so you tell it: rename 's(earch)/string/(replace)string/' file(s to rename) rename [ -v ] [ -n ] [ -f ] perlexpr [ files ] so the perlexpression is what is in the single quotes? I think I understand! :-)~MIKE~(-: On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 11:08 AM, Dazed_75 wrote: > The *.JPG is the set of files for which to do the rename. > > > On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 10:47 AM, Michael Havens wrote: > >> So the full string I was given is: >> >> rename 's/\.JPG$/.jpg/' *.JPG >> >> So what does the *.JPG do? If you 's(earch)/string/(replace)string' then >> what is the need for *JPG? >> :-)~MIKE~(-: >> >> >> >> On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Paul Mooring wrote: >> >>> When you do search and replace, the replace section is literal not a >>> pattern match. So piece by piece: >>> s/ # This means match the first section and replace with the second >>> \.JPG$/ # This means a literal '.' at any point in the string followed >>> by 'JPG' then the end of the line >>> .jpg/ # This is the string to replace the previous regex with '.jpg' >>> -- >>> Paul Mooring >>> Systems Engineer and Customer Advocate >>> >>> www.opscode.com >>> >>> From: Michael Havens >>> Reply-To: Main discussion list >>> Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 9:42 AM >>> To: Main discussion list >>> Subject: Re: find and replace >>> >>> Hate to resurrect old stuff but in >>> >>> rename 's/\.JPG$/.jpg/' *.JPG >>> >>> is this saying to s(earch)/(for the string).JPG$/(replace with).jpg/ ? >>> Why does one not need the escape character (\) before the period here or >>> before the final JPG? What does the *.JPG at the end signify? >>> :-)~MIKE~(-: >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 7:32 AM, Sam Kreimeyer wrote: >>> >>>> Here's a pdf of a quick guide to regular expressions >>>> >>>> http://www.addedbytes.com/download/regular-expressions-cheat-sheet-v1/pdf/ >>>> >>>> Basically, it's a format for defining search patterns that supports >>>> special meanings for certain characters. For instance: >>>> >>>> a - finds any string like "a" >>>> a. - finds any string like "a" plus any other character except a new >>>> line (matches "aa", "ab", "ac", etc) >>>> a.* - finds any string like "a" plus zero or more characters except a >>>> new line (matches "aa", "abcdefghijk") >>>> Other special characters can further modify this behavior. >>>> >>>> So here's an explanation of the earlier command. >>>> >>>> 's/\.JPG$/.jpg/' *.JPG >>>> >>>> Basic search and replace format s/[string we search for]/[string to >>>> replace matches with]/ >>>> >>>> "\.JPG$" - Because "." is special, we escape it with "\" to keep the >>>> regex from interpreting it, so the "." will be treated literally. "JPG" is >>>> what we're looking for. Placing a "$" at the end of the string tells the >>>> regex to match the string only at the end of the strings you're searching. >>>> This means that you will match "example.JPG" but not "JPG.example". >>>> >>>> ".jpg" - This is our replacement string. This is what goes in the place >>>> of every match we find. >>>> >>>> "*.JPG" - while this isn't part of the regex, "*" is a wildcard (can be >>>> substituted for any number of characters). >>>> >>>> Hope that helps! >>>> >>>> --------------------------------------------------- >>>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > > > -- > Dazed_75 a.k.a. Larry > > Please protect my address like I protect yours. When sending messages to > multiple recipients, always use the BCC: (Blind carbon copy) and not To: or > CC:. Remove all addresses from the message body before sending a Forwarded > message. This can prevent spy programs capturing addresses from the > recipient list and message body. > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >