Free tool

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

Build consistent filename patterns for invoices, contracts, research papers, and documents. Preview examples and export your naming convention to share with your team.

How to use this tool

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.

Industry-specific naming guides

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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.