rename mapped network drive via batch file
Are you tired of manually renaming your mapped network drives every time you connect to a new server or share? Do you wish there was a more efficient way to automate this process? Look no further! In this article, I will guide you through the process of renaming mapped network drives using a batch file. By the end, you’ll be able to save time and streamline your workflow.
Understanding Batch Files
Before diving into the specifics of renaming mapped network drives, it’s important to have a basic understanding of batch files. A batch file is a script that contains a series of commands that can be executed by the Windows command prompt. These commands can perform various tasks, such as renaming files, creating directories, and running other programs.
Batch files are commonly used for automating repetitive tasks, which can save you time and effort. By creating a batch file to rename your mapped network drives, you can eliminate the need to manually rename each drive every time you connect to a new server or share.
Creating the Batch File
Now that you understand the basics of batch files, let’s create one to rename your mapped network drives. To get started, open Notepad or any other text editor. Then, follow these steps:
- Type the following command at the top of the file:
@echo off
This command ensures that the commands you enter in the batch file are not displayed in the command prompt window.
- Next, enter the following command to set the variable for the new drive name:
set newname=YourDesiredName
Replace “YourDesiredName” with the name you want to assign to your mapped network drive.
- Now, enter the following command to rename the mapped network drive:
ren "YourMappedDriveLetter:" "%newname%"
Replace “YourMappedDriveLetter:” with the actual drive letter of your mapped network drive. For example, if your mapped drive is “Z:”, use “Z:” in the command.
Here’s an example of what the entire batch file should look like:
@echo offset newname=MyNewDriveNameren "Z:" "%newname%"
Running the Batch File
Once you’ve created the batch file, save it with a .bat extension, such as “rename_drive.bat”. To run the batch file, follow these steps:
- Open the Windows command prompt. You can do this by searching for “cmd” in the Start menu and selecting “Command Prompt”.
- Change the directory to the location where you saved the batch file. For example, if you saved the file on your desktop, type the following command and press Enter:
cd Desktop- Finally, run the batch file by typing the following command and pressing Enter:
rename_drive.bat
After executing the batch file, your mapped network drive should be renamed to the new name you specified.
Customizing the Batch File
Would you like to rename multiple mapped network drives at once? No problem! You can modify the batch file to loop through a list of drive letters and rename each one. Here’s an example of how to do this:
@echo offsetlocal enabledelayedexpansionset "drives=Z: Y: X:"for /f "tokens=" %%i in (%drives%) do ( set "newname=MyNewDriveName_%%i" ren "%%i:" "%newname%")endlocal
In this example, the batch file renames the mapped network drives “Z:”, “Y:”, and “X:” to “MyNewDriveName_Z:”, “MyNewDriveName_Y:”, and “MyNewDriveName_X:”, respectively.
Conclusion
Renaming mapped network drives using a batch file is a simple and efficient way to automate this task. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can save time and streamline your workflow. Happy automating!
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