Question about Renamer

[Lana]

I am trying to learn the Renamer feature, I have a question which I'm sure  has a simple answer, but I'm just not getting it.

It is my intent to rename files using YYYY-MM-DD_XXX

It works fine when there is more than one file dated the same day.  I get a unique filename starting with 001.  However, when there is only one picture taken on a specific day, the "XXX" is missing as shown below

-2019-07-01_001.jpg
-2019-07-01_002.jpg
-2019-07-02.jpg
-2019-07-03-001.jpg
-2019-07-03-002.jg

Yes, I understand the filename dated July 2nd "is" unique, but I still want a three digit number anyway.

How do I make this happen?

Thanks.

[Mario]

It would help if you show us the steps you use.

I guess you have used the "unique sequence number" step which kicks in to ensure that a file name is unique by appending a number.
It does do nothing if the file name is unique.

To append numbers to file names, use the global sequence number step: Global Sequence

If you want to append consecutive numbers to groups of files you create with your rename steps, have a look at the Group By step, which allows you to do that.

[Lana]

Sorry, yes I should have posted the steps.  My bad.

Here's what my renamer looks like. 

[Mario]

My analysis above is correct.

[JohnZeman]

I rename my files the same way only the last 3 digits of my renaming are subseconds which essentially accomplishes the same thing.

Attached is the way I rename my files like that (note last item at the bottom of my screenshot).

[Carlo Didier]

I rename my files the same way only the last 3 digits of my renaming are subseconds which essentially accomplishes the same thing.

Attached is the way I rename my files like that (note last item at the bottom of my screenshot).

Note that not all cameras store sub-seconds in the images.

[plastikman]

I rename my files the same way only the last 3 digits of my renaming are subseconds which essentially accomplishes the same thing.

Attached is the way I rename my files like that (note last item at the bottom of my screenshot).

Note that not all cameras store sub-seconds in the images.

Mine don't. I use YYYY-MM-DD_INITIALS_XXX (those 3 numbers restart with 001 every day since I rename for each shooting day).

[Lana]

Thank you everyone.  I'm still not getting what I want.  Using minutes and seconds just didn't work for me.  And I'm still trying to understand Group By.  I've spent time reading Help and I don't know why I'm hitting a brick wall when it comes to renamer.  I just find it extremely confusing.  Before I start studying the help files even more, I want to know if it's POSSIBLE to use renamer to get what I want.  Or can it only be achieved using Group By.  I'm willing to put in the time to learn, I just need a little guidance.

By the way, it's very rare for me to take just one picture on any single day.  So this issue is not real urgent, I can live with it.  If necessary, I'll just manually rename the file myself and be done with it.  My only goal here is to learn.  THANK YOU!

[Mario]

You say

It is my intent to rename files using YYYY-MM-DD_XXX

So, which steps do you use?
A date and time step?
A text step?
How do you create the _XXX?

If you use the "unique sequence number" it cannot work. Because that number is only appended when the Renamer finds a duplicate file name.
All that is needed are 3 steps when I understand you correctly:

1. Date and time.
2. Text for the _
3. Global sequence number



This produces names like

2020-04-13_001
2020-04-13_002
...
2020-04-13_nnn

[Lana]

Mario, thank you.  That worked.  When you mentioned global sequence number, I thought you were referring to "Global Sequence" under Preset at top of Renamer box.  I just didn't get how changing that number applied to what I was trying to do.  I didn't realize there was a global sequence number instruction I could add to list of processing instructions.  Thank you for the screenshot, that really helped.

Again, I just need a bit more time to really sit down and read the Help section about renamer.   THANK YOU AGAIN.