Files exported by many systems often include interim fields such as START, END, batch numbers, and draft notes in their names, which affect archiving and retrieval. This article takes deleting content between START and _END as an example to explain how to use the file naming feature of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch import files, set deletion rules, and complete renaming, making office file names for txt, docx, pdf, xlsx, and other formats more standardized.
In tasks such as data archiving, project delivery, log organization, and system export file management, a particular type of filename often appears: the beginning and end are fixed, but the middle contains content you want to discard. For example, File_START_alpha_END.txt, Log_START_debugInfo_END.txt, Sheet_START_batch001_END.txt. These middle segments could be test information, temporary numbers, batch identifiers, or internal notes. A single file might seem negligible, but when there are many, it makes the file list look cluttered and affects searching, sorting, and subsequent archiving.
Manual renaming requires opening the folder, locating the text between START and _END in each file, and then deleting the middle content. This process is not only repetitive but also prone to deleting too much or too little. Especially when filenames include extensions like txt, doc, docx, pdf, xlsx, accidentally deleting an extension or key marker can also affect file recognition.
This article introduces a more efficient way: using the office software HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , with its feature to delete text from file names, to batch delete all content between two specified texts. In this example, we will delete the content between START and _END, while keeping START, _END, and the file extension intact.
Applicable Scenarios: When You Need to Clean Up Middle Segments in Filenames Uniformly
"Delete all content between two texts" is not a simple find-and-replace; it is suitable for handling filenames where the content is variable but the boundaries are fixed. That is, the middle segment might differ for each file, but the left and right sides share common markers. As long as you can find stable left and right boundaries, you can hand it over to a batch processing tool.
For example, the following scenarios are very suitable:
- Export filenames contain START and END markers, and the middle part is a system-generated field.
- Document names include temporary content like draft, temp, debug, sample that needs to be removed before archiving.
- A batch of Word documents (docx), PDF files, or Excel tables (xlsx) share a consistent naming convention but have different middle numbers.
- The filename needs to keep its prefix and suffix, only removing a variable middle text segment.
- You need to batch organize file names only, without opening the file content.
In these scenarios, the value of a batch renaming tool is significant: users only need to set a rule once, and the software can apply the same processing to the entire file list, reducing mechanical and repetitive operations.
Outcome Preview: Pre-processing Filenames with Various Unwanted Content
Before processing, the filenames in the folder all contain START and _END, with varied content between them. Examples include oldPart, sample, 2024Draft, rawName, debugInfo, private, tempData, batch001, removeThis, and more. These segments do not have a uniform length, nor are they the same keyword, so they cannot be resolved by a single fixed-text replacement.
From the screenshot, the red markers point to the exact middle content that needs to be deleted. Our goal is not to delete the entire filename or the extension, but to precisely delete the text between START and _END.
Outcome Preview: More Uniform Filename Structure After Processing
After processing, the filenames have been cleaned up uniformly. For instance, Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt becomes Archive_START_END.txt, and Data_START_sample_END.txt becomes Data_START_END.txt. All files have retained their original prefix, START, _END, and .txt extension, while the variable middle content has been deleted.
This result is very suitable for subsequent archiving and retrieval. The filenames are shorter, neater, and prevent temporary fields from continuing to appear in official documents.
Operation Step 1: Open "Delete Text from File Names" in the File Name Category
After launching HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can see multiple tool categories on the left side of the interface, such as File Name, Folder Name, File Organization, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, etc. Since the target of this operation is filenames, select the File Name category.
In the file name feature list, find Delete Text From File Names. In the screenshot, this feature is on the card numbered 10, indicating it is specifically for batch deleting text content from file names. Click this feature to enter the processing interface.
The expected outcome of this step is to enter the wizard page for deleting filename text. The software will then present the subsequent steps: select records to process, set processing options, set save location, and start processing.
Operation Step 2: Import the File Records to Be Processed
After entering the feature page, the first thing is to select the records to be processed. The top right of the interface offers two common entry points: Add Files and Import Files from Folder. If the files are scattered, you can use "Add Files"; if they are concentrated in a single folder, "Import Files from Folder" is more efficient.
The screenshot shows that 10 txt files have been imported. The list displays each file's name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time. This list allows users to verify before processing whether the files are correct, paths are right, and extensions meet expectations. If a file does not need processing, it can be removed through the action column.
After confirming the records are correct, click Next at the bottom. The purpose of this step is to hand over the files to be processed to the software and proceed to the rule setting page. For batch office file processing, checking the file list first is very important, as the subsequent rules will be applied to these records.
Operation Step 3: Set the Deletion Rule to "All Content Between Two Texts"
On the set processing options page, you need to choose the specific deletion method. The interface lists various operation types, such as all digits, all whitespace, all Chinese characters, all English letters, all content to the left of a text, all content to the right of a text, position ranges, etc. To achieve the goal of this article—deleting the content between START and _END—select All Content Between Two Texts.
Then fill in the two input boxes:
- Left Text: START
- Right Text: _END
It's important to note that the right text filled in is _END, including the underscore. This is because the right boundary in the example filenames is the underscore plus END. Filling in just END might lead to a different match scope than expected.
Below the input boxes, the interface also provides toggles for Include left text and Include right text. In the example, these toggles are off, so only the content between START and _END will be deleted. START and _END themselves will be preserved. This is why the processed filenames appear as START_END.
Operation Step 4: Proceed to Next Step and Execute Batch Processing
After setting the rules, click Next. Following the interface flow, the next stages will be Set Save Location and then Start Processing. These two steps are for confirming the save arrangement for the processed files and officially executing the batch renaming.
Before starting the process, it is advisable to double-check the following: Is the number of files to be processed correct? Is the left text filled in as START? Is the right text filled in as _END? Do you need to keep the boundary texts? Have you backed up important files? Confirming everything before starting reduces the risk of mis-modification from batch operations.
After the process is complete, open the folder to see that the filenames have been uniformly cleaned up. The previously different middle segments have been deleted, and the filename format is more standardized, facilitating subsequent sorting, retrieval, and archiving.
Common Questions and Precautions
1. Can variable middle content be batch deleted?
Yes. As long as the markers on the left and right of the middle content are consistent, you can locate it using "All Content Between Two Texts". Whether the middle content is oldPart, sample, debugInfo, or batch001, it does not affect the rule execution.
2. Will START and _END be deleted?
It depends on the inclusion toggles. In the screenshot example, the options to include left text and include right text are not enabled, so START and _END are kept. If the toggles are turned on, the processing scope will change; choose based on your actual needs.
3. Why is it recommended to back up files first?
A characteristic of batch processing is high speed and wide impact. If a rule is set incorrectly, multiple filenames will be affected simultaneously. For official documents, client files, financial documents, contract files, etc., backing up before processing is a prudent practice.
4. Can docx, pdf, xlsx files use this method?
The screenshots in this article use txt files as an example, but the operation target is the file name, not the file content. Therefore, as long as the records imported into the software fit the rule, office file names like Word's doc, docx, PDF, and Excel's xls, xlsx can be organized using the same method.
5. What if a filename has multiple occurrences of START and _END?
When encountering repeated boundaries, first test the effect with a small number of files to confirm whether the software's processing result meets expectations, before applying it to the entire batch. The more complex the batch rule, the more necessary it is to verify it first.
Summary: Replace Manual Deletion with Rule-based Operations
Batch deleting the segment between START and _END in filenames is essentially about handing the repetitive, mechanical, and error-prone renaming work over to office software. With HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users just need to import files, select a deletion rule, and fill in the left and right boundary texts to quickly clean up a whole batch of filenames.
If your folders also contain many files with temporary fields, batch identifiers, draft fields, or system markers, it is recommended to first test the rule on a small sample, and then execute the processing on the entire batch. This ensures accurate results and significantly improves file organization efficiency.