I’m working with a Google Sheets document that contains numerous values, and I need to convert them into properly formatted filenames for over 100 files. For instance, when I have the value 1 in a cell, I want it to become 01.png as the final filename.
I attempted using the standard find and replace feature, but this approach becomes extremely tedious when dealing with multiple spreadsheets and repetitive tasks.
I also experimented with a formula approach:
=SUBSTITUTE(B2,"1","_01.PNG")
This formula produces the correct filename format I’m looking for, however I’m struggling with how to efficiently apply this transformation to all instances of the number 1 throughout my spreadsheet. The manual selection process for thousands of cells containing the number 1 (which are formatted as text) is not practical.
Is there a more efficient method or script that could automate this bulk renaming process?
I’ve dealt with this filename formatting mess for years. You’re right that SUBSTITUTE works but it’s clunky. I just use =TEXT(B2,"00")&".png" instead - handles zero-padding automatically without any substitution. No more manual selection headaches since TEXT converts numbers to whatever format you want. For multiple sheets, I copy the formula down the whole column, then paste special > values to get clean filenames. Way faster than scripts and you don’t need to code anything. TEXT also handles weird edge cases better than string replacement.
Just use ARRAYFORMULA - way easier than scripts! Try =ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A:A<>"",TEXT(A:A,"00")&".png","")) and it’ll handle your entire column at once. Perfect for turning numbers into padded filenames without any coding.
Google Apps Script will simplify your task significantly. In previous projects with bulk renaming, I’ve found that custom scripts outpace formulas, especially for extensive datasets. You should start by writing a script that iterates over your range and applies the necessary formatting automatically. An example to get you started is function bulkRename() { var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet(); var range = sheet.getDataRange(); var values = range.getValues(); }. You can integrate your transformation logic within this loop.
This method is superior to your SUBSTITUTE formula as it allows for handling multiple conditions simultaneously. To ensure consistent two-digit formatting for numbers, use Utilities.formatString('%02d', parseInt(cellValue)). Running the script will process your entire sheet in seconds, which is far more efficient than going through each cell individually. This approach is also more dependable than traditional find/replace methods when working with numerous files.