Download latest version here. Read on for more details.
I’ve updated this application. Details are here, but the download link above will get the latest version.
After modding my XBox, I discovered a reasonably annoying fact: the filesystem on the XBox (known as FAT-X), has different requirements for filenames than does FAT32 or NTFS. FAT-X only likes filenames shorter than 42 characters, and doesn’t like many punctuation characters.
I hunted around for a bit, and found a few tools that would do the renaming job, but they all seemed to lack the ability to rename directories. So, being the code monkey that I am, I’ve whipped up a little app in C# that does the job for me, and for you too if you’d like.
Bear in mind that it’s a wee bit ‘beta’ at the moment, and that the changes to filenames are not reversible. Still, if you’re using it (like I am) to rename MP3 files, there names of those files are not too relevant, because XBox apps like XBMC read the ID3 tags anyway. A couple of other points if you’re going to use it:
- There aren’t a whole heap of options. Filenames are simply truncated from the right, and the original extension is re-added. I’ll add more options in another release.
- You can review changes before they are made, and manually overwrite the proposed filename.
- Sometimes the renaming will fail, usually because a directory is renamed, meaning that files within that directory can’t be accessed using the original directory name. I’m going to fix this in a future release (by renaming directories last), but you can just re-scan the directory to rename the files again.
You can download it here. If you have any problems, questions or comments, you can leave a comment here, or email me.
I just wanted to thank you GREATLY for the FatX Renamer utility! I’ve been setting up my XBox as an emulation powerhouse, and I had been playing hell with trying to upload thousands of files in small batches, hoping nothing would be rejected. Your tool worked perfectly on each folder, each time.
Hey no problem! Glad to hear that it helped.
Thanks, good job.
Great job! I’m so glad that you made this, I now can transfer my MP3 library with no problem.
why do i need the .net framework and what does it do?
The .NET framework is a Microsoft Runtime that new programs written in C# and VB.NET need to run. If you have Windows XP (I think) or newer, it is installed by default, otherwise you have to download a big chunky file unfortunately
great tool, thank you!
Thanks! I really needed this
Hi,
your tool was the best I found for modfying 11.000+ music files (wma, m4a, mp3 as well as directory names), thanks a lot. Some characters however still need to be added to the list of characters to be changed, I found the following ones: The German “sharp s” like in “Mit freundlichen Gr??en”, a strange “i” like in “Paco de Lucia” and the Spanish “n” like in “Senorita”. Probably, there are some more,… However, once again, great tool!
Hi,
your tool was the best I found for modfying 11.000+ music files (wma, m4a, mp3 as well as directory names), thanks a lot. Some characters however still need to be added to the list of characters to be changed, I found the following ones: The German “sharp s” like in “Mit freundlichen Gr??en”, a strange “i” like in “Paco de Lucia” and the Spanish “n” like in “Senorita”. Probably, there are some more,… However, once again, great tool!
Hey thanks for pointing that out. I’ll have a look into it.
I’m surprised I didn’t discover the Paco de Lucia problem on my own tracks
I think I know how to fix it – I’ll let you know when I have an update.
love your program! helped me transfer 40gb of music to my xbox
EXACTLY was I was looking for! Works like a charm!
Thanks, that program is great. It renamed 1700 files for me in one fell swoop. Probably saved me an hour.
THANK YOU!
Great application. I searched for a good FAT/Xbox renamer quite a while. Yours is by far the best!
THANK YOU!
Great application. I searched for a good FAT/Xbox renamer quite a while. Yours is by far the best!
Thanks for the great app. Does exactly what it says on the tin and saved me a load of time (and probably a mangled filenames) as I was just about to start on quick and dirty script to do the job for me!
Thanks! Works like a charm.
Thank you so very much!
This application will now save me for extreme amounts of hassle!
You make my digital life so much easier!!