Inconsistent file name prefixes can affect data archiving and searching, especially when only the content after a certain fixed text in the file name is valuable. It is more suitable to use batch processing tools to locate and delete by text. This article uses the START example to explain in detail how to use the "Delete text in file name" function in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch delete all characters before the specified text, helping users quickly standardize file names.
Disorganized filename prefixes are one of the most common issues in organizing office documents. For example, within the same batch of files, some might start with Archive_, others with Data_, and yet others with Doc_, File_, or Image_. These prefixes may have been meaningful when the files were generated, but they can interfere with readability during archiving, sharing, or delivery. Ideally, filenames should begin with a fixed text or a key identifier.
This article uses START as an example to explain how to batch-delete all characters before START in filenames. Before processing, filenames follow patterns like Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt, Doc_START_2024Draft_END.txt, and so on. After processing, they become START_oldPart_END.txt, START_2024Draft_END.txt. In other words, everything to the left of START is deleted, while START itself and the content to its right are retained.
The tool used is HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . As seen in the software interface, it is a batch document processing tool designed for office scenarios, offering categories such as File Name, File Organization, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, and others. For repetitive tasks like batch filename modification, using a specialized tool can significantly boost efficiency.
Applicable Scenarios: Cases Where Useless Filename Prefixes Need to Be Removed
As long as a consistent positioning text exists within the filename, rules like "delete all characters before the specified text" can be considered. This is particularly suitable for files where prefixes are inconsistent and of variable length, but the effective name starts with a common keyword.
Typical usage scenarios include:
- Batch deleting system prefixes: When business systems export files, they automatically add module names or batch names, but these fields are unnecessary for actual archiving.
- Cleaning up temporary naming: Filenames starting with temporary information like old, temp, draft, user, or department abbreviations need to be uniformly removed.
- Organizing deliverable materials: Before handing over to clients or colleagues, filenames need to be standardized to avoid chaotic prefixes.
- Batch standardizing office files: Similar naming issues can occur in Word's docx and doc, Excel's xlsx and xls, PDF reports, txt text files, image assets, etc.
- Retaining names by project identifier: For example, if filenames contain START, project numbers, contract numbers, or client codes, you might want the filename to start from these identifiers.
Compared to manual renaming, the advantage of batch processing lies in setting a rule once and executing it on multiple files simultaneously. Particularly when prefix lengths differ, positioning by specified text is more reliable than deleting by character count.
Effect Preview: Deleting All Characters Before START
Before Processing: Each File Has a Different Left Prefix
The 'before processing' screenshot shows a folder containing 10 txt files. They all contain START, but to the left of START, the content varies with Archive_, Data_, Doc_, File_, Image_, Log_, Note_, Record_, Sheet_, Task_, etc. Red annotations also highlight the positions within the filenames that require attention.
The trouble with this type of naming is: if you want to uniformly delete the content before START, you cannot simply delete a fixed number of characters from the left. This is because the prefix lengths differ between files—for instance, Doc_ is much shorter than Archive_. The correct approach is to locate START and then delete all characters to its left.
After Processing: All Filenames Start with START
In the 'after processing' screenshot, all filenames now begin with START, indicating the characters before START were successfully batch-deleted. For example, Doc_START_2024Draft_END.txt became START_2024Draft_END.txt, and File_START_alpha_END.txt became START_alpha_END.txt.
Such naming is neater and more suitable for subsequent sorting by name, searching for key fields, or batch archiving. For a large volume of office files, unifying the beginning of filenames can significantly reduce lookup costs.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Using the Delete Text from Filename Feature
Step 1: Select File Name Related Features from the Software Home
Open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , and click File Name in the left navigation bar. The page will display multiple function cards related to filename processing. According to the screenshot, you need to click 10. Delete Text from File Name in this article, described as "batch delete text from file names".
The purpose of this step is to select the correct entry point for batch renaming. Because we are neither adding a prefix to filenames nor converting case, but deleting a segment of content from the filename, we should enter "Delete Text from File Name".
Step 2: Import Files for Batch Processing
After entering the feature page, the software displays a wizard process. Step 1 is Select records to be processed. In the upper right corner of the interface, you can see actions like Add Files, Import Files from Folder, Clear, and More. Depending on the actual source of your files, you can choose to add files individually or import them directly from a folder.
In the screenshot, 10 records have been successfully imported into the file list. Their path is D:\test and the extension is txt. The "Name" column in the list is used to check if filenames conform to the processing rules, the "Path" column confirms file locations, and the "Extension" column helps determine if the imported file types are correct.
Before clicking Next, it's advisable to perform a rule check:
- Do all filenames to be processed contain START?
- Are there any files you do not wish to rename mixed into the list?
- Do the file extensions match expectations?
- Is the record count consistent with the actual number in the folder?
Once confirmed, click Next at the bottom to proceed to processing options settings.
Step 3: Select Delete Range and Enter Specified Text
In Step 2, "Set processing options", the most critical part is selecting the operation type. According to the screenshot, you should select All content to the left of a certain text. This option means: using a specific text as a boundary, delete all content to its left.
Then, enter in the "Text" input field:
START
After entering, the software will locate using START. For example:
- In Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt, the Archive_ to the left of START will be deleted;
- In Log_START_debugInfo_END.txt, the Log_ to the left of START will be deleted;
- In Record_START_tempData_END.txt, the Record_ to the left of START will be deleted.
The goal of this example is to retain START, so do not include START itself as the content to be deleted. From the screenshots and post-processing effects, "Include this text" is not enabled, and the final filename still retains START. This detail is important: if the positioning text is also deleted, the processing result would start from the right of START, which differs from the goal of this article.
After completing the settings, click Next.
Step 4: Set Save Location and Start Batch Processing
The next step in the wizard is Set Save Location. For tasks involving batch filename processing, it's recommended to choose carefully based on the importance of the files. If they are test data, you can verify the effect directly; if they are formal office materials, it's advisable to first copy the files or select a test folder for processing.
After setting the save location, proceed to the Start Processing step. Upon execution, the software applies the same rule to each file in the import list, deleting all characters to the left of START. After processing completes, go back to the folder to check—the filenames should match the 'after processing' screenshot, all starting with START.
Common Questions or Considerations
1. Why not use "The leftmost several texts"?
Because the filename prefix lengths differ in the example. Archive_, Doc_, File_, Record_ all have different character counts. If you delete by a fixed number of characters, you might delete too much from some files and too little from others. Choosing "All content to the left of a certain text" can automatically locate based on START, making it more suitable for irregular prefixes.
2. Should the specified text match the case exactly?
It is recommended to enter the text exactly as it appears in the filename. The example uses uppercase START, so the input field should also contain START. To minimize errors, you can copy the keyword from a filename before processing and paste it into the text box.
3. What happens to files without START in their names?
Before batch processing, try to avoid adding files that do not conform to the rules. If some files lack the specified text, the expected processing result may not be achieved. A safer practice is to filter files first or import files that match the same rule in batches.
4. Can START be replaced with other text?
Yes. START is just an example for this article. In actual work, you can replace it with a contract number, project code, date identifier, client abbreviation, separator combination, etc. As long as it serves as a stable boundary, it can be used to locate the delete range.
5. Is a backup needed before batch processing?
A backup is recommended, especially when processing a large number of formal files. Batch processing tools can dramatically improve efficiency, but a single operation affects multiple files. It's a safer office habit to test with a small sample first, then process all files.
Summary: Using Office Software to Batch-Clean Prefixes, Enhancing File Organization Efficiency
When filename prefixes are messy and of varying lengths, yet all contain the same specified text, manual renaming is not an efficient choice. Via the "Delete Text from File Name" feature of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can select "All content to the left of a certain text", enter START as the positioning text, and quickly batch-delete all characters before START.
This method is not only applicable to txt files but also suitable for organizing Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDF files, image assets, and other office materials. It helps unify originally scattered and chaotic filenames into clear rules, reducing repetitive work and improving archiving and retrieval efficiency.
If you are processing a batch of files with useless prefixes, it is recommended to immediately prepare a test folder, import the files following the steps in this article, set START or your actual keyword, first verify the effect, and then apply it in batch to the complete document directory.