Many office files, after downloading, exporting, or merging, may have useless prefixes on the left side of their filenames, such as English codes plus date numbers. Manually deleting these prefixes is inefficient and can easily damage the file extensions. This article explains how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch-remove a fixed number of characters from the beginning of filenames, and illustrates the effect with before-and-after screenshots. Whether for doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, pdf, txt, jpg, or csv files, as long as the naming conventions are consistent, the same set of steps can be applied.
When organizing files, the most troublesome part is often not the content but the file names. For instance, a project folder may contain a large volume of materials with file names structured as "English prefix + date-based serial number + extension": Alpha2024010101.docx, Bravo2024020202.doc, Chart2024030303.pptx, Eagle2024050505.xlsx. The date serial numbers at the end are what truly matter for archiving and sorting, while the English prefixes at the beginning hinder viewing and searching.
If you only need to modify a few files, pressing F2 to rename them works fine. However, when the number of files grows, manually deleting the leftmost characters in file names becomes repetitive labor, especially with a mix of Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PPT presentations, PDFs, images, and text files. Manual processing is not only slow but can also render files unusable if the file extension gets selected accidentally.
This article will demonstrate a more office-friendly approach: using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch delete a fixed number of characters from the left side of file names. The software is designed for batch processing of documents and files, making it suitable for repetitive tasks like batch renaming, batch organizing, and batch processing office files. In this article's example, we will delete the first 5 characters of the file name, turning Alpha2024010101.docx into 2024010101.docx, and apply this uniformly to a batch of doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, pdf, jpg, txt, and csv files.
Applicable Scenario: When there's a need to batch remove file name prefixes
Batch deleting beginning characters of a file name is suitable for files with clear naming patterns and consistent prefix lengths. Common scenarios include:
System-exported files with fixed prefixes: Files exported from business systems might automatically include module names, usernames, project names, or codes. During archiving, these prefixes need removal, leaving only serial numbers, dates, or formal names.
Multi-source files requiring uniform naming: Files submitted by different people might have personal identifiers like Zhang, Wang, or Sales. If the team only needs the subsequent serial numbers, you can batch-delete the fixed left-side characters.
File names affecting sorting: When date serial numbers are behind the prefix, File Explorer sorts them by the prefix first, hindering chronological viewing. Deleting the prefixes makes sequences like 2024010101, 2024020202, 2024030303 sort more intuitively.
Batch organizing mixed-format materials: A single folder might contain Word doc/docx, Excel xlsx/xls, PPT pptx/ppt, as well as pdf, jpg, txt, and csv files. As long as the file name prefix rule is consistent, they can be processed together.
Reducing manual renaming errors: Manual renaming often leads to issues like deleting too few or too many characters, overlooking files, or mistakenly deleting extensions. Using a batch processing rule ensures every file follows the same standard.
However, note that if file name prefix lengths are inconsistent, you should confirm the rules before using "delete a fixed number of text characters from the left". Otherwise, chopping off an identical number of characters across the board could affect valid file names.
Effect Preview: File name structure before processing
Before processing, the left side of every file name has 5 English characters, followed by a date or numerical serial number, and ending with the file extension. The red highlighted parts in the screenshot indicate the prefixes to be deleted.
As seen in the screenshot, the file types are diverse: there is Alpha2024010101.docx, Bravo2024020202.doc, Chart2024030303.pptx, Delta2024040404.ppt, Eagle2024050505.xlsx, Frame2024060606.xls, Graph2024070707.jpg, Hotel2024080808.txt, Index2024090909.pdf, Judge2024101010.csv. In other words, this is not a batch rename of solely Word files, but a unified operation on multiple file types.
If these files were to be manually handled, one would need to click each, position the cursor, delete the first 5 characters, and confirm the name. This repetition might be tolerable for ten files, but if there are hundreds, it would significantly slow down work.
Effect Preview: Cleaner file names after processing
After batch processing, the first 5 characters of every file name are deleted, leaving only the subsequent numeric serial numbers and the original extensions. Examples include 2024010101.docx, 2024020202.doc, 2024030303.pptx, 2024040404.ppt, 2024050505.xlsx, 2024060606.xls, 2024070707.jpg, 2024080808.txt, 2024090909.pdf, 2024101010.csv.
This result highlights two key points: first, the file name prefixes are batch-removed, creating a more uniform format; second, the file extensions remain intact. The original docx, doc, pptx, ppt, xlsx, xls, jpg, txt, pdf, and csv extensions are all preserved. Thus, the files can still be opened normally with their corresponding software.
Operation Steps: Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to delete fixed left-side characters
Step 1: Open the file name tool and enter the text deletion function
After launching HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first select "File Name" from the left-side menu. This section centralizes batch operation features related to file names, including replace, insert, add prefix/suffix, case conversion, etc. Our current goal is to delete text from file names, so select "Delete text from file names".
As the screenshot shows, "Delete text from file names" lies under the File Name category. After selecting this function, the software enters its dedicated processing page. The advantage is that users don't need to write scripts or repeatedly rename in File Explorer; they just set rules following the wizard.
Step 2: Import files and verify the pending processing list
Once on the function page, the first stage is "Select the records to process". The top right of the interface provides "Add Files" and "Import Files from Folder" buttons. For a small number of files scattered across locations, click "Add Files"; for an entire batch inside a folder, use "Import Files from Folder".
After importing, the list shows each file's name, path, extension, creation time, and last modified time. In the example, 10 files were imported, located under D:\test\. Each row displays the full file name and its extension, making it easy to confirm the files are correct before processing.
Don't rush to the next step at this stage. We recommend checking: if the number of files matches expectations; whether any files shouldn't be renamed; if all file name prefixes share the same length; and if extensions are displayed correctly. Files that don't need processing can be removed from the list using the delete icon in the operations column. After confirming the list, click "Next" at the bottom.
Step 3: Choose "Delete first several texts", enter the number to delete
Upon entering the processing options, the software asks for an operation type. You'll see multiple deletion methods, such as delete all digits, blank spaces, Chinese characters, English letters, or all content, or delete content to the left or right of a specific text. Since this example deletes a fixed number of characters from the start, select "Delete first several texts".
Enter 5 in the "Number" input box below, indicating the removal of 5 characters starting from the far left of each file name. This setting exactly matches the English prefixes in the screenshot: Alpha, Bravo, Chart, Delta, Eagle, Frame, Graph, Hotel, Index, Judge are all 5 characters long. After filling it in, click "Next", and the software applies this rule to all previously imported files.
If your file name prefix isn't 5 characters, adjust accordingly. For instance, a prefix like ABC_ might require a number of 4, while TMP2024_ might need 8. The key is to count the exact number of characters to be deleted before batch processing.
Step 4: Set the save location to reduce the cost of operational errors
The third stage in the workflow is setting the save location. Batch renaming affects multiple files simultaneously, so it's wise to carefully choose the output folder in this step. If the software allows setting a new save directory, you can output the processed files to a new folder and compare them with the originals afterward. This preserves the original files even if the rule wasn't set appropriately.
For crucial office materials like contracts, financial reports, client data, or project archives, it's not recommended to trial-and-error directly on the sole copy. Consider duplicating a test folder first, then processing it with the batch delete prefix function. Once the results are confirmed, apply to the official files.
Step 5: Start processing and verify file names
After configuring the save location, enter the "Start Processing" phase. Clicking start prompts the software to batch rename the files in the pending list according to the "Delete first 5 characters" rule. When done, open the target folder to view the results.
Upon verification, focus on three points: Has the file name prefix been deleted? Has the trailing date serial number been fully preserved? Does the file extension remain unchanged? In the example result, file names like 2024010101.docx, 2024020202.doc, and 2024030303.pptx all meet expectations, proving the batch prefix removal was successful.
Common questions and operational precautions
1. Why choose "Delete first several texts"?
Because our goal is to delete fixed-length content from the beginning of a file name, not a specific keyword, nor all English letters. "Delete first several texts" processes based on character position, making it more suited for files with consistent prefix lengths.
2. Will deleting left-side file name characters affect file content?
No. This operation targets the file name text and does not modify the internal content of Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, etc. files. As long as the extension is correctly preserved after processing, files will typically still open with their original software.
3. Can file names containing Chinese be processed?
Looking at the function options, the software supports various processing methods related to file name text. For this scenario involving deleting a left-side count, the critical point is whether the character count is precise. Whether the left side of the file name consists of Chinese, English, numbers, or symbols, as long as the count is consistent, you can delete a fixed number of characters.
4. Can you process only Word or Excel files?
The file list in the screenshot shows the software can import files with different extensions. If you only want to process docx/doc or xlsx/xls files, you can select only those file types during import or first move the required files into a separate folder, then import that folder.
5. How to avoid errors before batch processing?
The most reliable way is to test on a small scale first. Copy 3 to 5 representative files, process them with the same rules, and confirm the result. Once correct, proceed with the full folder. Batch tools are highly efficient, but a poorly set rule can rapidly affect many files, making the prior verification very important.
Summary: Replacing repetitive manual renaming with batch rules
Batch removing file name prefixes is essentially about delegating repetitive, mechanical, and error-prone manual tasks to office software. Using the "Delete text from file names" function in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can quickly apply a unified rule across multiple file types and achieve the effect of deleting the leftmost characters from file names.
If your file names also have a fixed-length prefix like Alpha2024010101.docx, you can follow the workflow in this article: enter the File Name category, select "Delete text from file names", import your files, choose "Delete first several texts", enter the number, set the save location, and start the process. For everyday office tasks like batch renaming, file archiving, and material organization, this method significantly reduces repetitive labor, makes file naming more standardized, and makes subsequent searching and sorting more efficient.