Swift Salamander User Guide / Tools

Rename Many Files at Once

How to rename a group of files with one set of rules, and check the new names first.

Checked with Swift Salamander 0.8.189 on 9 October 2026.

Batch Rename changes the names of many files at once. It needs Pro.

1. Select the files you want to rename. See Select Files.
2. Choose Tools > Batch Rename… from the menu bar.
3. Set the rules. The window shows the new name of each file before anything changes.
4. Check the new names, then confirm the rename.

Name Photos by the Day They Were Taken

Photos carry the date and time of the shot inside the file. Batch Rename can put that date in the name.

1. In the window, choose Build Names and tick Date.
2. Set Date Source to Date Taken.
3. Choose a Date Format. Each choice shows how the date looks, for example 2026-10-07 14-32-05.

The date comes from the photo itself, so copying the file does not change it. This works for photos on your Mac. On a remote server, Batch Rename offers only Find and Replace.

To put the camera model in the name too, add a Date & Metadata action and choose Camera as the source.

Photos Without a Date

Some files have no shot date, such as a scan or a screenshot. By default, If Metadata Is Missing is set to Keep This File's Name. That file keeps its name, and the preview says why next to it. The other files are renamed as usual.

You can also choose Block This File, Use Modified Date or Skip This Part. The Photo Journal preset uses the modified date for a file without a shot date.

Undo

To undo a rename, press ⌘Z. This works for the rest of the session.