When a batch of Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, image, or text file names have a fixed-length useless prefix, renaming them one by one is not only time-consuming but also prone to omissions or accidental deletions. This article uses HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to demonstrate how to use the file name processing function in office software to batch delete the leftmost several characters in file names, such as batch processing Alpha2024010101.docx into 2024010101.docx, helping users quickly clean up and standardize file names.
In daily office work, many files come from different systems, different people, or different export templates, and the filenames often start with a segment of unwanted text. Examples include project codes, English names, batch identifiers, or system-generated prefixes. If there are only two or three files, manual renaming is acceptable; but with dozens or hundreds of Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PPT files, PDFs, images, txt files, or csv data files, deleting characters from the left side of each filename individually is very inefficient.
The problem addressed in this article is clear: when a fixed number of characters needs to be deleted from the left side of filenames, how to use office software for batch processing at once. Using the example of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool in the screenshots below, we demonstrate batch-deleting the leftmost 5 characters from multiple filenames, retaining the subsequent date codes and original extensions. After processing, Alpha2024010101.docx becomes 2024010101.docx, Bravo2024020202.doc becomes 2024020202.doc, and other pptx, ppt, xlsx, xls, jpg, txt, pdf, csv files are uniformly renamed by the same rule.
Applicable Scenarios: Which Filenames Are Suitable for Deleting Leftmost Characters
Batch-deleting the leftmost characters in filenames is suitable for processing filenames with fixed-length prefixes. Fixed length means the same number of characters needs to be deleted from the front of each filename. For example, the filenames in the screenshot include Alpha2024010101.docx, Bravo2024020202.doc, Chart2024030303.pptx, Delta2024040404.ppt, etc., where the English prefixes on the far left are all 5 characters, followed by the date codes that need to be kept.
This type of requirement is common in office scenarios. For example, accounting staff need to remove department abbreviations from reimbursement attachment files exported by the system; administrative staff need to remove English codes prepended to employee records; project staff need to clean up old project identifiers in contracts, proposals, spreadsheets, and images; data collation staff need to unify filenames of csv, txt, or xlsx files into pure numeric formats. As long as the deletion rule starts from the far left of the filename and the deletion count is consistent, the method described in this article can be used to accomplish the task in batch.
It is important to note that what is being processed here is the filename, not the file content. That means the content of Word docx and doc documents will not be modified, the data in Excel xlsx and xls spreadsheets will not be changed, and the pages of PowerPoint pptx and ppt files will not be edited. The software only performs batch renaming on the filenames.
Effect Preview: Pre-processing Filenames Containing English Prefixes
Let's first look at the file list before processing. In the screenshot, you can see that the far left of each filename contains a segment of English text, such as Alpha, Bravo, Chart, Delta, Eagle, Frame, etc., followed by a date code and the corresponding extension. The red highlighting marks the left text that needs to be removed.
From a document organization perspective, these English prefixes may no longer be meaningful under current archiving rules. If the goal is to sort by date code or upload them to a business system, keeping these prefixes could hinder searching and uniform naming. Therefore, our objective is to batch-delete the 5 leftmost characters of these filenames, keeping only the core identifiers like 2024010101 or 2024020202.
Effect Preview: Only Identifiers and Extensions Retained Post-processing
After processing, the 5 English characters on the left side of the filenames have been deleted, the original date codes have been retained, and the extensions remain unchanged. You can see that different file types like docx, doc, pptx, ppt, xlsx, xls, jpg, txt, pdf, csv have all been renamed according to the same rule.
For example, Alpha2024010101.docx becomes 2024010101.docx, Chart2024030303.pptx becomes 2024030303.pptx, and Index2024090909.pdf becomes 2024090909.pdf after processing. This result shows that when batch-deleting the first few characters of filenames, the software processes the main part of the filename according to the rule while preserving the original file type, making it convenient for subsequent opening and use.
Operation Steps: Batch Deleting Left Text in Filenames Using Office Software
Step 1: Enter the Filename Tools and Select Delete Text from Filename
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , find the File Name category in the left functional panel. This software is positioned for batch processing of office documents and files; the interface shows entry points for multiple office scenarios, including File Name, Folder Name, File Collation, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, and Image Tools.
Under the File Name category, locate and click the Delete Text from Filename function. In the screenshot, the description of this function card is "batch delete text from filenames," which perfectly matches the requirement of batch-deleting fixed characters from the left side of filenames described in this article.
The purpose of this step is to enter the dedicated batch filename text deletion flow. Unlike manually renaming one by one in File Explorer, entering this function allows you to import multiple files at once and apply uniform rules for processing, thereby reducing repetitive work.
Step 2: Add Files to Process and Confirm the File List
After entering the "Delete Text from Filename" page, the current processing flow is shown at the top. The first step is to select the records for processing. On the top right, you can see operation entries such as Add File, Import Files from Folder, Clear, and More. Users can choose the import method based on how the files are stored: use "Add File" if files are scattered, or "Import Files from Folder" if they are located in a single folder.
After import, the software will display the files in a table. The table columns include information like Number, Name, Path, Extension, Creation Time, Modification Time, and Operations. The screenshot shows 10 records, with files located in the D:\test directory and extensions including docx, doc, pptx, ppt, xlsx, xls, jpg, txt, pdf, csv. This list allows users to check, before officially starting the process, whether all files have been fully imported or if there are any that shouldn't be included.
The expected result of this step is that all files requiring batch deletion of left text appear in the list, with their filenames, extensions, and path information clearly visible. If any incorrect files were imported, you can delete individual records via the operations column in the interface, or use "Clear" and re-import.
Step 3: Set Processing Options, Select the Leftmost Characters
After confirming the file list is correct, click "Next" at the bottom of the page to enter the processing options settings. As seen in the screenshot, the operation type provides multiple choices, including all numbers, all blanks, the rightmost characters, all content between two text strings, all Chinese characters, all content, all content to the left of a certain text, a position range, all English letters, the leftmost characters, all content to the right of a certain text, and so on.
Since the requirement in this article is to delete a fixed number of characters from the far left of the filenames, "the leftmost characters" should be selected. This option is shown as checked in the screenshot. The quantity input box below is filled with 5, indicating that 5 characters will be deleted starting from the leftmost position of each filename.
This step is critical. Taking Alpha2024010101.docx as an example, "Alpha" is exactly 5 English letters, leaving 2024010101.docx after deletion; taking Bravo2024020202.doc as an example, "Bravo" is also 5 letters, leaving 2024020202.doc after deletion. If the quantity were entered as 4, only the first 4 characters would be deleted, potentially leaving an extra letter; if entered as 6, it might delete one digit from the subsequent date code. Therefore, before batch processing, one should first confirm that the number of characters to delete is consistent across all files.
Step 4: Set the Save Location and Start Processing
After completing the processing option settings, continue by clicking "Next." The interface flow shows that the subsequent steps are to set the save location and start processing. Since this is a batch file renaming operation, it is recommended to confirm the save location or processing location before officially starting, to avoid overwriting or moving unconfirmed files to an inappropriate directory.
After entering the "Start Processing" step, execute the process by following the on-screen prompts. Once finished, check the filenames in the corresponding folder; you should see that the first 5 characters of the filenames have been batch-deleted, leaving the subsequent identifiers and original extensions. Consistent with the previous effect preview, the processed files will transition from a naming format with an English prefix to one starting with a date code.
Common Issues and Considerations
1. The Deletion Quantity Should Be Based on the Main Filename
When batch-deleting the leftmost characters, the core parameter is the quantity. It is advisable to first observe the pattern of all filenames and confirm whether the prefix length to delete is consistent for each file. In the screenshot example case, Alpha, Bravo, Chart, Delta, etc., are all 5 characters, so entering 5 is appropriate. If filename prefix lengths are inconsistent, it's not suitable to use the same deletion quantity for all, as this could result in some files having too few characters deleted and others too many.
2. Different Extensions Can Be Processed Together, but the Rules Must Be Consistent
The screenshot shows that multiple file types, such as docx, doc, pptx, ppt, xlsx, xls, jpg, txt, pdf, csv, were imported simultaneously. As long as their filename naming rules are consistent, they can all be handled in the same batch task. The software focuses on the filename text itself, not the document content type.
3. Check the Imported List Before Processing
In the record list of the first step, users can see the name, path, and extension of each file. It is recommended to check item by item before formally starting the process, especially when using "Import Files from Folder," to ensure that no files not intended for renaming have been mixed into the folder. This reduces the risk of processing errors.
4. Extensions Usually Do Not Need Manual Modification
The goal of the example in this article is to delete left-side text from filenames, not to modify extensions. After processing, docx remains docx, pdf remains pdf, and jpg remains jpg. This ensures that after batch renaming, the files can still be properly recognized and opened by their corresponding software.
Summary: Replacing Repetitive Renaming with Batch Processing
Batch-deleting the leftmost characters from filenames is a typical high-frequency requirement in file organization. Using office software like HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users do not need to click on files individually, enter the rename mode, delete the prefix, and save them one by one. Instead, they can import files at once, set the deletion rule, and complete the processing uniformly.
If you are organizing a batch of Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, image, or text files with a fixed prefix, you can follow the steps in this article: enter the "Delete Text from Filename" function within the File Name tools, import files, select "the leftmost characters," enter the quantity 5, and then proceed to set the save location and start processing. This can significantly reduce repetitive work and improve the efficiency of standardizing file naming.