If a filename contains both a useless prefix and a fixed keyword, you can use a batch rename tool to locate and delete the left-side characters based on the keyword. This article explains the "Remove Text from Filename" feature, detailing how to import files in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , choose processing rules, enter START, and batch-process file names like Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt into START_oldPart_END.txt. It is suitable for standardizing filenames of office documents, text files, PDFs, images, and more.
Many office documents aren't difficult to organize because of their content, but because the file names themselves are too messy. For example, files downloaded from business systems, network drives, email attachments, or collaboration platforms often have source marks, export batches, personnel abbreviations, or old classification fields at the beginning of their names. The truly useful information often only starts after a certain keyword. Taking the example in this article, the file names all contain START, and we want to delete all the content to the left of START, so that the file names uniformly begin with START.
If you modify file names one by one, you need to constantly press F2, select the left content, delete, and press Enter. This is acceptable when the number of files is small, but once it involves dozens of Word documents, PDF reports, Excel spreadsheets, txt texts, or image files, manual operation becomes a typical repetitive task. What's more troublesome is that the length of the left prefix is not consistent, so you cannot simply delete based on a fixed number of characters.
This article will use the office software HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to demonstrate a more efficient method: using the "Delete text in file names" function, selecting "All content to the left of a certain text", entering the specified keyword START, and completing batch renaming in one go. After reading, you can apply the same method to organizing the names of files like docx, doc, xlsx, xls, pdf, txt, jpg, png, etc.
Applicable Scenario: Typical Office Need to Delete Left Characters by Keyword
Deleting the left content of file names by keyword is essentially a batch renaming method that uses "text as a boundary point." It does not require the left character length to be the same, only that an identifiable and reusable keyword exists in the file name.
The following scenarios are very suitable for this method:
- Cleaning up system export prefixes: For example, exported file names have source information like Archive_, Data_, Log_ at the beginning, but when archiving, you only need to start from START or the project number.
- Unifying names of materials from multiple sources: Files submitted by different departments have different prefixes, but all contain the same project identifier, allowing you to batch delete the content to the left of the identifier.
- Standardizing Word file names: For example, docx or doc file names have names or dates at the beginning, and you want to keep the name starting from the contract number, customer name, or key field.
- Organizing PDFs and scans: PDF file names contain useless prefixes like scanner device numbers or import batch numbers, which can be cleaned up by a fixed keyword.
- Processing logs, images, and text files: For example, in txt, log, jpg, png files, retaining the part after the collection identifier and deleting the preceding temporary fields.
The common feature of these needs is: the left content of the file name is not fixed, but there is a stable text in the middle. If your file names also fit this characteristic, you can use the method in this article.
Effect Preview: From Messy Prefixes to a Unified Naming Start
Before Processing: Different Content on the Left Side of File Names
From the file list before processing, you can see that each file name contains START, but the content to the left of START is not the same. For example, prefixes like Archive_, Data_, Doc_, File_, Image_, Log_, Note_ are mixed together. These prefixes might represent old classifications, export sources, or temporary naming rules, but they are no longer needed.
Taking a few files as examples:
- Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt needs to become START_oldPart_END.txt
- Doc_START_2024Draft_END.txt needs to become START_2024Draft_END.txt
- Image_START_rawName_END.txt needs to become START_rawName_END.txt
If you delete by a fixed length, Archive_ and Doc_ have different lengths, making a unified rule difficult; if you locate by START, you can accurately delete all characters to the left of START.
After Processing: File Names Uniformly Start with START
After processing is complete, all file names start from START, and the useless prefixes on the left have been cleaned up. The processed results are clear and unified, making subsequent sorting, searching, and archiving more convenient.
From the screenshot, you can see that the processed files include START_2024Draft_END.txt, START_alpha_END.txt, START_batch001_END.txt, etc. They retain START and the right content, while preserving the original .txt extension. This effect is the typical result of "deleting all content to the left of a certain text."
Operation Steps: Delete Left Content of File Names by START
Step 1: Open the File Name Tool and Enter the Delete Text Function
After launching HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first select File Name in the left navigation bar. This category centrally houses functions related to file name processing, including find and replace, insert text, add prefix/suffix, case conversion, etc. What this article needs to use is Delete Text in File Names.
The purpose of this step is to enter the module specifically designed for batch deleting file name content. Compared to manually renaming in File Explorer, the wizard-style process provided by this office software is more suitable for batch processing: select files first, then set rules, and finally execute, with clear logic and easier checking.
Step 2: Add Files or Import Files from a Folder
After entering the function, the interface will display Step 1, "Select records to process." You can click Add Files to select specific files, or click Import Files from Folder to add files from a certain folder to the list. The screenshot has imported 10 txt files from the D:\test path.
In the list, the software displays information like file name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time. It is recommended not to rush to the next step but to first check the following:
- Confirm that the number of records matches expectations; the screenshot bottom shows the record count is 10.
- Confirm that each file in the Name column contains the keyword START.
- Confirm that no other unrelated files have been added to the task.
- If there are many files, you can use the filtering and sorting capabilities in the interface to assist in viewing the list, but ultimately the actual imported records shall prevail.
After confirmation, click Next to enter the rule setting. The expected result at this point is that the files to be processed have been recognized by the software and are ready to be batch renamed according to a unified rule.
Step 3: Select "All Content to the Left of a Certain Text", Enter the Keyword START
Step 2 is the key to the entire operation. You need to select All content to the left of a certain text in the "Operation Type." The meaning of this option is: find a specified text in the file name, then delete all characters to its left.
Next, enter the keyword for this example in the "Text" input box:
START
This setting will make the software process file names using START as the boundary point. For example:
- Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt: Delete Archive_, keep START_oldPart_END.txt
- File_START_alpha_END.txt: Delete File_, keep START_alpha_END.txt
- Task_START_removeThis_END.txt: Delete Task_, keep START_removeThis_END.txt
In the screenshot, the "Include this text" switch is off. Judging from the processing result, START is retained, so this example does not require deleting the keyword itself. If your need is to delete the keyword and its left content, you need to set carefully considering the meaning of this switch, and test with a few files first.
After completing the settings, click Next.
Step 4: Set the Save Location and Execute Batch Processing
In the software wizard, Step 3 is "Set save location" and Step 4 is "Start processing." Since batch renaming affects multiple files, it is recommended to develop two habits before formal processing: first, back up important files; second, test with a small sample of files when using a new rule for the first time.
After completing the save location setting, enter the start processing phase. The software will process the file names in the list one by one according to the rule just set. After processing is complete, open the corresponding folder to see that the file names have started from START, and the left prefixes have been batch deleted.
Common Questions and Notes
1. Can this handle office files like docx, doc, pdf?
The screenshots in this article demonstrate txt files, but the method focuses on file name rules, not file content. For Word documents docx, doc, Excel spreadsheets xlsx, xls, PDF files, and image files, as long as the file names meet the condition of "containing the specified keyword," you can batch organize their names using the same approach.
2. Must the keyword be unique?
It is recommended to choose a keyword that is stable and clear within the file names. If multiple STARTs appear in the same file name, the actual processing position might affect the result. Therefore, before batch execution, it is best to review sample file names to confirm the pattern of keyword occurrence.
3. Will differing lengths of the left content affect processing?
No, this is exactly the advantage of this method. The software does not delete by a fixed number of characters, but locates by specified text. Whether the left side of START has 4 characters or 20 characters, as long as START can be found, all content to its left can be deleted.
4. How to avoid mistakenly deleting file names?
It is recommended to follow a three-step check: check the file list after importing, confirm the keyword is entered correctly after setting the rule, and test with copies or a few files before formal processing. Batch processing improves efficiency, but the rule setting must be accurate.
5. What if I want to delete the content to the right of START?
The operation types in the screenshot also include "All content to the right of a certain text." If your need is opposite to this article, where you need to keep the left and delete the right, you can select the corresponding rule. However, the two processing directions are different and cannot be mixed.
Summary: Using Keyword Positioning for More Accurate Batch File Name Organizing
The difficulty of batch renaming often lies not in the deletion itself, but in how to accurately locate the range to delete. The example in this article uses START as the positioning text, utilizing the "Delete Text in File Names" function in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch delete useless prefixes of varying lengths, ultimately obtaining unified and standardized file names.
This method is suitable for organizing large volumes of office files, especially when file names come from different systems, people, or batches. Compared to manual modification, batch processing can save a lot of repetitive operation time and also reduce naming errors caused by fatigue. It is recommended that you prepare test samples before processing formal files, confirm that the START or other keyword rule is correct, and then process the complete folder in one go.