Rename files using text or excel file

Question

I am trying to find out how to rename files on my pc using the names stored in a text document
eg. the file on the pc is called "C07_08.dat"
the text file has the following line "3am Eternal         KLF         03:15 121 BMG         C07.08"
i want to change the name of the file "C07_08.dat" to "3am Eternal.mpeg"
What I would like is a batch file or program or something that will see the text "C07.08" and find the corresponding file "C07_08.dat" and rename it "3am Eternal.mpeg"
I have managed to create a excel document that has the information in four separate columns
Column A has the name of the file I want to use (ie. 3am Eternal) Column B & C have unneeded information and Column D has the file reference (ie. C07.08)
I was told that Python or Visual basic could do this so I downloaded them but I have no experience with this so im lost as to what to do, I have over 1800 of these files so doing it file by file will take quite a while.
I have included a sample of the text file for reference if that helps
3am Eternal KLF 03:15 121 BMG C07.08
4 In The Morning Gwen Stefani 04:22 092 UMA HD1.10
4 Minutes Madonna ft J Timberlake 04:04 113 WAR HE3.05
5 6 7 8 Steps 03:24 000 BMG C48.03
5678 Steps 03:23 140 MUS H16.02
6 Of 1 Thing Craig David 03:15 116 WAR HE2.11
60 MPH New Order 03:51 125 WAR N57.11
7 Days Craig David 04:30 084 SHO N41.16
7 Things Miley Cyrus 03:29 107 EMI HE7.09
99 Luft Balloons Nena 03:58 095 WAR C27.10
99 Times Kate Voegele 03:27 112 UMA HG6.07
A Girl Like You Edwyn Collins 03:47 126 MDS R06.08
A Little Bit Pandora 03:35 132 UMA H23.01
A Little Less Conversation Elvis VS JXL 03:02 115 BMG H68.03
A Matter Of Trust Billy Joel 04:00 110 SON C59.11
A New Day Has Come Celine Dion 04:20 092 SON H65.20
A Woman Like You Mondo Rock 04:03 169 MUS R06.01
About You Now Sugababes 03:32 083 UMA HD5.08
Absolutely Everybody Vanessa Amorosi 03:52 124 TRA H40.06
Absolutely Fabulous Pet Shop Boys 03:45 132 EMI C15.02
Accidentally In Love Counting Crows 03:08 138 UMA H94.05
According To You Orianthi 03:18 066 UMA HG4.12
Achy Breaky Heart Billy Ray Cyrus 03:55 122 SON K11.02

Answer 1

Here are two VBScripts that will rename the files based on the text file example you provided. The script that reads a
TEXT FILE requires each entry to be separated by
ONE TAB  because it is the
TAB
that it uses to split each line into 4 parts (part1 - old file name, part2 and part3 - items you don’t need, part 4 - new file name). If there is more that one tab then the Split Function will not work properly.
The second VBScript will read the
EXCEL FILE row by row and use the values in Column A for the old file name and
Column D for the new file name. This approach will work much better if you have an excel document setup like this.
I used your example that you provided and it test fine for both approaches.
'Read text file
Dim objFSO, objFolder, inFile, strInLine, strOldFile, strNewFile
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
'Select the folder
Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder("C:\Scripts\MusicFiles")
'Open Text File
Set inFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile("C:\Scripts\MusicFiles.txt",1)
Do Until inFile.AtEndOfStream
'Read text file line by line and Split each line into 4 parts.
strInLine = Split(inFile.ReadLine, vbTab)
'Old File name
strOldFile = strInLine(3)
'new File name
strNewFile = strInLine(0)
'Loop through the files in the folder
For Each File In objFolder.Files
'If the file name matches the old file name above
If File.Name = strOldFile & ".dat" Then
'Replace it
File.Name = strNewFile & ".mpeg"
End If
Next
Loop
'Close the text reader
inFile.Close
MsgBox "Done."
'Read Excel file
Dim objFSO, objExl, objFolder, objWorkbook, strOldFile, strNewFile, intRow
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objExl = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
'Select the folder
Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder("C:\Scripts\MusicFiles")
'Open the Excel file
Set objWorkbook = objExl.Workbooks.Open("C:\Scripts\MusicFiles.xls")
'Start at row 1
intRow = 1
'Read each Row until the end
Do Until objExl.Cells(intRow,1).Value = ""
'Old file name is in column 4
strOldFile = objExl.Cells(intRow, 4).Value
'New file name is in column 1
strNewFile = objExl.Cells(intRow, 1).Value
'Loop through each file in the selected folder
For Each File In objFolder.Files
'If the file name matches the old file name above
If File.Name = strOldFile & ".dat" Then
'Replace it
File.Name = strNewFile & ".mpeg"
End If
Next
'Increment each row
intRow = intRow + 1
Loop
'Close Excel
objExl.Quit
MsgBox "Done."
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