gFnRename v0.6
(C)2010 Paul Schuurmans


Installation
============
The configure script has been omitted from this package due to its size 
and the fact that it doesn't work on all systems.  Instead, you run an 
autogen script which creates the configure script.  If you need to pass 
any arguments to the configure script, you can do so on the autogen.sh 
command line.  Other than that, installation is pretty much the same as 
usual:

  tar zxvf gfnrename-0.6.tar.gz
  cd gfnrename-0.6
  sh autogen.sh
  make
  make install


Using Anjuta
============
This package includes an Anjuta 1.2.4 project file.  Because of the missing 
configure script, "Build|Build" won't work initially; you'll need to select 
"Build|Auto generate..." first.


Introduction
============
gFnRename is a simple utility to rename multiple files.  The listbox on the 
left side of the main window can be used for both choosing a directory and for 
selecting items to rename.  Items prefixed with "[D]" are directories; "[f]" 
denotes a file.


Global Options
==============
Just below the renaming options, there are a few global options.  If "Confirm 
On Commit" is set, the program will ask for confirmation before actually 
committing any changes to disk.  "Log" specifies whether or not to keep track 
of actions in a file in your home directory.  "Show HelpLine" toggles a help 
(or hint) line at the top of the main window.  "StatusLine" toggles a line at 
the bottom of the main window where error messages or status info is shown.


Choosing A Directory
====================
The path dropdown listbox shows the current directory, and can also be used to 
switch to any upper-level directory.  To switch to a lower-level directory, 
either double-click a directory, or select a directory and press [Enter].

There are also three navigation buttons at the top right of the main window's 
left pane.  You can switch to your Home directory by pressing the [~] button, 
or go up one level by pressing the [..] button.  The [>] button is used to 
switch to a user-defined bookmark.  The [B] button toggles the Bookmark Bar 
where you can bookmark the current directory by pressing the [+] button.


Selecting Items To Rename
=========================
To select consecutive items, select the first desired item and then hold the 
[Shift] key while selecting the last desired item.  To select non-consecutive 
items, hold the [Ctrl] key while selecting items.  

After selecting the items that you want to rename, you can set various renaming 
options and then press the [Rename] button.


The Renaming Process
====================
The renaming options are handled in the following order:
 1. If DeleteLast is set, the specified amount of characters are removed from 
    the end of the item's original base name.  The extension at this point is 
    kept intact.
 2. If DeleteFirst is set, the specified amount of characters are removed from 
    the beginning of the item's original name.
 3. If Insert is set, the character string specified in Insert is added at the 
    0-based offset specified in Offset.
 4. If Replace is set, the character string specified in Replace is replaced 
    with the character string specified in With.
 5. If Base is set, the original base name is replaced with the text specified 
    in Base and a sequential number is appended to this base name.  Seq.Offset 
    specifies the starting number, and Digits specifies how many digits to use.  
    As an example: if Base is "file", Offset is "1", and Digits is "3", then 
    the selected items will be renamed file001, file002, file003, and so on.
 6. If Prepend is set, a number with the specified number of Digits starting at 
    Offset with increments of Increment is added to the beginning of the item's 
    new name.  As an example: if Digits is "3", Offset is "10", and Increment 
    is "5", then the selected items will be renamed 010file.ext, 015file.ext, 
    020file.ext, 025file.ext, and so on.
 7. If Prefix is set, the specified text is added to the beginning of the 
    item's new name.
 8. If Append is set, the specified text is added to the end of the item's new 
    base name.  The extension at this point is kept intact.
 9. If Extension is set, the specified text is used as the item's extension.  
    If Replace is set, the item's original extension is removed before adding 
    the new extension.  For filenames with multiple dots, you can specify where 
    the extension starts by setting one of the Starting Dot radio buttons.
10. If Case is set, the item's new name at this point is converted to either 
    lowercase or uppercase (depending on which one is specified).


The Final Step
==============
At this point, there should be one or more items in the New Name column of the 
file list.  Note that no changes are made to the physical disk at this point.  
You now have the following choices:
- If the new names are not what you expected: select those same items in the 
  file list, set the renaming options, and then press the [Rename] button.
- If you want to rename other items in the same directory: select those items 
  in the file list, set the renamimg options, and then press [Rename].
- If you change your mind and decide not to rename an item: select that item 
  in the file list, unset (clear) all renaming options, and then press [Rename].
- If you're satisfied with all the changes in the New Name column: press the 
  [Commit] button to commit the changes to the physical disk.


Bug Reports
===========
Although some effort has been made to make this program as robust as possible, 
there may be bugs that I don't yet know about.  If you find any bugs, please 
let me know.  For information on how to contact me, see the README file on my 
website.