File Renaming Software Tip – Try Better File Rename

Better File Rename

In response to a BibleBoxer’s question regarding software useful for renaming and retagging files, here’s a helpful tip from Ed who recommended a really nice looking software app called Better File Rename (Windows, OS X) .

There is a free trial and the full software suite is available to a Single User with “forever” upgrades for only around $60.00.

Thanks to the Better File Rename developers we can offer one BibleBox.org reader a free copy of the software. Simply make a comment below or share a post about the BibleBox or how you use it to go in the random draw. Winner will be contacted by email. 

To download a Free Trial of Better File Rename (Windows):

 

To download a Free Trial of A Better Finder Rename (OS X):

ABFR icon

The inital file renaming question posed:

“Hi. I am dealing with mp3 Scripture files for dozens of (mostly Mexican) languages, organizing them for loading onto BibleBox units, micro-SD cards and mp3-CDs. In an attempt to standardize the protocols I use for file names and ID3 tags to make them user-friendly both to the end users and to Christian workers in multi-lingual settings who may have materials in numerous languages on their phone, I sometimes feel it desireable to modify the original names or tags.

For modifying file names I have found the free Bulk Rename Utility to be a real time-saver.  With it I can easily add a prefix, find and replace portions of the name, etc. for all files in a given folder. (For example, I prefer to have all the files start with the 3-letter ISO language code, and I prefer to change the English book abbreviations to Spanish.) HOWEVER, Iꞌm wondering if anyone could recommend a similar program for modifying tags. I currently use Mp3Tag (v.2.59a) for which I have to manually change each entry. 

I am using the “artist” field for the language name. So if, for example, I decide to change the name from “Triqui_de_Copala” to “Triqui_de_Copala-trc” (adding the ISO code) I have to type out the first one, then copy it and paste it 259 times (for a full NT). Itꞌs not hard, just tedious.  Then imagine if, as I get more feedback, I determine it would be good to modify a naming protocol, that could affect the files for dozens of different audio NTs we are making use of. You can see how much a hassle that can be.  So Iꞌm looking for a program for which I could quickly change the tags for groups of files at a time.  Thanks for any tips.”

Here is Ed’s response:

“I too have found it necessary to do massive file renaming, some of it fairly complex.  The best app I have found to do this is “A Better Finder Rename” (the Windows version is called “Better File Rename”).  It is incredibly flexible and easy to use, and has never failed to enable me to quickly rename a massive amount of files in a user-friendly manner.  That even includes multi-step renaming, tag-based renaming, you can even use regular expressions (GREP) to set up renaming formulas (which can be incredibly useful for setting up a renaming procedure that handles varied input), and —something that is important for the situation you describe— you can save pre-set custom rename procedures as a kind of “app-let” to use over and over again.

When I discovered the usefulness, friendliness, power and reliability of this app, I purchased the “forever license” (never again any upgrade expense) and have always been glad I did because this app has never failed to be any less than what I’ve needed.  That was back in 2004, and I’d still say it’s one of the best apps ever.  

There are many other renaming tools available, and at $20 this one is probably the most expensive, but it has been super reliable and gives me all the ways to handle renames that I’ve ever needed (or imagined).  The developer has a long history of pushing out updates every 3 weeks or so, so this is more actively supported than most products.”

Have you got any other software that you would recommend which has helped you in renaming/retagging or in managing files?  Share in the comments below.

Mobile Ministry Course – Cybermissions

John Edmiston at Cybermissions is leading a Mobile Ministry online course.

Next course commences Tuesday, June 9th 2015

 

The course is delivered using Moodle and is self paced. However to fully maximise your experience Id suggest engaging with the topics within the timeframe so you can participate in online discussions around the topics and connect with others doing the course. (more…)

BibleBox shared at Digital Bible Conference in Mexico

Good friend of the BIbleBox, Gama Astivia, has set up his own BibleBox and demonstrated it at a recent Digital Bible conference in Mexico. Now he is preparing more BibleBoxes in Spanish for use by other church workers in Mexico.

BibleBox in Spanish

Along with introducing the BibleBox to around 40 pastors and church workers, Gama has translated the BibleBox presentation and the web interface for the USB into Spanish!  This is a great example of how a community can contribute to share the cross and reach more with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Here is a link to a PDF presentation of the BibleBox in Spanish.

In the Gallery below are some images of the BibleBox presentation in Mexico which were sent to me by Gama.

Smartphone penetration data assists Mobile Ministry Plans

The chart below comes from a 2013 survey of 12,424 mobile consumers across 17 countries to gain a deeper understanding of the global trends impacting mobile user behavior in the finance, telecommunications, retail, consumer products, and utilities industries.

Information like this is useful to help us shape our current and future mobile ministry activities.

  • Data from Nielsen shows that smartphone penetration varies drastically across different countries in APAC, from 87% in Hong Kong and Singapore down to 15% in the Philippines.
  • In ‘Developed Asia’ smartphone penetration is generally higher than in Europe or the US.

  • Furthermore, in Southeast Asia alone, smartphone owners spent an average of more than three hours per day on their smartphones in June 2013.
  • They spent the most time using chat apps, social networking and entertainment activities like games and multimedia.

Other social media statistics shows 20% of internet users in Indonesia using Twitter and the Philippines as a growing Facebook using nation with 30,214,140 users.

With Indonesia and the Philippines both significant in social media it must only be a matter of time before smartphones become affordable to the masses.  Surely telecommunications companies want to make money from people spending time on social media on their phones?

Does this influence you in regard to mobile ministry?  For me it’s developing a confirmation that in Asia Pacific a mobile ministry supported by wifi is a good direction.

If you are in Indonesia or the Philippines – does the chart reflect what you see around you?

Sources – http://www.sap.com/ , http://www.ibtimes.com/, and https://econsultancy.com/

Mobile Ministry starting Points

When it comes to mobile ministry – where do you start?  The mobile phone is a small portable piece of technology.  Most of us carry them with us everywhere we go.  We use them for torches, email, messaging, Facebook, online shopping, phonecalls, all sorts of uses.  They are pocket computers. (more…)