[linny]

I keep trying this,and I keep doing something wrong.

$ for FILE in /home/user/Desktop/test2/ ; do
> mv $FILE ${FILE##*-}
> done
mv: cannot move `/home/user/Desktop/test2/' to a subdirectory of itself, `/home/

I don't want to move to another directory,just rename the files and keep them in the same directory.
NOTE:Until I feel comfortable doing this,I'll be testing these commands on test files or copied files in test directories.

$ for FILE in /home/user/Desktop/test2
>  NEWNAME="${FILE##*_}"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `NEWNAME="${FILE##*_}"'

Here I didn't even get the chance to finish the command.
I have no clue as to the syntax error here.

I found this yesterday at another forum and this seems to be working.
Here,I opened a terminal in the directory I want to change the file names in,rather than cd to the directory or state the full path to the directory in the command itself.
I've ran into problems before with using the /path/to/file in the command because there was a space in front of the filename I didn't notice.
Instead of
/home/user/Desktop/practice/test.txt
it was
/home/user/Desktop/practice/ test.txt
What a problem that was because all the commands were in proper order,and not working,because the /path/to/filename wasn't correct when I didn't see the space.
I was several days banging my head because of this space.
I look for this a lot closer now.

Anyhow,this command appears to work good.

$ for f in *test*.txt; do mv -vf "$f" "${f#*-}"; done
`01-test1.txt' -> `test1.txt'
`02-test2.txt' -> `test2.txt'
`03-test3.txt' -> `test3.txt'
$

Just because this seems to be working,I don't want to abandon what has been suggested here.
I want to get through this and understand where I am making my mistakes with the examples presented here.
There is something I'm doing wrong,just like not seeing a space as I mentioned above.

What is the difference between this command I found at another forum and the commands given here?
I've tried them all except the one ghostdog74 has given.
I'll get to trying that next.

I appreciate every reply.

[ghostdog74]

for FILE in /home/user/Desktop/test2/abc-*
....

[Freston]

Originally Posted by linny

I keep trying this,and I keep doing something wrong.

$ for FILE in /home/user/Desktop/test2/ ; do
> mv $FILE ${FILE##*-}
> done
mv: cannot move `/home/user/Desktop/test2/' to a subdirectory of itself, `/home/

I don't want to move to another directory,just rename the files and keep them in the same directory.

Oh, no problem. This mistake was on my side. It should have been
for FILE in /home/user/Desktop/test2/* ; do

Sorry the asterisk(*) somehow got lost.



And then:

Originally Posted by linny

for FILE in /home/user/Desktop/test2
>  NEWNAME="${FILE##*_}"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `NEWNAME="${FILE##*_}"'

The syntax is:
for {argument} do {command} done
Bash does not expect to set variables during the {argument} part of the syntax.

Originally Posted by linny

$ for f in *test*.txt; do mv -vf "$f" "${f#*-}"; done
`01-test1.txt' -> `test1.txt'
`02-test2.txt' -> `test2.txt'
`03-test3.txt' -> `test3.txt'
$

(...)
What is the difference between this command I found at another forum and the commands given here?

None. It's the same. Only it uses relative path and a simplified name for the variable. But the basic mechanism, a 'for loop' and parameter substitution as a means to adjust filenames, is the exact same. And it is written in one line rather than spread over several.

It boils down to preference. I tend to spread these things over several lines as it makes it easier to read. And I tend to give variables full names in ALL CAPS. It just makes their function easier to understand.

EDIT: There are some excellent links in ghostdog74's sig. That may help you understand what actually goes on in looping constructs a bit better than I can explain them

[linny]

It should have been
for FILE in /home/user/Desktop/test2/* ; do

OK.Now it's working!

There are some excellent links in ghostdog74's sig

I'll certainly have a look at them.

I have several books on bash,as well as python,C++ and others,but I needed a working example for something I really want to do.
Like rename hundreds of .mp3 files.

I have always wanted to learn bash scripting,but I needed a initiative to get going.
Maybe this is the initiative that I needed.
I see how much time a bash command can save someone from doing things the GUI way.
Hit enter and it's done.It can't get any faster than that.
Getting to where hitting enter gives the desired results is the hard part.

Now with these working examples I'll have to study why they work,and especially try to understand why the ones I tried before didn't.
I saved the output of all the terminal readouts,even the failures.

Thanks to everyone for their time.
It has been highly appreciated.