Many files, after downloading, exporting, or multi-person collaboration, will have different source prefixes added before the file name, such as Archive_, Data_, Doc_, File_, etc. The content that truly needs to be retained often starts from a specific keyword. This article demonstrates how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , select "Delete text in file name" in the file name function, and use the "All content to the left of a specific text" rule, with START as the positioning text, to batch delete file name prefixes, keeping START and the name on the right, helping users quickly standardize file names.
Inconsistent file naming is a very common issue in office file management. Especially when batch exporting files from systems, batch downloading materials from cloud drives, or receiving documents organized by different colleagues, various unwanted prefixes often appear at the beginning of file names. Some represent sources, some represent temporary categorizations, and some are simply automatically generated tags during export. When these prefixes no longer hold value for retention, the most direct need is to: delete all content to the left of a specific keyword, keeping only the keyword and the valid name on the right.
For example, a batch of file names might include Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt, Data_START_sample_END.txt, File_START_alpha_END.txt. These file names all contain START, but the Archive, Data, and File preceding START are not ultimately needed for archiving. Renaming them one by one is not only inefficient but also prone to damaging file extensions or deleting the wrong sections. A better approach is to use office software for batch processing.
This article uses HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to explain how to use file name-related features to batch delete all content to the left of specified text. This method is suitable for organizing file names for various office documents like txt, docx, doc, pdf, xlsx, xls, etc. As long as file names share similar patterns, rules can be used to complete the task in batches.
Applicable Scenario: Cleaning File Name Prefixes Using a Fixed Keyword
The method introduced in this article applies to scenarios where "a fixed keyword exists in the file name, and the content to the left of that keyword needs to be deleted." The keyword can be English, such as START, END, DATA; it can be Chinese, such as 合同, 发票, 报告, 客户; or it can be some fixed delimiter text. The key is that it can serve as a stable anchor point within each file name.
Common scenarios include:
- System-exported files: After export, file names have prefixes with module names, table names, or source tags, and you only want to keep the core name for archiving.
- Project material organization: Different project members add personal identifiers before file names, requiring a unified deletion of content up to a certain keyword.
- Batch downloaded files: Downloaded file names automatically have website, column, number, etc., information prefixed, requiring the cleanup of useless prefixes.
- Test file archiving: File names created during testing phases have messy prefixes and need a unified format for official storage.
- Standardizing Word, PDF, Excel file names: For instance, changing "Temp_Contract_ClientA.docx" to a name starting from "Contract".
The common characteristic of these scenarios is that it's not about simply deleting a fixed number of characters or deleting a specific word itself, but about deleting "an entire segment of content to the left of a certain text." Therefore, using a batch rename rule anchored by a keyword is more reliable.
Effect Preview: Inconsistent Content on the Left Side of File Names Before Processing
In the pre-processing file list, each file contains START, but the content to the left of START is inconsistent. For example, Archive, Data, Doc, Image, Log, Note, Record, etc. For subsequent sorting, searching, and archiving, these prefixes make file names redundant and affect the user's ability to quickly identify the core content.
From the screenshot, the red markings highlight the part to the left of START, which is the content we intend to batch delete this time. The operational goal here is very clear: using START as the boundary, delete all characters to its left, but keep START and the content after it.
If handled manually, the user needs to repeat the process of "select file—rename—delete prefix—confirm." Assuming there are 200 files, even if each takes only 10 seconds, it would take over half an hour, and issues like accidental deletion, missed deletions, and naming inconsistencies can easily occur along the way.
Effect Preview: Processed File Names All Unified Starting from START
After completing the batch processing, the file names have been transformed into a unified form, all starting from START. For example, Archive_START_oldPart_END.txt becomes START_oldPart_END.txt after processing, and Task_START_removeThis_END.txt becomes START_removeThis_END.txt.
This result shows that the software only deleted the content to the left of START, without deleting START itself, nor altering the .txt extension. In practical office scenarios, this effect is very useful: it removes redundant prefixes while preserving an identifiable naming structure, making subsequent sorting, batch archiving, or sharing with others more standardized.
Operation Steps: Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to Batch Delete File Name Prefixes
The specific steps are explained below following the software interface flow. The screenshot shows the software's top-left corner displaying HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , a batch processing software designed for office scenarios. Its core value lies in centralizing repetitive, rule-based file handling actions to reduce manual operations.
Step 1: Select the Delete Text Feature in the "File Name" Category
After opening the software, first select File Name in the left navigation bar. Because we need to process file names, not Word content, Excel table content, or PDF page content, we should enter the file name-related tools.
In the feature cards on the right, find 10. Delete Text in File Names. The description for this feature is "Batch delete text in file names," which falls under the same category of batch rename operations as the "delete content to the left of specified text in file names" task we want to perform.
After clicking this feature, the software enters a wizard-style processing page. The top of the page shows the processing flow, including selecting records to process, setting processing options, setting the save location, and starting processing. This flow is suitable for batch tasks because each step allows the user to confirm before executing, reducing the chance of operational errors.
Step 2: Import Files for Batch Renaming
After entering the feature, the first step is to select the records to be processed. The top right area of the interface provides two main entry points: Add Files and Import Files from Folder. If files are scattered in different locations, you can use "Add Files"; if files are concentrated in the same folder, using "Import Files from Folder" is more efficient.
The screenshot shows that 10 txt files have been imported, and the table displays the file name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time. After importing, don't rush to the next step. It's advisable to check the file list first and confirm the following:
- Whether the number of files to be processed is correct (the summary record count in the screenshot is 10).
- Whether every file name contains the anchor text START.
- Whether files not intended for processing were mistakenly included.
- Whether the extensions are displayed normally to avoid processing non-target files together.
The advantage of batch processing is completing multiple files at once, but the prerequisite is selecting the correct processing targets. After confirming everything is correct, click Next at the bottom of the page.
Step 3: Set the Deletion Rule to "All Content to the Left of Specific Text"
After entering "Set Processing Options," the page displays multiple operation types. Since the goal of this article is to delete all characters to the left of START, you should choose All content to the left of specific text. This option means: using the text entered by the user as an anchor point, delete the content to the left of that text.
Fill in START in the mandatory Text input box below. After filling it in, the software knows to look for START in the file names and perform the left-side deletion operation around it.
Two concepts need to be specifically distinguished here:
- Anchor Text: Used to tell the software where to judge the left-side content from; in this example, it is START.
- Whether to delete the anchor text itself: Determined by the "Include this text" switch.
Looking at the post-processing screenshot, the file names still start with START, indicating that the anchor text was kept in this example. If your goal is also to keep START, leave the "Include this text" switch off. This way, after processing, Doc_START_2024Draft_END.txt will become START_2024Draft_END.txt, not _2024Draft_END.txt.
Step 4: Proceed to the Next Step, Confirm Save Location, and Execute
After setting the rule, click Next. According to the top flow, the next steps are Set Save Location, then Start Processing. Although the screenshot does not expand the save location page, the flow names clearly indicate that the user needs to confirm where the processing results will be saved before execution, or complete the related settings according to the software interface requirements.
For important files, it is recommended to first conduct a small-scale verification using a test folder. After confirming the processed file names meet expectations, then execute the batch operation on the complete folder. This way, you can leverage the efficiency of batch processing while reducing the risk posed by incorrect rule settings.
Finally, enter the "Start Processing" step to execute the task. After processing is complete, open the target folder, and you will see that the file name prefixes have been uniformly deleted, with names now arranged starting from START.
Frequently Asked Questions and Notes
1. Why not use "Several Characters from the Left"?
If the prefix length for every file name were completely identical, deleting by character count might be considered. However, in the example for this article, prefixes like Archive, Data, Doc, and File have different lengths, making "Several Characters from the Left" unreliable. Choosing "All content to the left of specific text" allows anchoring using START, which is more suitable for cases with inconsistent prefix lengths.
2. What should be noted if multiple STARTs appear in a file name?
When multiple instances of the same anchor text might appear in a file name, you should check the naming pattern before processing to ensure the text the software anchors to meets expectations. For complex naming, testing with a small number of samples first before expanding to all files is recommended to avoid a deletion scope that doesn't match your expectations.
3. Will deleting content on the left side of the file name affect the file content?
No. The operations in this article belong to file name processing; the goal is to modify the display of the file name, not the internal content of txt, docx, doc, pdf, or xlsx files. That is to say, the document body, table data, and PDF page content will not be changed by these renaming rules.
4. Will the file extension be deleted?
Based on the example results, the processed files still retain the .txt extension. This is because the deletion rule targets the content to the left of START in the file name, while the extension is located at the end of the file name. During actual operation, it's still recommended to check the preview or processing results to ensure the extension is kept intact.
5. How to choose the anchor text?
The anchor text should ideally be content that exists in every file name and has a clear positional meaning. This example chose START because it is contained in all file names and happens to sit right at the beginning of the content to be retained. If your files are "Source_Contract_Client.docx", you could use "Contract" as the anchor text; if they are "Number-Report-Date.pdf", you could choose stable keywords like "Report" based on your needs.
Summary: Batch Renaming by Keyword Makes File Organization More Controllable
When file name prefixes are messy and of inconsistent lengths but all contain the same key anchor text, using the "All content to the left of specific text" rule is more efficient and accurate than manual deletion or deletion by a fixed character count. Through HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users can enter "Delete Text in File Names" under the File Name category, import files, select the corresponding operation type, enter anchor text like START, complete the save location setting, and start processing.
The value of this office software batch processing method lies in turning repetitive, mechanical file renaming actions into a single rule setup. Whether organizing example txt files, standardizing Word docx or doc file names, or handling office materials like PDFs and Excel files, as long as the file names have clear patterns, batch processing can save time. It is recommended that you first verify the rules with a few sample files before processing a large number of files officially; after confirming the results are correct, execute them in batches to make file organization more efficient and safer.