Synthetic rename manifest: three clean renames with matching checksums and four held names

The invented folder and rule

These seven files and their contents are invented, and no name here holds a person's name, which a real job would also require. The first three each hold one line of text, so their checksums are real SHA-256 values that anyone could recompute. The naming rule is also invented: year-month, a subject, then a three-digit number, with no spaces. Its inputs are invented too: the year-month is each file's modified date (March 2024 for the two scans, November 2023 for the Word file) and the subject comes from a mapping sheet the buyer supplies (supplier letters for the two scans, annual report for the Word file).

If the matrix is wider than the box, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard: focus the matrix and use Left/Right.

old path                       | content (one line)
Scans/scan0001.pdf             | synthetic file one
Scans/scan0002.pdf             | synthetic file two
Old/Report FINAL.doc           | synthetic file three
Letters/Summary.pdf            | (content not needed for this example)
Letters/summary.pdf            | (content not needed for this example)
Misc/CON.txt                   | (content not needed for this example)
Misc/notes.                    | (content not needed for this example)

The dry run, approved before anything changes

The dry run proposes names and flags problems; it changes nothing. Microsoft says Windows should not be assumed to be case-sensitive, so Summary.pdf and summary.pdf would be the same name there and cannot both keep it. CON is a reserved device name, and Microsoft says a name should not end in a period. These four are marked held and go to the exceptions list for a person to decide; they are not copied under a new name until then.

• Three files can be renamed by the rule.
• Four files are held: two that collide when case is ignored, one reserved name and one trailing period.

If the matrix is wider than the box, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard: focus the matrix and use Left/Right.

old path                 | proposed new path                 | status
Scans/scan0001.pdf       | 2024-03_supplier-letters_001.pdf  | renamed
Scans/scan0002.pdf       | 2024-03_supplier-letters_002.pdf  | renamed
Old/Report FINAL.doc     | 2023-11_annual-report_001.doc     | renamed
Letters/Summary.pdf      | (held)                            | exception: differs only in case from summary.pdf
Letters/summary.pdf      | (held)                            | exception: differs only in case from Summary.pdf
Misc/CON.txt             | (held)                            | exception: reserved device name
Misc/notes.              | (held)                            | exception: name ends in a period

The manifest of all seven files

The manifest has one row for every source file and pairs a checksum with a path, the same idea as a BagIt payload manifest. For each renamed file the source checksum and the checksum at the new path must be identical. These are SHA-256 values of the invented contents above, each including its trailing line break. The four held files have rows too, with status held, no new path and no copy until a person decides.

• A mismatch on any renamed row would mean the file changed or was damaged.
• The reversal list is the same table read backwards for the renamed rows: the new path returns to the old path.

If the matrix is wider than the box, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard: focus the matrix and use Left/Right.

status  | checksum (SHA-256)                                                | old path             | new path
renamed | e46e10b85f229616d8a988252da2cb5bbe562a89403d0feb9eb05cf40f68fd62  | Scans/scan0001.pdf   | 2024-03_supplier-letters_001.pdf
renamed | 442d39082e03d9002d710f5e09d78412d58755aff911d064ac17031be36bbd82  | Scans/scan0002.pdf   | 2024-03_supplier-letters_002.pdf
renamed | 3a4b2c6ac81fe538ca96417064742b5ecf8b010ed0d27ae926da9f79ecd3856e  | Old/Report FINAL.doc | 2023-11_annual-report_001.doc
held    | (content not given in this example)                               | Letters/Summary.pdf  | (not copied)
held    | (content not given in this example)                               | Letters/summary.pdf  | (not copied)
held    | (content not given in this example)                               | Misc/CON.txt         | (not copied)
held    | (content not given in this example)                               | Misc/notes.          | (not copied)

The counts

Counts reconcile in the same way whatever the folder size.

• Source files 7 = renamed 3 + held 4.
• Manifest rows 7 = source files 7, with 3 rows marked renamed and 4 marked held.
• Files at new paths 3 = rows marked renamed 3.
• Originals untouched: the three source checksums are the same before and after the copy.

Use it to specify an enquiry

For one folder tree of up to 5,000 files, the rename-and-organise job starts from £245 (an untested proposal), accepted by checks like these, with payment after your sign-off. The files are handed over as a copy through a secure route agreed in writing first; no upload portal exists yet, and folders whose names or contents hold personal data are not covered. Originals are never changed or deleted. Send counts and a few example names, not files.