Shuffle all tracks and then add number prefix?

Adamtrons · 2013-03-01 03:59

First I want to say thank you so much for ReNamer, it’s a very useful program! I want to make sure I am doing something the best way possible. I have a folder with 258 MP3’s which I want to shuffle all the tracks and then number them 001-258. That way, when my stereo reads the memory stick, they will play in random order. For example the files would look like this:

001 - Prince - Pop Life
002 - Madonna - Like A Prayer
003 - George Michael - Faith

I have tried creating a rule to generate random number prefix and pad with 0 to position 3. I created another rule to put a space, dash, space to separate the number from the file name. It worked OK, except the numbers were 001, 005, 008, etc. to 999. They were not numeric order 001-258. Maybe it is not possible? I wish I could shuffle the files in the window first before numbering them, but clicking in the window only allows to sort by name, I believe. Is this the best procedure or is there another way that I do not know about? Thank you very much for your time!

narayan · 2013-03-01 06:01

Hi Adamtrons,

Welcome aboard!

It is not a good idea to permanently number your files for the sake of shuffling. The reason is that the player will from now on play all songs in a new sequence; not randomly. So all you achieve is a one-time shuffle.

All music players already have the shuffle function. Use that function instead.

HTH.

Stefan · 2013-03-01 07:59

Whereas narayan is right i don't want to give you experience of life but how to utilize ReNamer.

FROM:
<alphabetic ordered list>
TO:
<Shuffle all tracks and then add number prefix>

DO:

Step 1:
- add your files to ReNamer
- add rule "Insert" set to Insert " " as Prefix (skip extension)

Step 2:
Temporary for the sake of randomness:
- add rule "Serialize" set to Serialize Random with length 3 (try unique) as prefix
- Preview
- click at the NewName column to sort that random numbers
/end of randomness (The alphabetic ordered list is now sorted randomly)

Step 3:
- modify the "Serialize" rule to Serialize Incremental from 1 step 1 repeat 1 and pad to length 3 as prefix
- Preview

-if all went fine, Rename.

Used Rules:
1) Insert: Insert " " as Prefix (skip extension)
2) Serialize: Serialize Random with length 3 (try unique) and pad to length 3 as prefix
3) Serialize: Serialize Incremental from 1 step 1 repeat 1 and pad to length 3 as prefix

HTH?

den4b Forum

#1 2013-03-01 03:59

Shuffle all tracks and then add number prefix?

#2 2013-03-01 06:01

Re: Shuffle all tracks and then add number prefix?

#3 2013-03-01 07:59

Re: Shuffle all tracks and then add number prefix?

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