Generate file naming conventions with category-specific tokens, live preview, and export
- Select your category (accounting, legal, research, or general)
- Add tokens like date, vendor, invoice number, or author to build your pattern
- Preview the convention with real examples and copy the pattern to share
Proof: 8.9k documents renamed last month using conventions built with this tool across 142 teams
Standardize filenames in under a minute with templates, drag-and-drop tokens, and policy-ready export text.
- Pick a role-specific template (AP, legal, research) and tweak tokens like vendor, matter code, or author.
- Preview multiple example filenames plus a policy snippet for Notion or Confluence.
- Copy the pattern, share it with your team, and hand it to Renamed.to for automation.
8.9k files renamed last month by 142 teams using conventions produced with this generator.
Build consistent filename patterns for invoices, contracts, research papers, and documents. Preview examples and export your naming convention to share with your team.
Free, no signup, and 100% browser-side until you connect Renamed.to for automation.
Interactive generator
Includes one-click presets per role, multi-file previews, and a copyable policy snippet—everything you need to drop into your wiki.
Load a proven pattern for General / Common.
Start with a template above or tap tokens to build your file naming convention.
Choose from 7 available tokens
How to design a file naming convention
1. Choose your category
Select the category that matches your documents: accounting & finance, legal & compliance, research & academic, or general. Each category offers relevant tokens like vendor names, matter codes, or author surnames.
2. Build your naming pattern
Add tokens to your pattern by clicking them. Reorder tokens by dragging or using the up/down arrows. Customize example values to match your organization's actual data. Choose your separator: underscore, hyphen, or dot.
3. Preview and export your convention
See your naming pattern and example filename update in real-time. Copy the pattern to your team wiki, file naming policy, or share it with colleagues. Automate the pattern with Renamed.to to apply it to every new file.
File naming best practices
Lead with dates
Use YYYY-MM-DD format at the start for chronological sorting. Avoid month-first or day-first formats that break alphabetical order.
Avoid special characters
Use underscores (_) or hyphens (-) instead of spaces. Avoid /, \, :, *, ?, ", <, >, | which break cross-platform compatibility.
Keep it under 100 characters
Long filenames cause sync issues in cloud storage and email attachments. Use abbreviations and omit unnecessary words.
Never use version numbers
invoice_v3_final.pdf signals chaos. Use cloud storage version history or dated folders instead of proliferating copies.
Automate your naming convention with AI
You already drafted the pattern. Renamed.to reads PDFs, invoices, or contracts, extracts the right tokens, and writes the filenames in that pattern automatically with 95%+ accuracy. Works with Google Drive, Dropbox, watched folders, desktop uploads, and the API.
50 free renames to start. No credit card required.
Frequently asked questions
Can I save or download my naming convention?
Use the copy buttons to copy your pattern and example filename to your clipboard. Paste them into your team wiki, documentation, or file naming policy document.
What separator should I use: underscore, hyphen, or dot?
Underscore (_) is the most widely compatible across operating systems and tools. Hyphen (-) works well but can be confused with negative numbers in some contexts. Avoid dots (.) except before file extensions, as they can confuse some systems.
How do I apply this convention to existing files?
For manual renaming, use your pattern as a reference guide. For automated renaming, upload your files to Renamed.to or connect your Google Drive or Dropbox. Our AI extracts metadata and applies your convention automatically.
Can I create conventions for multiple document types?
Yes. Switch categories and build multiple patterns. Save each pattern with a descriptive name in your documentation: "Invoice pattern," "Contract pattern," "Research paper pattern."
Is this tool free to use?
Yes. The naming convention generator is completely free with no signup required. Generate and export as many patterns as you need.
Related resources
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Apply naming conventions to invoices with AI
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Organize research papers
Citation-ready filenames for academics
Accounting solutions
File automation for bookkeepers and CPAs
Legal operations
Document automation for in-house counsel
Dropbox integration
Apply conventions to shared folders automatically
Pricing
50 free renames. Pay as you grow.