Annoyed by how Windows XP's renaming function (F2) works? Namely the fact that it selects filename and file-extension when extensions are enabled? So here is a little program to fix this (mimic Vista functionality).

It's very possible that there are better ways to add this functionality, but it's wildly easy to do with AutoHotkey, so that's what I've done. Like you said, every time you hit F2 to rename a file, you also need to hit Shift+Left Arrow four times. Using AutoHotkey, I've just automated that process.

If you're just interested in getting the functionality, either download theber file or download the Better Renamer.zip and run the included executable, or get the AutoHotkey source. If you want a better idea of how it works, check out the code below:



Now let's dissect it. The IfWinActive command tells AutoHotkey only to use these F2 definitions if your active Window or application is Windows Explorer or your Desktop. If either of those conditions are met, F2 is sent to the window, and then AutoHotkey automates the Shift+Left keystrokes necessary to un-highlight the extension, but it does so quickly enough that it's really as though that's just the way renaming works.

This was a very quickly thrown together script, and there are limitations that could be improved. I did add checking for the first period from the right so that F2 can handle extensions of differing lengths and so that it doesn't try adjusting the selection for items that don't use extensions-folders, for example.


It's not absolutely perfect, but it should do the trick most of the time if you've been aching from the renaming functionality that's available in both Vista and OS X.

Interested in more of what AutoHotkey can do?
Check out this introduction or any of our many AutoHotkey posts.