This is stuff MC excells at. The things you can do are just about limited by your imagination alone. There are limitations, but not many.
1. Pick a file
2. Right click > Library Tools > Rename, Move & Copy files
3. The top-most drop menu always defaults to 'rename' every time the tool is opened. This is the one you want.
4. uncheck 'Directories'
5. for 'Filename', enter
[track #] [name] into the field and in the right hand pane, see the old/new filename. There is a tooltip here which is more useful as the columns
never fit!!
6. If you're happy with the result, press OK to rename the file.
You can apply the same steps as above to 1000's files at once as easily as a single file. You just need to be sure the tags are correct.
I would say with confidence that you can trash your 3rd party app. I'm willing to wager that it's nowhere near as versatile as MC's own rename tool. Using MC's own tool also means that the database is kept up-to-date with the changes, so you do not need to rely on auto import or manually re-import. MC just takes care of things.
In the steps above, you have only worked on the filename field. Once you start using it, you'll quickly realise that you can apply directory rules too, and MC will then move the files into folders you have specified, either using tags or directly specific text.
I don't know how long you have used your 3rd party tool for, but once you are familiar with MC's own tool, you'll wish you asked this question a lot sooner
Have fun,
-marko.
While boring, and of no use to anyone but me, the following rules are what I use for this tool. This will give you an idea of how much leverage is available to you...
Base Path:
if(isequal([filename (name)],MVI_,8),E:,if(isequal([media type],video,1),if(isequal([filename (name)],DSCF,8),E:,if(isequal([type],music,8),X:,if(isequal([type],television,8),X:,Z:))),if(isequal([type],art,8),D:,if(isequal([media type],image,1),E:,D:))))Directories:
IF(IsEqual([media type],audio,1),if(isequal([album],Assorted Tracks,1),Music\[album],if(isempty([disc #],1),Music\[file type]\[album artist (auto)]\[album],Music\[file type]\[album artist (auto)]\[album]\Disc [disc #])),if(isequal([media type],image,1),if(isequal([type],album art,1),if(isequal([album artist (auto)],multiple,8),Music\[type]\[album artist (auto)],Music\[type]\[album artist (auto)] - [album]),if(isequal([type],unknown type,1),!Private\Pictures\!Source\[source]\[filenamedate],!Private\Pictures\[type]\if(isequal([genre],unknown genre,1),,[genre])\if(isequal([type],wallpaper,1),[dimensions],))),if(isequal([media type],data,1),Info Files\[artist] - [album],if(isequal([type],Movies,1),Video\[Type]\[genre],if(isequal([type],Television,1),if(isequal([series],unknown,8),Video\[type]\[genre],if(isequal([season],unknown,8),Video\[type]\[genre]\[series],if(isrange([season],a-z),Video\[type]\[genre]\[series]\[season],Video\[type]\[genre]\[series]\Season [season]))),if(isequal([type],music,8),Video\[type]\[genre],!Private\Pictures\Videos))))Filenames:
if(isequal([media type],audio,1),if(isequal([album artist (auto)], /(Multiple Artists/), 1),[track #] - [artist] - [name],[track #] - [name]),if(isequal([media type],image,1),if(isequal([type],album art,1),[album] /([keywords]/) ~ [dimensions],[name]),if(isequal([type],television,1),if(isequal([episode],unknown,8),[name],if(isequal([name],S0,8),Episode [Episode],[Episode] - [name])),if(isequal([type],movies,8),if(isequal([track #],00,8),[name],[name] #[track #]), if(isequal([type],music,8),[artist] - [name]if(isequal([duration],unknown,8),,/ /(Length - replace([duration],:,.)/)),[name]))These are the only rules I need. I don't need to worry about what the file types are. I know what I want where, and how I want them named, all I need to worry about is that the tags are correct, the tool takes care of everything else and keeps the library up to date too...
Can your 3rd party tool do that?
-marko.
