Automator in Sequoia renaming files sequentially wrong, I want rename file 1, file 2, file 3 like file00, file01, file02, it doesn't work, it take file random, so the file3 became file00 etc.., but if use my old macmini with Lion It works very well, why?
MacBook Air (M3, 2024)
You could use the built-in functionality in Finder to rename sequentially files. Please see section "Rename multiple items", specifically the Format item: Rename files, folders, and disks on Mac - Apple Support.
Note that Finder uses a 5-digit format that cannot be changed, i.e. you cannot choose a 2-digit format.
gianki281 wrote:
Automator in Sequoia renaming files sequentially wrong, I want rename file 1, file 2, file 3 like file00, file01, file02, it doesn't work, it take file random, so the file3 became file00 etc.., but if use my old macmini with Lion It works very well, why?
Did you first have Automator sort the selected items before renaming them? I just tested the workflow & it keep the numerical order for me. Tested with macOS 26.1 Tahoe.
Not for me, I did it more time, about 50 item in numerical order, first one was 1, I wanted just change the starter from 0, It doesn't work, Automator changed the number in random order! I will tray the suggests, by 'finder' and 'sort' in Automator. Thanks a lot.
Another way to sequentially rename files with user-specified suffix of zero padding size:
#!/bin/zsh
: <<"COMMENT"
Sort every non-zero sized file by name (.NonL+0) in the specified directory
and then rename with sequential ZEROPAD numeric suffix.
Usage: ./rename.zsh path/to/folder
./rename.zsh ~/Desktop/PDF
Also usable in Run Shell Scripts where the folder name is passed to it as an
argument.
Tested: macOS Tahoe 26.2
VikingOSX, 2025-12-17, No warranties expressed or implied.
COMMENT
autoload -U zmv
# initialize counter variable
typeset -i cnt=1
# no arguments, then die
(( $# )) || {echo "Please supply starting directory on command line."; exit 1}
STARTDIR="${1:a:s/\~\//}"
ZEROPAD=3
cd ${STARTDIR}
# echo execution but do not actually rename any files
# zmv -Qn '(*).(*)(.NonL+0)' '$1_${(l:${ZEROPAD}::0:)$((cnt++))}.$2'
zmv -Qv '(*).(*)(.NonL+0)' '$1_${(l:${ZEROPAD}::0:)$((cnt++))}.$2' &> /dev/null
exit 0
I think that HWTech meant to add a sort action within the Automator workflow, something like this:
Automator in Sequoia renaming files sequentially wrong
