How to RENAME a series or batch of files all at once

If you have a series of files in one folder that are
related but have uninteresting or nondescriptive names
(e.g., pictures uploaded from a digital camera or a set of
documents) . You can easily rename the series.

1. Navigate (with My Computer/Explorer) to whichever folder in
which you've saved the series of files.

2. From the View menu or the Views button on the toolbar click
on the type of View you would like to work with (I like
Thumbnail view for pictures or graphic files, Tiles for
documents).

Arrange your files:

If the file series is not already arranged in the order you would
like the files to be named do the next two steps. If they are
already arranged the way you like skip to the Rename section
below.

3. On the View menu mouse down to the "Arrange Icons by"
choice, on the fly out menu, make sure the options
"Show in Groups" and "Auto Arrange" are unchecked.
(If checked click on the option to uncheck). You should
however check the "Align to Grid" option. (It makes the files
snap into place when you move them.)

4. In the folder you can now left-click on a file and while holding
the mouse button down drag (AKA Click-N-Drag) files to the
position (order) you would like them.

Once you have the files arranged in the order you like ...

Rename

5. Select all the files you want to rename starting with the last to
the first file in the series.

[color blue]How to do this -[/color] left-click your mouse in a
clear/white area below the last file you want to rename,
then, holding the button down, move/drag your mouse over all
the files until you include (the filenames and thumbnails/icons
will become "selected" as you drag over them) all to be
renamed, ending with the first file in the list.
Release the mouse button.

If you "Selected" too many files you can press and hold
the Ctrl key while clicking the file with the mouse to "deselect"
an individual file. Or you can "add" a file you missed to the
selection using the same method.

6. Rightûclick the first picture, and then mouse to and click
Rename. The file's name will be displayed selected in a box.

7. Type, over the selected text, a new descriptive name for the
first file (e.g., Christmas2001), then click in the clear/white
space next to one of the files.

Abaracadabara Bill G. does [color green]magic![/color] All the
files will be renamed in sequence, Christmas2001,
Christmas2001(1), Christmas2001(2), and so on!

Note: If the file's extension (e.g, .jpg or .doc) is included in the
rename box (someone has unchecked "Hide extensions
for known file types" in the Folder Options View) be sure
to include it in the new name or you will get an warning
message about changing file type.