Image Renamer Tool

Description

A Python script to rename image files (and their associated .txt caption files) in a folder, with options for copying/moving, sorting, and handling missing text files. This can be useful for renaming renumbered image files together with text description files of the same name, for example in a training image dataset.

Features

• 🔄 Rename image files sequentially with customizable base name
• 📁 Copy or Move files to a new output folder
• 🔍 Sort files by name, creation time, or modification time
• ⚠️ Warn about missing corresponding .txt files
• 🧪 Dry-run mode to simulate operations safely
• 📈 Progress tracking and summary output

Usage

python rename_images.py <folder> [options]

Options

Flag	Description	Default
--base NAME	Base name for renamed files	Image
--copy	Copy files instead of moving	Off
--sort TYPE	Sort by: name, created, modified	modified
--reverse	Reverse sort order	Off
--dry-run	Simulate without modifying files	Off
--quiet	Suppress progress output	Off

Supported Formats

• Images: .jpg, .jpeg, .png
• Text files: .txt with matching base name

Examples

1. Basic rename with default settings

   python rename_images.py images_folder

2. Copy sorted by name in reverse order

   python rename_images.py images_folder --copy --sort name --reverse

3. Test with dry-run simulation

   python rename_images.py images_folder --dry-run

Workflow

1. Input: Recursively finds all images in specified folder
2. Processing:
   • Creates output folder (Renamed/Copied with numeric suffix)
   • Sorts files by selected method
   • Preserves original sort order if --reverse not specified
3. Output:
   • Sequential numbering with leading zeros (e.g., Image001.jpg)
   • Maintains original file extensions
   • Handles associated .txt files alongside images

Output Structure

source_folder/
├── Renamed/              # or Copied
│   ├── Image001.jpg
│   ├── Image001.txt      # optional
│   ├── Image002.jpg
│   └── ...
└── source images...      # original files

Notes

• Safety First: Always verify with --dry-run before executing
• Sorting:
  • modified = last edited time
  • created = file creation time (OS-dependent)
• Missing Text Files: Listed in final summary when detected
• Output Location: New folder created inside source directory

Requirements

• Python 3.6+ (standard library only - no external dependencies)

License

Apache License 2.0

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🔍 Tip: Use --quiet with automation, but check output carefully as warnings may be suppressed.