When folder names consistently end with dates, numbers, or unnecessary suffixes, manually renaming them can be time-consuming. This article explains, through HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , how to access the folder name feature, add multiple folders, choose to remove text from folder names, and set it to delete a specified number of characters from the right side, thereby batch removing fixed characters on the right side of folder names.
Many enterprises encounter the same issue when organizing documents: folder names start with useful project codes, client abbreviations, or category names, but then include an unnecessary date serial number at the end. For example, ABC20240101, BCD20241010, DEF20240202. For filing personnel, only ABC, BCD, DEF may actually need to be retained, while trailing text like 20240101, 20241010 hinders readability and sorting.
If there are only a few folders, manually right-clicking to rename might be acceptable; but when the number increases to dozens or hundreds, repeatedly deleting trailing characters becomes low-value labor. Even worse, manual operation is prone to missing a folder or accidentally deleting a valid part of the name. This article introduces a method more suited to office scenarios: using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch delete the rightmost characters from folder names, quickly removing fixed trailing text.
Applicable Scenarios: Best for Batch Processing When Trailing Character Length is Fixed
This method is suitable for processing folders with uniformly structured name endings. For example, all folders end with an 8-digit date, a serial number of the same length, or a fixed-length batch identifier. As long as the part to be deleted is at the far right and the character count is consistent, it can be completed in one go using a batch rule.
For instance, 20240101 in ABC20240101 is 8 characters, 20241010 in BCD20241010 is also 8 characters, and 20240606 in PQR20240606 is likewise 8 characters. Although their preceding letters differ, the length of the part to be deleted at the end is identical, making the 'delete rightmost characters' approach suitable.
This operation is very common in office software for batch file processing, particularly suited for document archiving, project directory organization, client folder cleanup, and standardizing system export directories. It processes the folder names without requiring users to copy, paste, or manually select text one by one.
Effect Preview: Before Processing, Names Contain Extra Text on the Right
From the pre-processing screenshot, you can see that each folder name consists of letters and 8 digits. The red highlighting emphasizes the trailing numeric portion, which is exactly the text to be batch-deleted this time. Because these digits are all on the far right, they can be removed using a unified rule.
Although the pre-processing names contain more information, the trailing dates become redundant if only the abbreviation is needed subsequently. Especially with many folders, long names reduce browsing efficiency and are not conducive to unified display.
Effect Preview: After Processing, Names are Uniformly Shortened
After processing, only the left-hand letter portion of the folder name is retained. The original ABC20240101 becomes ABC, BCD20241010 becomes BCD, and DEF20240202 becomes DEF. All folders have had their 8 rightmost characters deleted according to the same rule.
This processing result is clear and intuitive, showing that batch deletion of trailing text from folder names can be done without opening and renaming them individually. For users who frequently need to organize directory structures, this type of batch renaming capability can save significant time.
Operation Steps: From Selecting a Function to Setting Deletion Rules
Step 1: Find the Delete Text Feature in the Folder Name Category
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first look at the left-hand function navigation. The screenshot shows that the software provides multiple office processing categories, including File Name, Folder Name, File Organization, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, etc. This time, the processing target is folder names, so you should enter the Folder Name category.
After entering the Folder Name category, select "Delete Text in Folder Names". This function name perfectly matches our requirement: we are not replacing text or adding prefixes/suffixes, but deleting an unwanted piece of text from existing folder names. After selecting this function, you can proceed to the wizard-style operation flow.
Step 2: Add Folders to be Processed and Check Records
After entering the function page, the first step is to select the records needing processing. Click the "Add Folders" button in the upper-right area of the interface to add the folders requiring batch name changes to the task list. The list displays information such as each record's name, path, creation time, and modification time, facilitating a pre-processing check.
From the screenshot, we can see 10 records have been added, with names like ABC20240101, BCD20241010, DEF20240202, etc. The summary area at the bottom shows the record count as 10, which helps users confirm the task scale. If folders not needing processing have been mixed into the list, you can remove them using the delete icon in the action column; if the overall addition was incorrect, you can use "Clear" to re-select.
Don't rush to click "Next" at this step. It's advisable to first inspect whether all folder names follow the same pattern: are the endings all 8-digit numbers, and do they all need the rightmost 8 characters removed? If some folder names have different structures, it's best to remove them from the list first to avoid generating unexpected names after batch processing.
Step 3: Choose "Rightmost Characters" and Enter the Count
Once the records are confirmed correct, click "Next" to enter the processing options settings. The interface provides multiple operation types, including All Digits, All Whitespace, All Chinese Characters, All English Characters, All Content, All Content Left of a Certain Text, Position Range, Leftmost Characters, Rightmost Characters, All Content Right of a Certain Text, etc. This time, we need to delete fixed-length text from the far right of the name, so select "Rightmost Characters".
Enter 8 in the number input field, indicating that 8 characters will be deleted from the far right of each folder name. This setting matches the date length in the example names. For instance, the 8 rightmost characters of ABC20240101 are 20240101, leaving ABC after deletion; STU20240707 retains STU after deleting the 8 rightmost characters.
The number entered here is key to achieving the correct result. Entering too few will leave some digits behind; entering too many might delete part of the preceding valid name. Therefore, it's best to carefully count the length of the text to be deleted before setting this. For year-month-day formats, it's usually 8 digits; for year-month formats, typically 6 digits; for just the year, it might be 4 digits.
Step 4: Continue Through the Workflow to Set Save Location and Execute
After setting the deletion rule, continue clicking "Next". Following the interface workflow, you will proceed to set the save location, and then start the processing. Just follow the on-screen prompts to complete subsequent steps. Since the processing rule is already determined, the software will execute the operation to delete the right-side characters from each folder name in the list accordingly.
After processing is complete, you can open the original directory where the folders are located to view them. The names should match the preview effect, with all trailing date serial numbers removed, leaving only the core text on the left. This way, a renaming task that originally required repetitive actions dozens of times is compressed into a few steps: adding folders, selecting a rule, entering the count, and executing the process.
Common Questions and Precautions
1. What is the difference between deleting the rightmost characters and deleting all content to the right of a certain text?
Deleting the rightmost characters is suitable for fixed-length situations, such as uniformly deleting 8-digit dates. Deleting all content to the right of a certain text is more suited for scenarios bounded by a specific delimiter or keyword. In the examples here, the trailing digits have a uniform length, making the 'Rightmost Characters' option more direct.
2. Can it be processed if folder names contain a mix of Chinese, English, and numbers?
Yes. Deleting the rightmost characters focuses on character position and count, not character type. Whether the end consists of numbers, English, Chinese, or a mix of text, as long as they are all at the far right and the quantity is consistent, they can be deleted by count.
3. Do rules need to be set individually after adding folders?
No. The advantage of batch processing is setting a rule once that applies simultaneously to all folders in the list. As long as these folders follow the same naming pattern, they can be processed uniformly, avoiding repetitive work.
4. Is a backup needed before batch renaming?
For important data, it's advisable to back up before processing or verify the rule with a small sample first. Although this operation only modifies folder names, naming can impact later retrieval and archiving, so careful confirmation reduces the need for rework.
5. What if processed names might result in duplicates?
If deleting trailing text from two folders results in the same name, you'll need to adjust the processing plan in advance. For example, ABC20240101 and ABC20240202 would both become ABC after removing the rightmost 8 digits. In the same directory, duplicate names could cause processing failure or require additional handling, so check for this situation before executing the batch.
Conclusion: Leave Cleaning Trailing Characters from Folder Names to Batch Processing Tools
Batch deleting trailing text from folder names is essentially offloading repetitive, mechanical renaming actions to office software. Through HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users can select "Delete Text in Folder Names" within the Folder Name category, add multiple folders, set the rule to delete the rightmost characters, and fill in the corresponding count, thereby quickly removing date serial numbers or fixed suffixes.
If you are organizing a large number of directories and find that folder names all end with useless characters of the same length, there's no need to manually rename them one by one. It is recommended to first confirm the naming pattern, then follow the steps in this article. This not only improves file organization efficiency but also reduces manual errors, making batch file management more standardized and hassle-free.