File Buddy help | Renaming | Pattern-based renaming
Replacement and deletion options
Basic renaming options
The primary rules for renaming files and folders can be grouped as follow:
Replace string
When this option is chosen there are two text fields to the right of it. Enter the text to be replaced in the first field and the replacement text in the second field. If the second field is empty the Rename button will be dimmed. To delete with no replacement use the Delete option.
Delete string
When this option is chosen there there is only one field available. The text in that field will be deleted from names during the renaming process.

Replace characters
When this option is chosen there are two text fields to the right of it. Enter the characters to be replaced in the first field and the characters with which they are to be replaced respectively in the second field. For example, to replace ‘A’ with ‘1’ and ‘B’ with ‘2’ you would enter “AB” into the first field and “12” into the second field. Both fields must contain the same number of characters.
Delete characters
When this option is chosen there there is only one field available. Each of the characters in that field will be deleted from names during the renaming process. For example, entering “is” in that field would cause a file named “Mississippi” to be renamed to “Mpp.”

Replace Regexp
When this option is chosen there there are two text fields to the right of it. Both fields accept regular expressions. The use of regular expressions to rename files and folders is quite powerful, but requires knowledge of Regexp syntax, which is well beyond the scope of this document. However, there are many good resources available for those interested in learning to use regular expressions.

Use original name
With this option the original name is preserved and other options in the window will be used in conjunction with it to generate the new name.
When to apply the changes
When using the Replace string and Delete string options, two menus appear below the first one. The first has three options:
every time it occurs
Replace or delete the string every time it is occurs in the name.
the first time it occurs
Replace or delete the string only the first time it is seen.
the last time it occurs
Replace or delete the string only the last time it is seen.
Where to apply the changes
The second pop-up also has the following three options unless the Replace Regexp option is being used. (Regular expression replacements always operate on an the entire name. Use Regexp pattern anchoring modifiers to force matches at the beginning or end of a name when using regular expressions to rename items.)
anywhere in the name
Replace or delete the string no matter where it occurs.
at the beginning of the name
Replace or delete the string only if it occurs at the beginning of the name.
at the end of the name
Replace or delete the string only if it occurs at the end of the name.
Regular Expressions