The Invalid Filename Editor allows you to specify what invalid filename characters should be replaced with.

In previous versions, if FileSieve encountered a filename - or path - with an invalid character* that Windows does not allow, FileSieve would just skip over that file.

The Invalid Filename Editor now lets you replace such invalid characters with a Windows-legal alternative so that such files can be processed as normal.

* Unfortunately, some programs (such as 7-Zip) can create paths and files with illegal characters. Accessing (editing, deleting, etc) such files can be problematic from both the end-user and application perspectives.

Invalid Filename Editor

The Invalid Filename Editor can be accessed via the Invalid Names link on the Step 1: Source Items tab, to the right of the Manage and Triggers buttons.

  • Find Replace List

    • This list contains all of the characters FileSieve will replace. The Find column is the character, or string, that will be searched for. If it is found within a Path or Filename during processing, it will be replaced with the character, or string, contained within the Replace column.

    Selecting an item will display its Find and Replace values in the textboxes below the list where they can be edited as required.

  • Find

    • This is the character, or string, that is actively looked for during processing. This is typically a single character as it's individual characters that are illegal within paths or filenames.

    Please note that this value is expressed as-is; it is not a regular expression.

    For Technical Users

    There are in fact entire filenames that are illegal within Windows, but they don't really affect FileSieve. More information available here.


  • Replace

    • Once an illegal character has been found via Find, this is the character, or string, that will replace it.

    Please note that this value is expressed as-is; it is not a regular expression.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Unless stated otherwise, these keyboard shortcuts are global to the entire window; pressing them regardless of which control is active will cause them to trigger.

  • F1, Help

    • Displays this page of the documentation.

  • F11, F12

    • This is the keyboard equivalent of clicking on the Close button at the bottom of the window.