How to replace double spaces with one space in filenames (also subdirectories) (CloudLinux Server release 6.10)

Question

I want to replace double spaces with one space in the filenames of a lot of photos. These photos are located in directory /foto and it's subfolders. How to do this? For example "photo 1.jpg" needs to become "photo 1.jpg"

The best way is to use commandline, because it's on CloudLinux server. (and it is over 50GB of photos). I searched here on Stackoverflow, also Google to find the command I need. I guess rename is the one to use, or mv.

The only things I found were commands about replacing space and replacing other symbols, but not about double (multiple) spaces.

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 28 '22 at 14:03

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Use this, using Perl's rename :

rename 's/\s{2}/ /g' files*

Remove -n switch when the output looks good.

There are other tools with the same name which may or may not be able to do this, so be careful.

If you run the following command (GNU)

$ file "$(readlink -f "$(type -p rename)")"

and you have a result that contains Perl script, ASCII text executable and not containing ELF, then this seems to be the right tool =)

If not, to make it the default (usually already the case) on Debian and derivative like Ubuntu :

$ sudo update-alternatives --set rename /path/to/rename

Replace /path/to/rename to the path of your perl rename executable.

If you don't have this command, search your package manager to install it or do it manually (no deps...)

_{^{This tool was originally written by Larry Wall, the Perl's dad.}}

edited Apr 28 '22 at 14:03

Glorfindel

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answered Apr 04 '19 at 13:05

Gilles Quénot

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If you use Linux, ensure you have the perl's rename with `file $(readlink -f $(type -p rename))` and remove -n switch if you want to do it for real – Gilles Quénot Apr 04 '19 at 13:18
It gave ELF so I will install perl one =) – Gijsve Apr 04 '19 at 13:27
There a link for a standalone script, but can be installed via package manager : `rename` or `prename` – Gilles Quénot Apr 04 '19 at 13:29
Gilles, check my post, I added the output of SSH. Very weird....doesn't run Perl rename, but I updated the link – Gijsve Apr 04 '19 at 14:18
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/191263/discussion-between-gilles-quenot-and-gijsve). – Gilles Quénot Apr 04 '19 at 14:20

Gijsve · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-04T20:34:22.003

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find -iname \*.* | rename -v "s/\s{2}/ /g"

This is the final command which helped me out. I used perl rename, see answer by Gilles

edited Apr 04 '19 at 20:34

answered Apr 04 '19 at 20:07

Gijsve

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How to replace double spaces with one space in filenames (also subdirectories) (CloudLinux Server release 6.10)

2 Answers2