Batch script to invert the order of a date in file names

Question

I wanted to use a batch script to rename a bunch of files which are using the following name scheme:

File 2-9.pdf
File 3-9.pdf
File 4-9.pdf
[...]

Answer 1

relatively easy. Don't use "search and replace", but use proper tokens and delimiters to split your filenames:

@echo off 
for %%f in (*.pdf) do (
  for /f "tokens=1,2,3 delims=- " %%a in ("%%~nf") do (
    ECHO ren "%%~f" "%%a %%c-%%b%%~xf"
  )
)

(Note: remove the ECHO after troubleshooting to enable the rename command)