Guides
Renaming files
Rename outgoing files automatically using date, EXIF, and counter variables.
Last updated 2026-05-25
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ZenTransfer can rename every outgoing file using a template you define. Useful for consistency, wire requirements, and avoiding filename collisions.
What a rename template looks like¶
A pattern string with variables in curly braces. Variables are replaced when the file is processed. Example:
{datesortdash}_{Make}_{Model}_{#roll:5}.{FileExtension}
Might produce: 2026-04-16_FUJIFILM_X-T5_00042.jpg
Configuring¶
- Log in to your Dashboard
- Under Processing, find the rename template field
- Enter the template
- Save
Templates apply to every outgoing file from that point forward — auto-transfer and manual transfer alike.
Common templates¶
| Use case | Template | Example output |
|---|---|---|
| Date + counter | {datesortdash}_{#roll:5}.{FileExtension} | 2026-04-16_00042.jpg |
| Wire slug + sequence | wire_{date}_{#wire:6}.{FileExtension} | wire_20260416_000042.jpg |
| Client + date + counter | clientname_{datesortdash}_{#client:4}.{FileExtension} | clientname_2026-04-16_0042.jpg |
| Camera + lens + seq | {Make}_{Model}_{LensModel}_{#seq:5}.{FileExtension} | CANON_EOSR5_RF24-70mmF2.8_00042.jpg |
| Preserve original + date | {OriginalFilename}_{date}.{FileExtension} | DSCF4148_20260416.jpg |
Sequence counters¶
Counters auto-increment. Reset or manage them on your profile page. Pad with {#name:N} for N digits.
Different counter names are tracked independently — {#wire} and {#client} are separate counters.
Date / time variables¶
Pulled from EXIF DateTimeOriginal. Falls back to current time if missing.
Common date variables:
| Variable | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
{date} | YYYYMMDD | 20260416 |
{datesortdash} | YYYY-MM-DD | 2026-04-16 |
{year4} | YYYY | 2026 |
{month0} | MM | 04 |
{day0} | DD | 16 |
{hour24} | HH | 14 |
{sort} | YYYYMMDDHHMMSS | 20260416143022 |
See Rename variables reference for the full list including aliases.
Camera variables¶
| Variable | Notes |
|---|---|
{Make} | Manufacturer (CANON, NIKON, FUJIFILM, ...) |
{Model} | Body designation |
{LensModel} | Mounted lens |
{SerialNumber} | Camera serial |
{ISO}, {FNumber}, {ExposureTime}, {FocalLength} | Exposure details |
File variables¶
| Variable | Notes |
|---|---|
{OriginalFilename} | Original filename without extension |
{FileExtension} | Extension without dot |
Always include {FileExtension} so the extension survives — without it, the renamed file has no extension.
Custom variables¶
Define custom variables on your dashboard (Processing → Custom variables). Reference them as {VariableName} anywhere — in rename templates and in metadata template fields.
Useful for assignment-specific tokens: {assignment}, {shoot_date}, {venue}.
Counter behaviour gotchas¶
- Counters increment per processed file, not per filename — duplicates are not generated
- If you switch to a new counter mid-job, the new counter starts at 1
- Resets are immediate; the next file gets value 1
- Counters are global per account — different jobs can share or use separate counter names
Filename safety¶
ZenTransfer sanitises filenames to be safe across all destination filesystems. Reserved characters (/, \, :, etc.) are stripped or replaced. The result is consistently safe on Linux, macOS, Windows, and S3-like object stores.
Common mistakes¶
- Forgetting
{FileExtension}— files arrive without an extension - Spaces in templates — some FTP destinations dislike spaces; use underscores
- Wrong counter name across jobs — shared counter increments unexpectedly
- Date-based filenames colliding — combine date with a counter or sequence
Per-image overrides¶
In the Browser, you can override the rename target per image before manual transfer. Useful for hero shots that need named files.
Related reading¶
- Rename variables reference — full variable list
- Metadata templates — apply IPTC alongside rename