File Renaming on Save and Extract

BetterZip 6 can apply a renaming transformation as files enter or leave an archive. Pick the mode in a save or extract preset and every file the preset handles gets the same treatment.

Available modes

The Rename items popup in a preset offers five choices:

  • None: the default. Filenames pass through unchanged.
  • Sanitize filenames for Windows: replaces any of < > " : / \ | * ? with an underscore so the archive (or the extracted files) won’t trip Windows file systems.
  • Replace space with _: my holiday photos.jpg becomes my_holiday_photos.jpg. Helpful for shell scripts, web servers, or any tool that’s awkward around spaces.
  • Replace _ with space: the inverse. my_holiday_photos.jpg becomes my holiday photos.jpg.
  • Replace _ and . with space: same as above but also converts dots in the stem to spaces. The file extension is preserved, so my.vacation.2026.jpg becomes my vacation 2026.jpg.

Where to configure

Choose the desired transformation in Settings > Presets. Both Save Presets and Extract Presets have a Rename items drop-down, so you can sanitize on the way into an archive or out.

Conflict handling

Renaming can produce duplicates: photo_1.jpg and photo 1.jpg collapse to the same name under “Replace _ with space”. When that happens during extract, the Conflict Resolution window steps in.