README file for mvb


mvb -- WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES
-----------------------------------------------------------

mvb is a shell script written for *BSD and Linux users, to
"batch rename" files (change the name of many files at once)
in the current working directory. It is used from the
command line of your current shell and invokes the Bourne
shell (sh) by default, or the BASH shell (by editing the
first line of the script), to execute the script.

It is ideal for users who have directories of images or
other files that are related by theme. For example, users
of digital cameras (which often give each image a generic
filename) or those who have downloaded a lot of images from
the Internet, many of which are badly named, like:

!!!01 HotPic 4 U.jpg

With mvb you can rename a directory full of digital camera
files that look like this:

103-0308_IMG.JPG
103-0309_IMG.JPG
103-0310_IMG.JPG
103-0316_IMG.JPG
103-0327_IMG.JPG
103-0329_IMG.JPG
103-0338_IMG.JPG

to this:

hawaii_vacation_001.JPG
hawaii_vacation_002.JPG
hawaii_vacation_003.JPG
hawaii_vacation_004.JPG
hawaii_vacation_005.JPG
hawaii_vacation_006.JPG
hawaii_vacation_007.JPG

or this:

Wedding_Pics_001.JPG
Wedding_Pics_002.JPG
Wedding_Pics_003.JPG
Wedding_Pics_004.JPG
Wedding_Pics_005.JPG
Wedding_Pics_006.JPG
Wedding_Pics_007.JPG

or a directory full of files downloaded from the Internet
that look like this:

! 01 Hot Chick 5550342!.jpg
002 Babe-alicious-XXX.jpg
a long-haired beauty.gif
CHESTY!.JPG
Oh-My-God!!!!!!!.jpg
want to FEEL them?.JPG

to this:

attractive_woman_01.jpg
attractive_woman_02.jpg
attractive_woman_03.gif
attractive_woman_04.JPG
attractive_woman_05.jpg
attractive_woman_06.JPG

mvb renames all the files in the current working directory
using a filename specified by the user, appending a unique
numerical index to the filename and retaining the original
filename extension (if there was any) or asking for a new
filename extension (if there was none or if the original
was improbable), if desired.


INSTALLATION AND USE
----------------------------------------------------------

To install the script, after un-gzipping and untarring
mvb.tgz (the actual filename will include the version
number, like this: mvb_1.7.2.tgz):

gunzip mvb.tgz
tar -xvf mvb.tar

or both at once with:

tar -xvzf mvb.tgz

change to the mvb directory and copy mvb to one of the
directories of executable files listed in your $PATH
variable:

echo $PATH
cp mvb /usr/local/bin (or wherever you wish)

Change to the directory you copied mvb to, and change its
permissions so that it is executable. For example:

chmod a+x mvb

When you are ready to use the script, change to the directory
whose files you would like to rename, then type the command
mvb followed by a space and the new name you would like the
files in that directory to have, then type RETURN or ENTER
and follow the prompts, if any.

FILE PERMISSIONS: If you would like for this script to change
the permissions for each file in the directory, in addition
to renaming them, UNcomment the line (remove the initial #)
near the end that reads:

#         chmod 664 "$I"

and change the permissions indicated in that command
to those appropriate for use on your own computer
--> refer to the man page:

man 1 chmod

If, on your computer, sh is not located in /bin/sh, or if you
would like to change the script so that it uses BASH instead,
open mvb using a TEXT editor (not a word processor) and 
change the path on the first line of the script to point to
the location on your computer of either the Bourne shell (sh)
or the BASH shell (bash). At your shell's command prompt,
type:

which sh
or
which bash

to see where sh or bash is installed on your machine. Be sure
to retain the #! on the first line: just put the correct path
immediately after it, like:

#!/usr/local/bin/bash


For the latest version of the script, check:

http://www.xscd.com/pub/mvb/

Criticisms, comments and suggestions are welcome. Please
email the author (Steve Doonan) at:

xscd@xscd.com

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