Many project folders have dates, batch numbers, or serial numbers at the end of their names, such as ABC20240101 and BCD20241010. If you only want to keep the preceding project code during later archiving, renaming them one by one is not only slow but also prone to errors. This article uses HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to demonstrate how to use office software to batch delete the rightmost 8 characters of folder names, organizing multiple folders into cleaner names in one go.
In daily office work, project archiving, document handover, and data organization, we often encounter folders with highly uniform naming formats, but with an unwanted text segment at the end. For example, folder names like "ABC20240101," "BCD20241010," "DEF20240202"—the prefix "ABC," "BCD," "DEF" might represent client, department, or project abbreviation, while the following 8-digit number is a date or batch code. When you only need to keep the project abbreviation later, manually deleting the rightmost 8 characters one by one is not only time-consuming but also prone to naming confusion caused by deleting too few, too many, or on the wrong folders.
This article addresses this specific issue: batch deleting the rightmost characters from multiple folder names. We will use screenshots, taking office software like " HeSoft Doc Batch Tool " as an example, to explain how to use the "Delete Text from Folder Name" feature to remove a fixed length of text from the end of multiple folder names at once. This method is particularly suitable for removing dates, numbers, version numbers, and batch codes from the end of folder names, significantly reducing repetitive tasks and improving file organization efficiency.
Applicable Scenarios: Which Folder Names Are Suitable for Deleting the Rightmost Characters
"Deleting the Rightmost Characters" is suitable for folders with a clear naming pattern. "The rightmost characters" can be understood as a fixed number of characters counted from the end of the folder name to be deleted. For example, the rightmost 8 characters in "ABC20240101" are "20240101," and deleting them results in "ABC".
Common applicable scenarios include:
- Removing date suffixes: e.g., "Contract20240101", "Report20240531", "ABC20240101", keeping only the preceding business name or code.
- Removing batch codes: e.g., "ProjectA0001", "ProjectB0002", where you need to remove the fixed-length number at the end.
- Removing version identifiers: e.g., "TrainingMaterials_v202406", "FinalPlan_v0003", can be batch processed when the version number at the end is no longer needed.
- Organizing client or department folders: e.g., "SalesDept20240303", "FinanceDept20240404", uniformly removing the ending date for easier archiving.
- Standardizing names before data migration: Restoring system-exported folder names to short, human-readable names.
Note that this method works best when "the length of content to be deleted is consistent". For example, in our case, all folders end with an 8-digit number, so setting the number to 8 works perfectly. If different folders have inconsistent ending lengths, you need to analyze the naming pattern first and choose a more suitable processing method.
Result Preview: Folder Names with Date Codes at End Before Processing
From the pre-processing screenshot, we can see that the folder names consist of three English letters and eight digits, such as ABC20240101, BCD20241010, DEF20240202, GHI20240303, etc. The area marked in red indicates that these ending numbers are the content to be batch deleted.
If there are only a few such folders, manual renaming might seem feasible. However, in a real office environment, there might be dozens or even hundreds of folders, possibly from multiple project directories. If you need to right-click rename, select the end digits, delete, and confirm for each one, the whole process becomes very repetitive; fixing a mistake mid-way also requires backtracking, severely impacting efficiency.
Result Preview: Only Left-side Project Codes Retained After Processing
The post-processing screenshot shows that the 8-digit numbers at the end of the original folder names have been uniformly deleted. Only the prefix content like ABC, BCD, DEF, GHI, JKL, MNO, PQR, STU, VWX, YZA remains.
This result demonstrates that by batch deleting characters from the right side of folder names, you can quickly tidy up folders with dates or numbers into more concise names. For users needing unified naming conventions, organized directory structures, or preparing deliverables, this processing method is more stable than manual renaming and makes it easier to ensure format consistency.
Step 1: Enter the Folder Name Tool and Select the Delete Text Feature
After opening " HeSoft Doc Batch Tool ", you can see it's a batch processing software designed for office scenarios. The left panel includes categories like File Name, Folder Name, File Organizer, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, Video Tools, Audio Tools, etc. Since this article deals with folder names, we need to enter the Folder Name category on the left.
Among the folder name related features, select Delete Text from Folder Name. The screenshot shows that the description for this function card is "Batch delete text from folder names," which precisely matches our requirement to batch delete the ending date codes from folder names.
The purpose of this step is to first enter the correct functional module. Since we are processing "folder names," not file names, nor content within Word, Excel, or PDF documents, it's important to pay attention to the category when selecting the function to avoid entering file batch renaming or document processing features.
The expected result is: entering the wizard page for "Delete Text from Folder Name," where you can subsequently follow the steps to add the folders to be processed, set deletion rules, confirm processing location, and start execution.
Step 2: Add the Folders to Process and Verify the List
After entering the feature page, the top of the interface displays the current function as "Delete Text from Folder Name" and provides buttons like "Add Folders," "Clear," "More," etc. According to the screenshot, we are currently in Step 1 "Select records to process". At this point, click Add Folders to add the folders that need batch renaming to the list.
After adding, the software lists the records to be processed in a table. The screenshot shows the table includes columns for Index, Name, Path, Creation Time, Modification Time, Operation, etc. For instance, the name column lists ABC20240101, BCD20241010, DEF20240202, GHI20240303 in sequence; the path column shows these folders are in D:\test\ corresponding subdirectories; the summary area at the bottom shows the record count is 10.
It's recommended to check these three items carefully at this step:
- Is the record count correct: The record count in the screenshot is 10, indicating 10 folders will be processed. If you need to process more or fewer, verify this before proceeding.
- Do the names match the pattern: In this case, folder names consist of three letters plus eight digits, suitable for uniformly deleting the rightmost 8 characters.
- Is the path correct: Confirm the folders to be processed are in the target directory to avoid accidentally processing folders in other project directories.
If you added the wrong folder, you can remove a single record using the delete operation on the right side of the list, or use "Clear" to start over. After verification, click Next at the bottom to enter the processing rule settings.
Step 3: Select "The Rightmost Characters" and Set the Number
After entering Step 2 "Set processing options," the interface will ask you to select an operation type. The screenshot shows multiple options, such as All Digits, All Whitespace, All Chinese Characters, All Content, All English Letters, The Leftmost Characters, The Rightmost Characters, etc. Since this case requires deleting a fixed-length date code from the end of folder names, select The Rightmost Characters.
After selecting this operation type, fill in the number of characters to delete in the "Number" input box below. The screenshot shows 8 is entered, because the date code at the end of each folder is exactly 8 digits, e.g., 20240101, 20241010, 20240202. Based on this number, the software will delete 8 characters starting from the rightmost end of each folder name.
Examples:
- ABC20240101, after deleting the rightmost 8 characters, becomes ABC.
- BCD20241010, after deleting the rightmost 8 characters, becomes BCD.
- DEF20240202, after deleting the rightmost 8 characters, becomes DEF.
- GHI20240303, after deleting the rightmost 8 characters, becomes GHI.
This step is the most critical setting in the entire batch processing workflow. An incorrect number will directly affect the final folder names. For instance, if you need to delete 8 digits for the date but enter 6, some digits might remain after processing; entering 9 might delete one character of the prefix. Therefore, before setting the number, it's recommended to manually count a few typical folder names to confirm the length of text to delete.
After confirming the selection of "The Rightmost Characters" and entering the number 8, click Next at the bottom to follow the interface guidance for subsequent settings.
Step 4: Set Save Location and Start Processing
According to the step bar at the top, after completing processing options, you will enter Step 3 "Set save location," followed by Step 4 "Start Processing." In different versions or scenarios, the interface might provide corresponding save or processing location settings based on the folder name processing logic. It's recommended to configure this as per the software's page prompts. Before starting, double-check the folder list, deletion rules, and number.
Once all is confirmed, proceed to the "Start Processing" step to execute the batch deletion. After the process completes, go back to the folder directory to see the name changes. Combined with the post-processing screenshot, the original folders like ABC20240101, BCD20241010, DEF20240202 have been changed to shorter names like ABC, BCD, DEF.
The purpose of this step is to let the software perform batch renaming according to the previously set rules. The expected result is: for all folders added to the list that match the rule, the specified number of characters will be deleted from the rightmost side of their names, achieving a unified batch rename.
Common Questions and Considerations
1. Why is the number set to 8 in this example?
Because the ending of the original folder names is an 8-digit date format, like 20240101, 20241010, 20240202. Deleting the rightmost 8 characters removes exactly the date, leaving only the left-side letter code. If your folders end with a 6-digit date, a 4-digit number, or another length, you should set the corresponding number based on the actual situation.
2. Can this method be used if folder name lengths are inconsistent?
Yes, but the prerequisite is that the ending text length you need to delete must be consistent. For example, if "ProjectA-001" and "ProjectB-002" both need the 4 characters "-001" and "-002" deleted, this method works. If some folders end with an 8-digit date and others with a 6-digit code, it's not advisable to process them together. Add them in batches and set the numbers separately.
3. Does this delete the folder name, or the files inside the folder?
The feature shown in this article is "Delete Text from Folder Name." Its core function is modifying specific text in the folder name, not deleting the folder itself or files inside it. However, before batch processing, it's still advisable to check paths and names first to avoid renaming operations on irrelevant folders.
4. Is a backup needed before processing?
If the folders involve important projects, financial documents, contract archives, or long-term storage, it's recommended to back up before batch operations, or test with a small sample first. While batch renaming saves a lot of time, incorrectly set rules can also batch-produce names that don't meet expectations.
5. Can it be used to delete Chinese, English, or numeric suffixes?
Yes. As long as you choose "The Rightmost Characters," the software will delete the corresponding number of characters from the rightmost side, not limited to digits. Whether the ending is dates, English letters, Chinese identifiers, or mixed codes, as long as the length is consistent, it can be processed using this approach.
Summary: Using Office Software to Batch Delete Right-side Text from Folders, Reducing Repetitive Renaming
Batch deleting the rightmost characters from folder names is a very high-frequency need in file organization. Especially when folder names end with dates, batch numbers, serial numbers, or version numbers, manual renaming is slow and error-prone. Through the "Delete Text from Folder Name" feature in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can first batch add folders, then select "The Rightmost Characters," enter the number of characters to delete, and finally follow the steps to complete the process.
In this case, we deleted the 8-digit numbers at the end of folders like ABC20240101, BCD20241010, DEF20240202 in one go, ultimately getting standardized names like ABC, BCD, DEF. For office workers, project assistants, administrators, and data managers who frequently need to organize numerous folders, this kind of batch processing tool can effectively reduce repetitive labor, compressing a rename task that originally required individual operations into just a few steps.
If you also have a batch of folders that need the right-side fixed-length date or number removed, it's recommended to first confirm the naming pattern, then follow the steps in this article for batch processing. Test on a small scale first to confirm the result is correct before processing all folders, which can significantly boost organization efficiency while maintaining safety.