Hi all,

I did something stupid, and now I've got a load of files named as such:
date-path_to_area-U.doc

for example, totally fictional:
20090614-science_0152_dibbers-U.doc
20090614-science_0152_carrots-U.doc
20090614-science_0152_sinks-U.doc
20090614-science_0152_woddenspoons-U.doc
20090614-foobar_0152_dibledab-U.doc

Now, I've put the twrong date in, and I have about 60 of these files, I decided to select them all, hit F2 and one file allowed me to edit it, so I changed the date as such:
20090714-foobar_0152_dibledab-U.doc

Now I have the following:
20090714-foobar_0152_dibledab-U.doc
20090714-foobar_0152_dibledab-U (1).doc
20090714-foobar_0152_dibledab-U (2).doc
20090714-foobar_0152_dibledab-U (3).doc
20090714-foobar_0152_dibledab-U (4).doc
And so on...

Undo doesn't go back far enough to put it right. So I'm going to have to edit most of it manually, but I'd love to automatically get rid of the "( [number] )", can I do that? I can't run batch files or use the command line.

I feel properly stuck. I thought the GUI would have looked after me, so I didn't make copies...I know command lines don't so I would have made a backup. Now I'm stuck with a few hours extra work because of the cockup.

Can I use Excel and macros to edit the brackets out? It won't be much, but it'll help to an extent
I've got XP SP3, and Office 2003

Thanks very much,
Ben

The number in brackets is there to make the name unique, as you "said" you wanted to rename 60 files to the same name... As the names must be unique, Windows automatically adds the number in brackets.

Going back, you will have to do it manually, because each filename is unique (i.e. the science and dibbers/carrots etc. bits).

Thanks Dave,

I've just finished the last one manuallyI'm a tad annoyed the undo history hasn't been set to a bit longer...I'm even more annoyed at myself for thinking the renaming would be intellegent and for not making a backup.

You in the kitchen by any chance??? (8-p)

Haha, no...Not random crap that was on my mind at the time
The real titles are about twice as long and some are restricted, so I thought it best not to use them

Aye. Defence standards FTL when it comes to naming files!