When the folder name contains different temporary fields in the middle, using find and replace is often not accurate, because each middle field is different. A more suitable method is to locate by the left text and right text, and batch delete all content between them. This article, combined with the HeSoft Doc Batch Tool screenshot, demonstrates the complete process from selecting features, adding folders, setting START and _END boundaries, to executing processing and viewing results.
Many users encounter a seemingly simple but extremely time-consuming problem when organizing folders: a large number of folder names contain an unwanted middle field, and the content of each field is different. For example, some are called tempFiles, some are debugInfo, some are 2024Draft, sampleChunk, oldVersion, batch001. In this case, ordinary find and replace is not very useful because you cannot set separate replacement rules for each different field. A more efficient method is to locate by left and right text: find the fixed left text START, then find the fixed right text _END, and then batch delete all content between them.
This article will use the actual interface of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to introduce how to complete this operation. As batch processing software designed for office scenarios, its value lies in centralizing repetitive file, folder, and document processing tasks, using rules to replace manual operations. For batch deletion of middle fields in folder names, this method is particularly suitable for directories with large quantities, similar naming structures, but different middle content.
Applicable Scenarios: Why Deleting by Left and Right Text is More Suitable Than Replacing One by One
If the text to be deleted in all folder names is exactly the same, for example, all contain "_old_", then ordinary find and replace can solve the problem. But in many real office scenarios, the part to be deleted is not fixed. A project directory might be called Project_START_alpha_END_Report, another might be called Photo_START_rawSet_END_Edited, and another might be called Notes_START_privateText_END_Public. Their commonality is not that the middle field is the same, but that there are identical identifiers on the left and right sides of the middle field.
The advantage of deleting by left and right text is right here: the user does not need to care what is in the middle, just tells the software where to start positioning and where to end positioning. In the example, the left text is START, and the right text is _END. The software will search for these two boundaries in each folder name and delete the content between them. In this way, regardless of whether the middle is English, numbers, version numbers, draft descriptions, or temporary notes, it can be processed according to the same rule.
This method is suitable for scenarios such as data archiving, project directory cleaning, customer folder standardization, design version organizing, and secondary naming of export directories. It is also suitable for use in conjunction with other office file management tasks, such as organizing Word documents (docx, doc files), Excel reports, PDF materials, and image asset directories, by first cleaning and standardizing the folder structure, then proceeding with subsequent classification and backup.
Effect Preview: Messy and Different Middle Fields Before Processing
The screenshot before processing shows a batch of folders that need to be cleaned. Each name contains START and END, but different text is sandwiched between them. For example, Backup_START_tempFiles_END_Final, Data_START_sampleChunk_END_Clean, Invoice_START_batch001_END_Paid, Task_START_removeThis_END_Done. The position marked in red is exactly the middle field to be deleted.
These middle fields might have been meaningful during the project process, but often interfere with naming conventions at the archiving stage. The longer the name, the harder it is for users to quickly identify the core meaning of the folder; the less uniform the fields, the more inconvenient subsequent searches and sorting become. Manual processing is not only slow but also prone to errors due to visual fatigue. Therefore, handing such tasks over to batch processing tools is more in line with office efficiency needs.
Effect Preview: Batch Retains Unified Structure After Processing
After processing, all folder names become a more unified format. The middle fields like tempFiles, debugInfo, 2024Draft, removeThis have disappeared, but START, END, and the business information before and after the name are still retained. For example, Client_START_END_Archive, Invoice_START_END_Paid, Photo_START_END_Edited.
It can be seen from the results that this operation is not about deleting a specific fixed word, but about deleting the dynamic content between two specified texts. For batch deleting middle fields from a large number of folder names, this result is more stable and more in line with the requirements of rule-based organizing.
Operation Steps: Complete Explanation from Function Selection to Rule Setting
Step 1: Select the Delete Text Function under Folder Name
After launching HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , find "Folder Name" in the left navigation. After clicking, the right side will display multiple function cards related to folder naming. The current task is to delete a segment of text from folder names, so select "Delete Text in Folder Names". In the screenshot, this function card is located under the Folder Name category, indicating it is a function specifically for batch processing folder names.
The purpose of this step is to ensure that the subsequent rules act on folder names, not on file content or a certain type of document. HeSoft Doc Batch Tool also includes categories like Word Tools, Excel Tools, PDF Tools, Image Tools, etc. Users should select the corresponding module based on the processing object during operation. If you want to batch modify directory names, you should use the "Folder Name" related functions.
Step 2: Import the Folders to be Processed and View the List
After entering the function page, the current step is "Select records to process". Click "Add Folder" to add the directories that need to be renamed to the software. After adding, the list will display the name and path of each folder, and summarize the number of records at the bottom. In the example, 10 folders have been imported, indicating that these 10 directories will all participate in the subsequent batch rule processing.
Here, users should focus on checking the Name column. Confirm that every pending folder has the two boundaries START and _END. If some folders have different naming structures, it is recommended to remove them from the list first to avoid inconsistent results after execution. The operation column on the right side of the table provides an entry to remove single records, and buttons like "Clear" can also be seen at the top of the page for reorganizing the processing list.
The core principle of batch processing is to determine the scope first, then set the rules. The more accurate the scope, the more controllable the final result. Especially when processing work drives, shared directories, or client materials, it is not recommended to execute directly without checking.
Step 3: Select Delete Between Two Texts, and Fill in START and _END
Click "Next" to enter "Set processing options". In the operation type, select "All Content Between Two Texts". Then, fill in START in the "Left Text" input box, and _END in the "Right Text" input box. The red annotation in the screenshot emphasizes this setting position.
Why write the right text as _END? Take Build_START_debugInfo_END_Release for example, there is an underscore after START, and debugInfo is connected to _END. If the right text is only written as END, the delimiter after deletion may not meet expectations; by writing it as _END, the range to be deleted includes the underscore after START and the middle variable, ultimately leaving START_END, resulting in a more natural format.
Also, the "Include Left Text" and "Include Right Text" switches can be seen in the interface. The current example intends to keep START and END, so do not enable the inclusion of boundary texts. When kept off, the software only deletes the content between the two boundaries, without deleting the boundaries themselves. This determines whether the processed names can retain the START_END structure.
Step 4: Enter Save Location and Start Processing Flow
After completing the rule settings, continue clicking "Next". The page flow shows the subsequent steps are "Set Save Location" and "Start Processing". Before starting the process, it is recommended to double-check three key pieces of information: whether the number of pending records is correct, whether the left text is START, whether the right text is _END, and whether the switches for including boundary texts remain off.
After confirmation, execute the process. Once processing is complete, you can view the name changes in the folder's location. If you see that the originally different middle fields have all been deleted and uniformly transformed into the START_END structure, it means the rule was executed successfully.
Common Questions or Notes
1. Does it Affect Processing if the Middle Field Contains Numbers, English, or Multiple Words?
Generally, it does not. This operation type relies on left and right boundaries for positioning, rather than identifying the specific content of the middle field. As long as the middle field is located between START and _END, it can be deleted. Cases like 2024Draft, batch001, rawSet in the example all fall into this situation.
2. How Should the Left and Right Texts be Chosen?
The left and right texts should be chosen from the parts that appear consistently in every folder name. It is recommended to select the fixed character on the left side of the section to be kept as the left text, and the right text should include necessary delimiters. For instance, in this example, choosing _END as the right text is precisely to control the number of underscores after deletion. In actual use, you can observe a few typical names first before deciding on the boundaries.
3. What if the Processing Result is Not as Expected?
In most cases, the problem originates from inaccurate input of boundary text, such as missing underscores, adding extra spaces, case mismatch, or mistakenly enabling the inclusion of boundary texts. It is recommended to test the rule with a small number of folders first, and after confirming the result is correct, execute it on a large number of directories.
4. What is the Difference Between This Method and Find and Replace?
Find and replace is suitable for deleting fixed text; deleting between two texts is suitable for deleting variable text. In this article's scenario, the middle field of each folder is different, so using left and right boundary positioning is more effort-saving and accurate.
Summary: Batch Rules Should Be Prioritized for Cleaning Middle Fields in a Large Number of Folder Names
When the middle fields of many folder names differ but the left and right identifiers are consistent, renaming one by one or finding and replacing one by one are not efficient solutions. Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can use the "Delete Text in Folder Names" function, select "All Content Between Two Texts", enter START and _END, to quickly delete the middle variables and retain a unified structure. For users who frequently process project materials, client directories, archive folders, and office document directories, this batch processing method can significantly reduce repetitive labor and lower naming errors. It is recommended to check the records and boundary texts before formal execution, confirm the results, and then batch process to make folder management more standardized and efficient.