How to batch remove Chinese characters from folder names and keep only numeric identifiers

When a large number of folders use the naming convention of "Chinese description + numeric numbering," if you need to integrate with business systems, unify archiving rules, or sort by number, deleting Chinese characters one by one can be very time-consuming. This article describes how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to import multiple folders at once, select the "Delete text from folder names" feature, and set it to "All Chinese characters," batch-processing names such as "Report 03, Backup 1000, Finance 606" into "03, 1000, 606" while preserving the original numeric content.

When organizing project materials, client files, financial data, or backup directories, we often encounter a batch of folders named in a "Chinese name + numeric number" format, such as "Report03," "Backup1000," "Finance606," and "Project001." These names are easy to recognize manually, but when importing into business systems, archiving by number, creating data lists, or executing automated tasks, it is sometimes necessary to remove all Chinese characters from folder names and keep only the original numeric numbers.

If there are only a few folders, you can rename them one by one in File Explorer; however, when a directory contains dozens, hundreds, or even more folders, manual processing is not only time-consuming but also prone to missed changes, accidental deletion of numbers, and incorrect number entry. This article explains how to use the office software " HeSoft Doc Batch Tool " to batch delete Chinese characters from many folder names. The entire operation is performed on folder names and does not require opening each folder, making it suitable for highly repetitive file organization tasks.

Applicable Scenarios

This method of batch deleting Chinese characters from folder names is mainly suitable for directories named with a mix of Chinese descriptions and numbers. Common scenarios include the following:

• Standardizing project folders: Change directories such as "Project001" and "Project002" to "001" and "002" for easier management by fixed numbers.
• Importing archive directories: Some archive systems, asset systems, or internal business platforms accept only numeric codes, so you can first remove Chinese characters from the names before importing.
• Organizing client data: Change folders such as "Client202" and "Client203" into numeric-only directories to reduce naming compatibility issues during cross-system transfers.
• Backup and migration: Before server migration, batch script invocation, or batch compression, first organize directory names into concise numeric identifiers.
• Unified sorting rules: After removing different Chinese prefixes such as "Report, Meeting, Design, Photo," you can directly view and sort by the remaining numbers.

It should be noted that this article addresses "deleting all Chinese characters from folder names," not deleting the folders themselves, nor clearing the Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, or other files inside the folders. The target is the directory name, while the contents of the folders remain in their corresponding directories.

Effect Preview: Before and After Processing

Folder Names Before Processing

Before processing, the sample directory contains ten folders, with names in a combination of Chinese and numbers, including "Report03, Backup1000, Finance606, Export55, Archive99, Meeting808, Client202, Design004, Project001, Photo77." The Chinese part describes the purpose of the directory, while the numeric part is the number that needs to be retained.

If manual renaming is used, you need to select each folder, delete the Chinese characters, and confirm the new name. As the number of folders increases, the same action is repeated, and numbers with leading zeros such as "004" and "001" are especially likely to be changed by mistake during manual entry.

Folder Names After Processing

After batch processing is completed, the Chinese characters in the folder names are deleted, and the original numbers are retained. The sample result becomes "001, 03, 004, 55, 77, 99, 202, 606, 808, 1000." File Explorer may reorder the directories according to the current name sorting rules, so the display order after processing may not be exactly the same as when imported. This is normal.

From the results, it can be seen that "Report03" becomes "03," "Finance606" becomes "606," "Design004" becomes "004," and "Project001" becomes "001." The software deletes Chinese characters rather than regenerating numbers, so the number of digits and leading zeros in the original names are preserved in their original text form.

Operation Steps: Batch Delete All Chinese Characters from Folder Names

Step 1: Enter the Folder Name Processing Function

Open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . This product is a batch processing software for organizing office files and folders. The left side provides categories such as "File Name," "Folder Name," "File Organization," "Word Tools," "Excel Tools," "PowerPoint Tools," and "PDF Tools." This time, folder names need to be modified, so select "Folder Name" on the left side.

After entering the function list, find and click "Delete Text from Folder Names." This function is used to batch remove specified types of text from multiple folder names. The goal in this example is to delete all Chinese characters, so there is no need to enter keywords such as "Report," "Backup," or "Finance" one by one.

The purpose of this step is to enter the correct batch renaming process. Do not mistakenly select "Find and Replace Keywords in Folder Names," because the Chinese prefixes in the example are not the same; using "Delete Text from Folder Names" and selecting the Chinese character type is more direct.

Step 2: Add the Folders to Be Processed and Check the List

After entering the function page, the interface first displays "Select records to be processed." Click "Add Folder" in the upper right corner to add the directories that need to be renamed to the processing list. After adding, the table will display information such as serial number, name, path, creation time, and modification time.

In the example, ten records have been added, with names from "Report03" to "Photo77," and all paths are shown in the list. At this point, you should focus on checking two aspects: first, confirm that all target folders have been added; second, confirm that no directories that should not be renamed have been mistakenly included. If a record should not be processed, you can use the delete icon in that row's action area to remove it from the current list; if you need to reselect, you can also use "Clear" on the page and add again.

The record count at the bottom of the list can help verify the processing scope. After confirming that the names and paths are correct, click "Next" at the bottom of the page to enter the processing option settings.

Step 3: Set the Operation Type to "All Chinese Characters"

On the "Set Processing Options" page, you can see various deletion ranges, including "All Numbers," "All Whitespace," "The Rightmost Several Texts," "All Content Between Two Texts," "All Chinese Characters," "All Content," "All English Letters," and so on. In this example, all Chinese characters in folder names need to be deleted, so select "All Chinese Characters."

After selecting "All Chinese Characters," the software uses the Chinese character type as the recognition condition and executes unified processing on the folder names in the list. In this way, even if the Chinese content of each folder is different, there is no need to set deletion words separately. For "Report03" and "Client202," the software deletes "Report" and "Client" respectively, while retaining "03" and "202."

After confirming the option, click "Next." The interface process also includes "Set Save Location" and "Start Processing." Please continue with the subsequent settings according to the page prompts, and confirm the processing targets and rules again before formally executing. After starting the processing, wait for the batch task to finish, then return to the directory to check the name changes.

Step 4: Check the Final Result

After processing is completed, open the original directory or the location set in the interface, and check the number of folders, the retained numbers, and the contents inside the folders. It is recommended to focus on checking names with leading zeros, such as "001," "004," and "03," to confirm that these numbers still meet the naming requirements of subsequent systems.

If the order in File Explorer changes, it does not mean that folders are lost. After deleting Chinese characters, the system reorders based on numeric-only names, so you only need to check by combining the numbers and the folder count.

Frequently Asked Questions and Notes

Does it delete the folder or the folder name?

This function modifies the folder name. The processing results in the screenshots show that directories such as "Report03" still exist, only with the name changed to "03." However, batch renaming is still an important file operation, so it is recommended to back up critical data before formal processing.

Will English letters, numbers, and symbols also be deleted?

This time "All Chinese Characters" is selected, and the goal is to remove Chinese characters from the names. Numbers will be retained; if the names also contain English letters, spaces, hyphens, or underscores, you should first test with a small sample to confirm that the results meet your requirements before expanding the processing scope. Do not directly select "All Content" in pursuit of numeric-only names, as that may not produce the expected results.

Pay special attention to pure Chinese folder names

If a folder name consists entirely of Chinese characters, there may be no usable remaining name after deleting all Chinese characters. Before formally adding folders, you should first check whether there are pure Chinese directories without numbers, letters, or other characters, such as "Finance," "Report," or "Archive," and reserve numbers for them.

Duplicate names may occur after deleting Chinese characters

For example, "Report03" and "Backup03" will both become "03" after deleting the Chinese characters. Two folders with exactly the same name cannot exist under the same path, so you should check in advance whether the numbers are unique. You can export or record the name list first, or process in batches to avoid duplicate names affecting task execution.

What about directories being used by other programs?

If a folder is being called by a program other than File Explorer, or if documents inside it are currently being edited, renaming may be affected by the occupied state. Before processing, close relevant Word, Excel, design software, sync programs, or command-line tasks, and ensure that the current account has modification permissions for the target path.

Summary

Batch deleting Chinese characters from folder names is essentially a directory organization task with clear rules but high repetition. Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you only need to enter "Folder Name," select "Delete Text from Folder Names," add the target directories, and set the operation type to "All Chinese Characters" to batch organize "Chinese description + numeric number" into pure numeric numbers.

Compared with renaming one by one, batch processing can significantly reduce repeated clicks and manual input, and is also more conducive to keeping the number format consistent. It is recommended to first select a small number of copies for testing, confirm that the numbers, leading zeros, and directory contents are all as expected, and then execute the batch task on the complete folder list.