linux batch rename directories and strip # character from name

Question

i have a directory with a lot of subdirectories with a # infront of them:

#adhasdk
#ad18237

I want to rename them all and remove the # caracter I tried to do:

rename -n `s/#//g` *

but didn't seem to work.

-bash: s/#//g: No such file or directory

Any ideas on this. Thanks

Answer 1

Just use

$ rename 's/^#//' *

use -n just to check that what you think it would happen really happens. In you example you have the clue about the wrong quotes used (backticks) in the error message

 -bash: s/#//g: No such file or directory

bash is trying to execute a command named s/#//g.

No that using g (global) and not anchoring the regular expression you will replace any #, not just the one in the first position.

Answer 2

I don't know whether it's just a typo when you typed it here, but that "rename" command should work if:

1. you leave off the "-n" and
2. you quote the substitution with regular single-quotes and not back-quotes

The "-n" tells it to not really do anything. The back-quotes are just wrong (they mean something but not what you want here).