---
title: Rename files
description: Rename files using a customizable pattern and extension for consistent file management.
category: File Operations
tags: [file, rename, pattern, automation, naming]
---

# Rename files

## Description

The **Rename Files** activity renames uploaded or previously processed files based on a user-defined pattern and file extension. This activity is essential when working with files that require standardized names for easier identification, downstream processing, or export.

You can define static names, use dynamic placeholders (e.g., timestamps, counters), and control the target file format by changing the extension.

Use this activity to:

- Apply naming conventions across all uploaded documents
- Append timestamps or sequence numbers to filenames
- Convert file extensions as part of a transformation pipeline

> **Use case**:
> In a document automation workflow, invoices are uploaded with generic names. This activity renames them to follow a structure like `Invoice_[Date]_[Index].pdf` to support archiving or emailing.

## Input

| Type      | Description                                                                                      |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Files** | Files to be renamed. These may come from previous activities (e.g., upload, generate, download). |

## Output

| Output Type       | Format     | Description                                                                                                                      |
| ----------------- | ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Renamed Files** | File Paths | Files renamed using the specified pattern and extension. These are available for download or reuse in subsequent workflow steps. |

## Configuration Fields

| Field Name    | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Pattern**   | The naming convention to apply to files. You can use static text or placeholders like:<ul><li>`{Date}` – inserts the current date</li><li>`{Index}` – inserts a sequential number</li><li>`{OriginalName}` – retains the base of the original filename</li></ul><br>Example: `Processed_{Date}_{Index}` |
| **Extension** | Specifies the new file extension (e.g., `.pdf`, `.csv`, `.xlsx`, `.txt`). If not provided, the original extension is retained.                                                                                                                                                                          |

> that renamed files do not overwrite each other by including unique elements in the pattern such as `{Index}` or `{Timestamp}`.

## Sample Input

_Not Applicable_

## Sample Configuration

| Field     | Value                   |
| --------- | ----------------------- |
| Pattern   | `Monthly_Report_{Date}` |
| Extension | `.csv`                  |

## Sample Output

| File                          | Value        |
| ----------------------------- | ------------ |
| Monthly_Report_2025-07-11.csv | ['Download'] |