Undo Batch Renames in Google Apps Script
TL;DR:
- Google Apps Script can reverse bulk file renames if you kept a consistent naming pattern
- You need to identify the exact suffix or tag that was added during the original rename
- This beats renaming files one by one when you've got hundreds to fix
- The clearer your original pattern, the easier the reversal process becomes
If you've ever run a batch rename operation on Google Drive and immediately regretted it, you're not alone. The good news is that Google Apps Script can help you undo the damage, provided you have a consistent pattern to work with.
Identify Your Naming Pattern
Before you write any code, figure out exactly what suffix or prefix was added to your files. This might be a date stamp, project code, version number, or any other identifier that got tacked onto your original filenames.
For example, if your files went from "Report.pdf" to "Report_2024.pdf", your pattern is the "_2024" suffix that needs removing.
Write Your Reversal Script
Here's the basic approach your script needs to follow:
Access Google Drive: Set up your script to connect with the Google Drive API so it can locate and modify your files.
Filter the Right Files: Use search parameters to find only the files that match your unwanted naming pattern. This prevents the script from touching files that don't need changing.
Strip the Unwanted Parts: Create a function that removes the specific suffix or prefix from each filename, restoring the original name.
The script should loop through each matching file and apply the rename operation systematically.
Test Before You Commit
Run your script on a small subset of files first. Pick maybe 5-10 files and see if the results match what you expected. This helps you catch any logic errors before they affect your entire file collection.
Once you're confident the script works correctly, you can run it on the full batch.
Always back up your files before running bulk operations. Even well-tested scripts can have unexpected results, and you don't want to make your situation worse.
FAQs
What if I don't have a clear pattern to work with?
Without a consistent naming structure, automated reversal becomes nearly impossible. You might need to rename files manually or use a different approach like restoring from a backup.
Can this handle thousands of files?
Google Apps Script can process large batches, but you might hit execution time limits. For very large collections, consider breaking the operation into smaller chunks or adding pause mechanisms to prevent timeouts.
What could go wrong with this approach?
The main risks are overwriting filenames incorrectly if your pattern matching is too broad, or missing files if it's too narrow. Poor error handling could also leave some files in an inconsistent state.
Jargon Buster
Google Apps Script: Google's JavaScript-based platform for automating tasks across Google Workspace products like Drive, Sheets, and Gmail.
Batch Rename: The process of changing multiple filenames at once using a systematic pattern or rule, rather than editing each one individually.
Suffix/Prefix: Text added to the end (suffix) or beginning (prefix) of a filename during a batch operation.
Wrap-up
Reversing a batch rename with Google Apps Script can save you hours of manual work, but success depends entirely on having a clear, consistent pattern to work with. The script approach works best when you can precisely identify what needs to be removed from each filename.
Remember to test thoroughly and keep backups handy. While this method is much faster than manual corrections, a small mistake in your script logic can affect hundreds of files at once.
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