YYMMDD_HHMM_nnn
CHARACTER radio*200, today*6
WRITE(Text=today, Format="UYYMMDD") 0
nJPGS = SYSTEM(DIR=allJPGs, FIle=JPGlist, SORt="n nd")
keep_asking = 1
OPEN(FIle=JPGlist, Format='2"";', LENgth=nJPGS) ! how to read a CSV file item by item, select 2 columns framed by " "
DO img = 1, nJPGs ! how to program a loop, loop over all jpg-files in JPGlist
CurrentFileName = JPGlist(img,1) ! j) from a CSV-file, column 1 in JPGlist
EDIT(T=CurrentFileName, Parse=date, Pars=time, Par=serial, Mark1, Right=".", Left, Mark2, P=id123)
PathAndName = JPGlist(img,2) & CurrentFileName ! how to join 2 strings with n spaces, the complete filename of jpg img
!
IF( (date > "291231") + (time > "235959") + (serial > "999") ) THEN ! how to handle multiple logical conditions
OPEN(FIle=PathAndName, UNFormatted) ! how to stream-io a disk file, unformatted access is fastest
READ(FIle=PathAndName, CLoSe=1) EXIF ! how to read a file and close it read first 3000 bytes of jpg img
idx = INDEX(EXIF, "20\d\d:\d\d:\d\d \d\d:\d\d:\d\d", 128) ! Regular Expression search for eg "2018:05:09 14:23:09
!
IF( idx ) THEN ! how to if then else endif idx is position 1 of "201\d:" in "200d"
WRITE(row=1, BaCkcolor=13, PoinT=24) EXIF(idx:idx+18)
READ(Text=EXIF(idx:) ) year, month, day, hour, min, sec ! how to extract numbers from a text string eg 2018 4 12 7 25
TIME(Y=year, MO=month, D=day, H=hour, MI=min, S=sec, TO, Excel=ExcelTime) ! how to transform date and times 43202.3090277778
ELSE ! no string "201d": no EXIF date, take file date and time instead
SYSTEM(FIle=PathAndName, FileTime=ExcelTime) ! how to read the file time eg 43202.6142691319
ENDIF
EDIT(Text=PathAndName, ScanFor=" ^.", Option=128, Left="\d", Mark2, Left=2, Mark1, Parse=serial) ! last 3 num digs before any of " ^."
WRITE(Text=ChangedFileName, Format="UYYMMDD-HHmmSS-, A3, A") ExcelTime, serial, " -^-^-.jpg"
TransferredIDsName = "no IDs ti transfer"
ELSE
ChangedFileName = date & "-" & time & "-" & serial && "-^-^-.jpg"
TransferredIDsName = date & "-" & time & "-" & serial && id123 & ".jpg"
ENDIF
!
radio = ChangedFileName && "(date + time)/" & TransferredIDsName && "(date + time + IDs)/" & CurrentFileName && "(unchanged)/"
IF( keep_asking ) DLG(DefWidth=60, CH=keep_asking, BiTteXt=radio, RADio=type, Cols=1, Button="&Treat next" && nJPGs-img && "images alike",L, TItle="File name for image" && img)
IF( type <= 2 ) THEN
IF( type == 2 ) ChangedFileName = TransferredIDsName
ChangedFileName = JPGlist(img,2) & ChangedFileName ! how to join 2 strings with n spaces eg "c:\Temp\180412_0725.jpg
IF( ChangedFileName /= PathAndName ) THEN
WRITE(FIle=PathAndName, REName=ChangedFileName) ! how to rename a file ( HicEst internal method)
WRITE(FIle=Protocol) PathAndName & "|" & ChangedFileName
ENDIF
ENDIF
ENDDO
!
img = 1
IDnames = " "
CALL ChangeIDs_ID2_ID3
END
!
SUBROUTINE ChangeIDs_ID2_ID3
5 SYSTEM(DIR=allJPGs, FIle=JPGlist, SORt="n p") ! how to make sorted Path file lists, ID + Path (size-sorted)
WRITE(FIle=changedList, CLoSe=1)
SYSTEM(COPY=JPGlist, COPYTO=changedList) ! eg "110929-0929-001 br�11 001^-^-.jpg","c:\Temp",
OPEN(FIle=changedList, Format='A,', FiLTer=Filter, LENgth=nJPGs, ERror=5) ! to set new ID
IF( nJPGs <= 0 ) DLG(TItle="Nothing found:", NamEedit=Filter, Wid=3, Button=">5:Filter")
ID = "-"
img = MIN(nJPGs, MAX(1, img))
DO img = img, nJPGs
8 CurrentFileName = changedList(img,1) ! eg "F:\Fotos\AAA\131013-1601-100 ABC^-^-.jpg",
EDIT(T=CurrentFileName, Del=1, End,L=2, Del=2) ! delete leading " and trailing " and ,
EDIT(T=CurrentFileName, M1, End, Left="\", R=' ',M2, CoPyto=PathDatTime, R,M1,R="^",L,M2,CoPyto=ID, R=2, M1,R="^",L,M2,CoPyto=ID2, R=2, M1,R=".",L,M2,CoPyto=ID3)
SYSTEM(SHell= ;"; & CurrentFileName & ;";, ERror=5)
EDIT(Text=IDs&ID&',', SPR=',', Option=1+2, SortDelDbls=IDs) ! store selection list of previous IDs
!
lastSlash = INDEX(CurrentFileName, "\", 4)
previousID = ID ! to be default if new image has a "-" ID
previousID2 = ID2
previousID3 = ID3
IF( ID == "-" ) ID = " "
IF( ID2 == "-" ) ID2 = " "
IF( ID3 == "-" ) ID3 = " "
rc = DLG("#IMG", IDs, ID, ID2s, ID2, ID3s, ID3, img, nJPGs, Filter , CurrentFileName)
IF( ID == " " ) ID = previousID
IF( ID2 == " " ) ID2 = previousID2
IF( ID3 == " " ) ID3 = previousID3
!
EDIT(Text=IDs&ID&',', SPR=',', Option=1+2, SortDelDbls=IDs)
EDIT(Text=ID2s & ID2 & ',', SPR=',', Option=1+2, SortDelDbls=ID2s)
EDIT(Text=ID3s & ID3 & ',', SPR=',', Option=1+2, SortDelDbls=ID3s)
ChangedFileName = PathDatTime && ID & "^" & ID2 & "^" & ID3 & '.jpg'
changedList(img,1) = '"' & ChangedFileName & '",' ! eg "F:\Fotos\AAA\131013-1601-100 ABC^-^-.jpg",
IF( ChangedFileName /= CurrentFileName ) THEN
IF( INDEX( ID&"^"&ID2&"^"&ID3, './\:*?"<>|', 8) ) WRITE(Messagebox="iAo", OnButton=8) 'Not allowed in file names:| / \ : * ? " < > and vertical bar'
DLL(P="MoveFileA", CHar0P=CurrentFileName, CHar0P=ChangedFileName, ErrIf=0, Module="Kernel32.dll") ! WRITE(FIle=CurrentFileName, REName=ChangedFileName) ! how to call a Windows API or another Dynamic Link Library dll
WRITE(FIle=Protocol) CurrentFileName & "|" & ChangedFileName
ENDIF
IF( rc == 1 ) CALL F3
IF( rc == 2 ) img = (img - 2)*(img > 1) + (nJPGs-1)*(img == 1) ! Back Button
IF( rc == 3 ) CALL MatrixExplorer
ENDDO
img = 1
GOTO 5
END
!
SUBROUTINE MatrixExplorer
FMT = 'A' & INDEX(ChangedFileName, '\', 4) & ';\ ;^;^;.;' ! to parse file names like eg "C:\ HicEst\180520-094238-164 xyz^a^bb.jpg"
SYSTEM(COPY=changedList, COPYTO=JPGlist) ! needed to SHOW selected image
OPEN(FIle=changedList, Format=FMT, FiLTer=Filter, LENgth=n)
DLG(Edit=changedList,RO, CALL="SHOW", Format="a40,2a10,a18,a20", RowTitle="RAD:,",RowS=img,ROW=img, ColTi="3:ID,4:ID2,5:ID3,2:date-time-nr,1:allJPGs,", Hei=20, B="&Go back to CHANGE loop", CALL="ChangeIDs_ID2_ID3",Wid=2,X=0, X0=0, Y0=-4, Ti=n, WIN=hM)
ALARM(-1)
END
!
SUBROUTINE SHOW ! is called when a radio button was clicked in the DLG above
OPEN(FIle=JPGlist, Format='"";')
CurrentFileName = JPGlist(img,1)
SYSTEM(SHell='"' & CurrentFileName & '"')
END
!
SUBROUTINE UNDO_REDO ! called from DLG in F3
OPEN(FIle=Protocol, ReadOnly, Format="2|;", LENgth=L)
DLG(DH=2, DW=40, B=">9:Cancel. To change list edit"&&Protocol, Button=">1:Undo or Redo ALL"&&L&&"file names.", Edit=Protocol,Line,ColTitle="Original,Changed to,", Format="2A40", TItle=L&&"images found in"&&Protocol)
RETURN
!
1 ALIAS(Base=EXIF, Length=1000, String=OrigAndRenamed, Length=260, String=Original, String=Renamed)
OPEN(FIle=Protocol, ReadOnly, Format="A", LENgth=L)
DO img = 1, L
READ(FIle=Protocol, ERror=9) OrigAndRenamed
EDIT(Text=OrigAndRenamed, SePaRators="|", Word=1, CoPyto=Original, Word=2, CoPyto=Renamed)
READ(FIle=Renamed, LENgth=L)
IF( L > 0 ) WRITE(FIle=Renamed, REName=Original)
IF( L < 0 ) WRITE(FIle=Original, REName=Renamed)
ENDDO
9 WRITE(FIle=Protocol, CLoSe=1)
END
!
!
#IMG
Text=ID: *2; Wid=3;
ComboBox*1; Hei=6; Wid=3; SelTxt*2;
Text=ID2: *4; Wid=3; y=13;
ComboBox*3; Hei=3; Wid=3; SelTxt*4;
Text=ID3: *6; Wid=3; y=20;
ComboBox*5; Hei=3; Wid=3; SelTxt*6;
Button=&Next; Y=17; 2:Button=&Back; Text=image *7;
1:Button=&Directory; 3:Button=E&xplorer; Text=images *8;
Edit*9; Wid=2; >5:Button=Apply &Filter;
TrackBar*7; MIn=1; MAx*8; Wid=3; Title*10; X0=0; Y0=-4;
Text=IDs are only changed if old ID is clicked; Wid=3; BackColor=15;
###########