Rename multiple files using ftp

Question

I have a set of files in my ftp folder. I have access to only ftp mode. I want to rename those files with extension .txt to .done

Ex:

1.txt, 2.txt, 3.txt 

to

1.done, 2.done, 3.done

Only rename command is working in this ftp. I am expecting something like

rename *.txt *.done 

to rename them all in a single command.

Solution 1

In short: You can't. FTP is very basic and does not support mass renaming. You can either write a small script for it, or download some helper software, such as the one here.

Solution 2

Hallo to all,

Even if the question is quite old, I think could be usefull for others to read my suggestion.

I found a great and easy solution combining curlftpfs, "A FTP filesystem based on cURL and FUSE" as they define it, and rename linux and unix multi rename tool.

I tested on linux mint 17 (and I think it should work in other debian based distributions)

1. install curlftpfs

   sudo apt-get install curlftpfs

2. create the mount folder

   sudo mkdir /mnt/ftp_remote_root

3. mount remote ftp on folder

   sudo curlftpfs -o allow_other -o user="USERWITH@CHARACTERTOO:PASSWORDTOACCESSUSER" ftp://my_ftp_server.com /mnt/ftp_remote_root/

4. jump into desired ftp remote folder

   cd /mnt/ftp_remote_root/path/to/folder

5. rename as you need files (-v shw new names, -n show interested files, omitt them to rename files)

   sudo rename -v -n 's/match.regexp/replace.regexp/' *.file.to.change

It could took few seconds because it works on network.

I think it is really powerfull and easy to use.

Let me know if you find any problems.

Bye

Lorenzo