Hi!
I'm trying to help organize my colleague's apple computer but some of their files have been now named with numbers instead of their original names. It was when they were trying to back up those files. Is there any way to change them back to their original titles?
Thanks!
It was backed up using Apple's Time Machine. I do have the original files.
I'm not sure which versions of macOS except for the fact that the Microsoft Word and Final Draft applications were outdated. And these are the programs that have files improperly labelled with numbers (files outside of these systems seem to be fine).
It was backed up using Apple's Time Machine. I do have the original files.
I'm not sure which versions of macOS except for the fact that the Microsoft Word and Final Draft applications were outdated. And these are the programs that have files improperly labelled with numbers (files outside of these systems seem to be fine).
So are you saying the names of the source files have changed to numbers or the files transferred to the backup?
Can you provide a screenshot of some of these improper file names with the numbers? How were these files being backed up or transferred? Curious what happened here.
Assuming the original source files have had a name change, then the only way to recover would be to restore them from a backup made before this happened, or manually rename the files. Some files could have some metadata which may sometimes include the old filename.
I'll send you a screenshot when I can! But the names of the files transferred in the backup have changed to numbers. The files were being backed up/reorganized from one computer to another (if this makes sense - they were being transferred from one computer hard drive to another). They moved to a new computer and in the process of backing up/storing the files on the new computer, this name-number situation happened.
So the names are still correct on the original source drive, but have changed to numbers on the destination drive? Then try transferring the files again, perhaps using a different method.
How were the files being transferred? Manually copying them using the Finder? Using the command line, if so provide the command(s) used? Or using a third party app...if so, which app?
Was this transfer between two external drives? Or from an internal drive to an external drive? Or from an internal drive of one computer to an internal drive of another computer? Was file sharing involved between the two computers? Was an intermediary drive used to perform the transfer between the two systems (USB stick or drive)? Details in how the computers were connected and how the transfer was done may be important as well.
What version of macOS is on each computer?
We definitely need more precise details to try to figure out what may have occurred here. If the source files on the original computer are still intact and correct, then at least you have options available. I was afraid you meant the original files on the source drive had their names changed.
Sorry, I still don't have enough information to provide a guess as to what happened if you want to attempt to prevent it from happening again. You still have not answered half my questions nor provided a screenshot of some of the improperly named files.
Otherwise if you just want to fix the file names, then transfer them again or restore them from a backup, or manually rename the files.
It almost sounds like these are just temporary files these apps created while editing the files, but normally temp files are a mix of random characters and numbers, sometimes perhaps with some of the original file name as well. Normally the temporary files are deleted, but if the application crashes it may leave behind the temporary files.
Ok. Sorry for the lack of information. I'll try transferring/restoring them from a backup and seeing if that works. Thanks for taking the time to help me!
File Names Turning into Numbers
