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I am trying to rename several files using R, and I have tried every solution I was able to find to similar questions without success.

I have created a vector with the names of the files I want to change, and another one with the names I want to change them to, so they'll look something like: 

from1 <- as.character(c("test1.txt", "test2.txt", "test3.txt")) to1 <- as.character(c("testA.txt", "testB.txt", "testC.txt"))

where from1 corresponds to the names of the existing files in my working directory, and to1 corresponds to the names I want them to have. When I try file.rename(from1, to1) I get [1] FALSE FALSE FALSE and even if I try it with just one element of the vector as in file.rename(from1[1], to1[1])I just get [1] FALSE and nothing happens in my folder

I have also tried this function posted as an answer to a question very similar to mine, and it seems to work, because when I run a test I get 

found 1 possible files would change test1.txt to testA.txt changed 0

but when I actually try to do it I get 

found 1 possible files changed 1

but nothing has actually changed in my directory.

I am not sure if this question is clear enough or more code is needed, if so please ask and I'll be happy to edit.

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  • the code works for me.Are you sure that you are in the directory of the files ? Use getwd() and setwd() Commented Nov 13, 2015 at 11:46
  • also, no need for the as.character as the " " already defines a character. Commented Nov 13, 2015 at 11:46
  • 1
    Possible duplicate of How to rename files with a specific pattern in R? Commented Nov 19, 2016 at 13:58

2 Answers 2

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Given that you are in the right working directory (otherwise set it with setwd(""), you can change file names with:

from1 <- c("test_file.csv", "plot1.svg") to1 <- c("test.csv", "plot.svg") file.rename(from1, to1)

But make sure that you are in the right directory and that the files exist (which you can do with list.files or file.exists.

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To rename a file in R, simply use:

file.rename("mytest.R", "mytest2.R")

This command can also be vectorized.

files.org = c("mytest1.R","mylife.R") files.new = c("mytest01.R","mytest02.R") file.rename(files.org, files.new)
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