How to install regexp enabled 'rename' on fedora?

Question

I have a batch rename task and I find the 'rename' command in Ubuntu and Fedora is different.

In Ubuntu, rename is written in Perl and has regexp support. Is there anyway to install it on Fedora?

Answer 1

The Perl script (by Larry Wall, himself) is called rename.pl

You will then need to save it in suitable directory. Probably /usr/local/bin/ and make sure it's executable, by typing

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/rename.pl

Answer 2

You can install it using cpan, which is the perl repository similar to pip for python.

Here is a tutorial on using cpan.

If you try to run rename it it looks like this

rename --help
call: rename from to files...

To install the perl rename you can do the following. You might need to install a few dependencies, you can generally just push enter

cpan
cpan1> install File::Rename
CPAN: Storable loaded ok (v2.20)
Going to read '/root/.cpan/Metadata'
Database was generated on Wed, 30 Sep 2015 08:17:02 GMT
Running install for module 'File::Rename'
....
Running Build install
Installing /usr/local/share/man/man1/rename.1
Installing /usr/local/share/perl5/File/Rename.pm
Installing /usr/local/share/man/man3/File::Rename.3pm
Installing /usr/local/bin/rename
Writing /usr/local/lib64/perl5/auto/File/Rename/.packlist
RMBARKER/File-Rename-0.20.tar.gz
./Build install -- OK

That is how you would install the rename from cpan.
Next is to get it working on your system. As you might have more then one rename installed.

which rename  
/usr/bin/rename  

When you actually want this one.

/usr/local/bin/rename --help
Usage:
    rename [ -h|-m|-V ] [ -v ] [ -n ] [ -f ] [ -e|-E *perlexpr*]*|*perlexpr*
    [ *files* ]

Options:
    -v, -verbose
            Verbose: print names of files successfully renamed.

    -n, -nono
            No action: print names of files to be renamed, but don't rename.

    -f, -force
            Over write: allow existing files to be over-written.

    -h, -help
            Help: print SYNOPSIS and OPTIONS.

    -m, -man
            Manual: print manual page.

    -V, -version
            Version: show version number.

    -e      Expression: code to act on files name.

            May be repeated to build up code (like "perl -e"). If no -e, the
            first argument is used as code.

    -E      Statement: code to act on files name, as -e but terminated by
            ';'.

I just put it into /usr/bin/ but with a slight different name to make sure I did not break any existing scripts / programs the depend on the old one.

ln -s /usr/local/bin/rename /usr/bin/rename.pl

Answer 3

Install prename (Perl version of rename):

sudo dnf install prename

Answer 4

For Debian-family (.deb) distros, I recommend @SzG's answer over on StackOverflow.

For RedHat-family (.rpm) distros (e.g. Fedora), if your time is precious (like mine), you can download, compile, and install, from source via cpan in one, terse command:

# Replace `rename-1.9` below with another version if desired ;) 
curl -L "http://search.cpan.org/CPAN/authors/id/P/PE/PEDERST/rename-1.9.tar.gz" | tar -xz && ( cd "rename-1.9"; perl "Makefile.PL"; make && make install ) && rm -rf "rename-1.9"

Note:

INSTALL_BASE can be set to modify the base installation directory.

e.g. perl "Makefile.PL" INSTALL_BASE=/usr/local

source

Note: Same answer but with superior syntax highlighting over on StackOverflow