What are File Attributes?
File attributes are nothing but settings associated with the files and folders stored on your hard disk, SSD, or other external storage drives. These settings define whether a user should have access to files and folders or not and in what capacity. These attributes can also be used as an effective way to organize your files and folders.
Most Common File Attributes in Windows
There are several file attributes used in Windows. Here are the most common ones:
- Read-only: These are the files that can be read by the user, but they cannot modify them. That’s why the content inside those files cannot be changed using any application.
- Hidden: These files are hidden from being displayed in the Windows Explorer. There may be different reasons why you would want to hide your files and folders. For example, if you want to get your laptop repaired by from a local technician, you may want to hide your private documents and files.
- Archive: These files are flagged as archives by the Windows Operating System for backup and archival purposes. It is recommended that you do not delete them under normal circumstances.
- System: Windows marks your operating system files and components with the System attribute. These files are essential for the smooth functioning of your system. If any of these files are changed or deleted, your computer may work unexpectedly, won’t boot, or stop working.
Batch Change File Attributes Using Attribute Changer (Free)
Attribute Changer is a simple, easy -to- use, and freeware application that lets you change file attributes. It has a nice, intuitive interface that simplifies changing file attributes in a batch for files and folders. Here are some of its features:
- Changes creation/ last write/ access dates of files, photos, and folders
- Edits file system attributes
- Changes file names to uppercase, lowercase, or capital case
- Batch process files, use randomizations, syncing, and other techniques
- Sets different file attributes: read-only, hidden, archive, compressed, system, and index
- Provides simulation mode that previews the change before applying them to your files
- Supports adding or modifying EXIF header information of images.
- Updates specific components. Yes, instead of updating an entire date-time stamp, you can update specific parts, such as minutes, days, hours, months, years, etc.
- Sets absolute or relative dates (Add, subtract, offset values of date and time. For example, add or subtract 2 hours, 2 days, 2 months, 2 years, etc.).
- Forcelimits the resulting offset date-time stamp to a predefined one.
- Applies sequence to selection starting from specified date-time.
- Applies random date-time stamps to your files and folders.
- Batch change folder date-time to newest or oldest files in that folder
- Sets date-time in sequential order
- Supports powerful filters to apply rules to specific files only based on wildcards (such as *, ?, ?????, *(?)*, *.txt), attributes, sizes, dates, etc. You can also define ranges in the form of dates, -time periods, file sizes (minimum or and maximum), etc. Global exceptions are also supported.
- Keeps track of successful and failed files and folders and displays the information under the Reporting tab after completion. The Reporting tab can also explore a more advanced view of what’s gone wrong for a detailed overview.
- Your logged activities can also be exported to a Comma-separated Value (.CSV) file for your future reference.
Using Attribute Changer (Steps)
- Download Attribute Changer.
- Open File Explorer, and go to the folder that contains your files and folders.
- Select the files and folders that you want to change. Right-click the selection and choose the “Change attributes” option.
- A new dialog will open with tons of options.
- In the Properties tab, check the attributes you want to change (Read-only, hidden, archive, system, compress, index, etc.)
- If you want to set a new file name to uppercase or lowercase, select the appropriate option under the Change Name drop-down box.
- In the underneath section below, you’ll be able to change the date-time stamps of your files and folders. Make necessary required changes in the Date Created, Date Modified, and Date Accessed boxes. If you want to change the relative values, right-click on a date for an advanced view.
- Next, specify what you want to process. To process both files and folders, select the “All” option. There are “files only” or “folders only” options as well.
- Click OK to apply the changes in the batch.
Batch Rename Files, Change Music File Metadata
While the Attribute Changer tool indeed supports batch changing or renaming file names in a batch, the features provided are in a very limited capacity. It is because the Attribute Changer is not meant to be a special file renaming tool. There is no way to add new text into file names, edit existing text patterns, add numbering, swap text, etc. With the Attribute Changer tool, you can only change the text case from lower to upper and vice versa. There are no other file renaming rules available.
Easy File Renamer is a simple and straightforward tool that works perfectly specializes itself as a batch file renamer. It also contains several powerful features to edit MP3 files metadata with ease. You can also re-organize your files into their directory structures. While the Easy File Renamer is not free, don’t be sad because it comes with tons of features and capabilities not available in the Attribute Changer tool
Features:
- Batch copy and move files at lightning speed without errors
- Load hundreds of MP3 songs and use a single batch editor window to change their MP3/ ID3 tags
- Plenty of file renaming rules to choose from (as you can rename documents, music, videos, photos, and other files)
- Easily edit iTunes music tags
- Organize files by their dates in an orderly manner
- With the subscription to of Easy File Renamer, you get a free license to Cloud File Renamer, an Internet-based cloud renamer for Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, and other popular cloud services.