Available for beta testing: Continuous file renaming

dstillman
edited 28 days ago
In the latest Zotero beta, Zotero will automatically keep attachment filenames in sync with parent item metadata as you make changes (e.g., changing the title). In previous versions, while Zotero would automatically rename files when you first added them to your library, if you later edited the item's metadata, you would need to right-click on the attachment and select "Rename File from Parent Metadata".

You can configure which file types renaming applies to from the General tab of the Zotero settings.

After upgrading to this version, existing eligible files that don't match the current filename format won't be automatically renamed, but you can choose to rename them en masse from the Zotero settings. Zotero will also prompt you to rename all files if you change the filename format.

"Rename File from Parent Metadata" has been removed from the item context menu. If a filename doesn't match the configured filename format (e.g., because automatic renaming is disabled or you changed the format but didn't choose to rename all files), you can click the "Rename File to Match Parent Item" button next to the filename in the attachment's item pane to rename it.
  • Matthew-hu
    Happy to report that this appears to work for me. I am very tempted to implement it across my whole library as the naming would be more meaningful and standardized. I am a bit hesitant, however, as it would seem that this would require making all new backups and indexing of my library (I have many Acrobat indexes as they provide contextual links, not just hits). Also, how will this work with a local library that is synced to the online library?
  • mjthoraval
    edited 24 days ago
    Does this renaming only apply to the primary attachment file of each item, or to all attachments for which the type is selected in the settings?
    I cannot find this information either in the Settings or in the linked documentation:
    https://www.zotero.org/support/file_renaming
  • dstillman
    To all selected types. (This is "You can use “Rename files of these types” to adjust which file types are automatically renamed." on that page.)
  • dstillman
    Also, how will this work with a local library that is synced to the online library?
    @Matthew-hu: Files should be renamed on all devices.
  • mjthoraval
    To clarify my question:
    If an item has 4 attachments, with 2 PDF files and 2 Ebook files, with the default settings to rename both PDF and Ebook files, which files will be renamed? All 4 files? Or only 1 PDF file and 1 Ebook? Or only the primary file?

    I would like to make sure that the name of SI files are not modified, as I do not want to get both the main article PDF and and its SI PDF file to get exactly the same name.

    For Video files, I would like to rename it if it is the only attachment, but keep its original name if it is a SI file.
  • tnajdek
    Only the primary file is renamed - the one that would open if you double-clicked on the parent item.
  • poettli
    Would it be possible to rename the file when the case of the author(s) is fixed?
  • tnajdek
    There appears to be a bug in the current beta regarding the recognition of changes to authors. Thanks for letting us know — we’ll fix it.
  • poettli
    Thank you.
  • dstillman
    Fixed in the latest beta
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