# ISO8601 and Files so did you ever have filenames like `project_v5_final.psd`? Thats a surprisingly common „solution“, leading to all kinds of issues. The alternative: timestamps. Ideally machine readable and standardised. Thats where ISO8601 comes into play. - Heres an example of a date: 13. January 2024. - Heres the same date in ISO8601: 2024-01-13 (the format is YYYY-MM-DD) - Now lets add a time, 14:07:01 (2:07PM): 2024-01-13 140701 (YYYY-MM-DD HHmmss) - you may seperate the date and time with a space or T - I highly recommend adding seconds If you rename your files with a ISO8601 timestamp, they will automatically be sorted by date, like this: ![[ISO8601 and Files-1740130077644.webp]] Another bonus: if you move these files around or share them with someone via a cloud service like nextcloud or dropbox, they may lose the correct creation/modified metadata. Your filename will stay! This is a great version control system when collaborating with on binary files. ## Rename Tools Now typing that every time is annoying? Luckily, there are many programs that can automatically add a time stamp for you based on the file modified (or created) date: - Linux: [Szyszka](https://github.com/qarmin/szyszka) (FOSS) (my choice on linux) - rename with `S(NAME) $(MODIF)` - Linux: [KRename](https://apps.kde.org/en-gb/krename/) (FOSS) - macOS: [Rename X](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/rename-x/id1438841416?l=en-GB&mt=12) (3,99€) (my choice on mac) - check date and time, set them to modified and after. in the settings, adjust the format - save your settings as preset or [download](https://cloud.lwgl.xyz/s/FABYrCoBN9AQ7Q8) my preset - macOS: [Name Changer](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/name-changer/id6737516026?l=en-GB&mt=12) (5,99€) - macOS: [Renamer 7](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/renamer-7/id6479783697?l=en-GB&mt=12) (27,99€) - Windows: [Ant Renamer](https://www.antp.be/software/renamer) (FOSS) - in actions „Use date & time“ - Windows: ~~[PowerRename](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/powerrename)~~ (free) (not good until [#6151](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6151) is resolved) - part of the [PowerToys Suite](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys#microsoft-powertoys), which I highly recommend if you want to hate windows less ## Scripting If you need to copy and version a file, why not script these actions instead of doing them again and again yourself? → [[Scripting and automation]], [[ZSH]]