When file names contain mixed numbering, ordinary find-and-replace is often insufficient because each number is different. Using the file name processing feature of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can use formulas to perform fuzzy text searches, match all numbers that meet the rules at once, and then leave the replacement content empty to achieve batch deletion. This article explains the complete workflow from selecting the feature, importing files, and setting up regular expressions to completing the process, with screenshot illustrations.
When organizing folders, you often encounter this problem: the main part of the filename is useful, but there is an extra string of system-generated numbers at the end. For example, Word files like study materials, exam review documents, course plans, and meeting minutes may become names like EnglishVocabulary2468.docx or ExamReview5820.docx after exporting. With different numbers and a large quantity, deleting them one by one would be very time-consuming.
This article introduces a method more suitable for batch office scenarios: using wildcard regular expressions for fuzzy search to batch delete number sequences that match a rule from filenames. The example software is HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . It is positioned as office software, with its core value being batch file processing, reducing repetitive work, and improving file organization efficiency.
Applicable Scenario: Batch Deleting Random Numbers from Filenames
When the filenames you need to process follow a uniform pattern, but the specific content is not entirely identical, it is suitable to use wildcards or regular expressions. For example, all filenames have 4 digits at the end, but each number is different; all docx filenames have a serial number in the middle; or filenames exported from a business system contain random codes.
If you are only deleting fixed text, such as uniformly deleting the word "Copy", ordinary find and replace can accomplish this. But if you want to delete "any 4-digit number", fuzzy matching is required. The core expression in this article's example is \d{4}, which can match any consecutive 4 digits, suitable for cleaning up 4-digit codes in filenames.
This method is suitable for organizing the names of a large number of Word documents, docx files, doc files, and other office materials. Especially during project archiving, teaching material organization, and standardized naming of enterprise documents, batch renaming can save a significant amount of mechanical operation time.
Effect Preview: Codes Scattered in Multiple Filenames Before Processing
Before processing, the folder contains 5 docx documents, each with different 4-digit numbers in their filenames. The red underline marks the parts that need to be deleted. You can see these numbers are different, so you cannot complete all the cleanup just by entering a single fixed keyword.
Although these filenames do not affect opening them, they can impact subsequent searching, archiving, and sorting. For example, if you want to find EnglishVocabulary or StudyPlan by course topic, the trailing numbers make the names look cluttered; if you need to send them uniformly to colleagues or clients, they also lack standardization.
Effect Preview: Filenames Recover Concise Standardization After Processing
After batch processing is complete, all 4-digit numbers in the filenames are deleted, leaving only the main body content and the .docx extension. The processed files are clearer, making it easier to identify the file subject, and are more suitable for placing in a formal repository.
From the screenshot, you can see that EnglishVocabulary2468.docx has become EnglishVocabulary.docx, and MathNotes1357.docx has become MathNotes.docx. The software processes the filename text, without deleting the files or changing the document content.
Step 1: Enter Find and Replace Tool in the File Name Category
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first select "File Name" in the left navigation bar. This category includes various file naming functions, such as inserting text, adding prefixes/suffixes, case conversion, etc. To delete the numbers in filenames this time, you should select "Find and replace keywords in file names".
The purpose of selecting this function is to use the find-and-replace logic to complete the deletion operation. That is, first find the number sequences in filenames that match the criteria, then replace them with nothing. For needs like batch deleting filename keywords, deleting filename numbers, and cleaning docx filename suffixes, this functional path is relatively direct.
Step 2: Import the File Records to Be Processed
After entering the tool, the page displays the process steps, currently at Step 1 "Select records to be processed". You can click "Add files" to manually select files, or click "Import files from folder" to batch-add files from a folder. The screenshot shows that 5 docx files have been imported and displayed in the table.
The table shows information such as filename, path, extension, creation time, and modification time. Do not rush to the next step after importing; it is recommended to check the file list first: confirm that the file paths are from the target folder, the extensions meet expectations, and no files you don't want to process are mixed in. If a record is found that does not need processing, it can be removed through the operation column.
The expected result of this step is: all files requiring batch number deletion are in the processing list, and no files are selected by mistake. Only records in the list will participate in subsequent operations.
Step 3: Set the Fuzzy Search Rule and Leave Replacement Content Empty
Click "Next" to enter "Set processing options". In "Search method", select "Use formula for fuzzy text search". This option is key to batch deleting different numbers this time, as it allows us to enter a rule instead of only fixed text.
Enter \d{4} in the "List of keywords to find" on the left. This means find consecutive 4-digit numbers, so it can cover different numbers like 2468, 5820, 3091, 1357, 2024 all at once. The "List of keywords for replacement" on the right should be kept empty, because the interface prompt says "Leave blank to delete".
The operation here can be understood as: find all consecutive 4-digit numbers, then replace them with blank. After this processing, the number sequences in the filenames will disappear. For batch fuzzy deletion of keywords in filenames, this setup is more efficient than filling in the numbers one by one.
If you want to ignore case, the interface also has an additional option "Ignore letter case". However, this example deals with numbers, so the case option will not affect the result and can be left at its default state.
Step 4: Confirm the Rule and Execute Batch Processing
After completing the settings, continue by clicking "Next". According to the page flow, you will then enter "Set save location" and "Start processing". Before the official processing, reconfirm that the expression is accurate. Especially make sure the backslash and digit count in the regular expression are written correctly; this example uses \d{4}, not d{4}, nor \d4.
After starting the process, the software will apply the find-and-replace rule to each file in the imported list. Once processing is complete, open the folder to check; the 4-digit numbers in the filenames should have been deleted. At this point, you can compare the filenames before and after processing to confirm the main body text is fully preserved.
Common Questions and Precautions
1. Will the year 2024 in a filename also be deleted?
Yes. Because 2024 is also a consecutive 4-digit number. In the screenshot, StudyPlan2024.docx becomes StudyPlan.docx after processing. If some 4-digit numbers are ones you want to keep, you should not use such a broad rule, or you should remove the files that should not be processed from the list first.
2. Why is the replacement list on the right left empty?
Because the goal this time is deletion. According to the interface prompt, leaving it blank signifies deletion. If you enter "_", the 4-digit number in the filename might be replaced with an underscore, rather than being deleted.
3. Are regular expressions suitable for beginners?
Yes, but start with simple rules. For example, a rule like \d{4} has a clear meaning and is suitable for deleting fixed-length numbers. Before processing important files, it is recommended to test with a small number of files first, and confirm the results are correct before batch processing more files.
4. Will it affect the content of the Word document?
No. This function belongs to "File Name" processing, and its goal is to modify the text in the filename, not the body content of the docx or doc document. The document content itself will not change due to the filename renaming.
Summary: Use Fuzzy Matching for a More Worry-Free Batch Renaming
Faced with a large number of filenames with different numbers, manual renaming is not an efficient solution. Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can first import files, then enter \d{4} through "Use formula for fuzzy text search", and finally leave the replacement content empty, thereby batch deleting 4-digit number codes in filenames.
If your work often involves organizing Word, docx, and doc files, it is recommended to add this batch processing method to your daily office workflow. When encountering filename problems with clear patterns, first use rule matching, then batch execute, which can significantly reduce repetitive operations and improve file management efficiency.