Batch Conversion

File Viewer Plus includes an advanced batch conversion interface that allows you to convert many files at once. To open the converter, choose Convert Files from the start screen or File → Convert Files... from the application menu.

See the screenshot below to view the flow (numbers on the left) for choosing options and starting a conversion:

When you click Convert, a conversion window pops up and begins the conversion. When conversion is complete, you can go to the target folder to view your files.

Batch Conversion Options

There is an extensive list of options for conversion, and their definitions are provided below.

1. Select the type of files to convert

The first step is to select the type of files that you want to use for input. The option you choose changes the conversion options on the form.

• Advanced Filter: This button opens the advanced filter. You can check or uncheck file types from the list so that only files that match specific file extensions are included for conversion. For example, if you uncheck all types except ".bmp - Bitmap Image File," then only *.bmp files are converted. You can also check the option "Match files by file signature in addition to file extension," which recognizes files by binary signature rather than by file extension only. This can increase the accuracy when locating matching files, but it causes the batch conversion to take longer because of the additional processing required to identify all files by their file signature.

2. Select your conversion options

This part of the form specifies how you want your input files to be converted to output files. The options differ based on which type of files you choose to convert. Use the tooltips on the form for specific information about the options.

3. Add files and folders to convert

You can include both folders and files in the list of items to convert. You can either drag and drop files and folders from Windows Explorer or click the Add Files... or Add Folders... buttons to populate the list. All folders in the list are searched for matching files. See the "Include subfolders" option for details on subfolder searching.

• Include subfolders: When checked, the batch converter looks recursively through subfolders when finding files to convert. For example, if c:\files is in the list of folders to convert, then files within c:\files\subfolder1 and c:\files\subfolder2 will also be converted. If unchecked, files within c:\files\subfolder1 and c:\files\subfolder2 are not converted. If no folders are included in the list of files and folders to convert, then this option has no effect.
• Preserve directory structure: If checked, the directory structure of folders and subfolders will be preserved in the output directory. If unchecked, all converted files are saved immediately within the output directory. This option is only available if you choose to include subfolders.

4. Select your output directory

• Output directory: Specifies the target path location where the converted files are saved.
• Overwrite existing files: If checked, any preexisting file in the output directory that has the same filename as a converted output file will be overwritten. For example, if the file image.png is converted to image.jpg (PNG to JPEG conversion) and image.jpg already exists in your output directory, it will be overwritten. If this option is unchecked or if you use an empty directory as the output directory, then no files are ever overwritten.
• Rename files: If checked, the batch converter renames the output files according to the options selected in the Settings... window. If unchecked, the batch converter creates output files with the same filenames as the input filenames.

When you check "Rename files" and click the Settings... button, you are presented with a renaming options window. There are two different ways output files can be renamed from their corresponding input files, either by using a filename counter or by applying add/replace options.

• Base Filename: Every output filename will begin with this prefix.
• Counter Start Value: The starting number that is appended to the base filename. The number increments for each successive output file.
• Counter Leading 0s: The number of 0s that are added before the counter start value. Using this option helps output files to be sorted by name in Windows Explorer. For example, img01.jpg is sorted before img10.jpg.
• Add Prefix: Every output filename will begin with this prefix. If blank, no prefix is used.
• Add Suffix: Every output filename will end with this suffix. For example, for suffix=end and input filename myfile.jpg, the output filename is myfileend.jpg.
• Replace/With: Specifies a string in the input filename to be replaced in the output filename. For example, if replace=file and with=image for the input file myfile1.jpg, the output filename is myimage1.jpg.

Saving and Loading Batch Presets (.fvp Files)

You can save your batch conversion options as presets by choosing Save Presets in the Home ribbon, and you can load them by choosing Load Presets in the Home ribbon. Presets are saved with the .fvp file extension ("File Viewer Plus") and contain the options you selected for the entire form, including options in the file renaming window. You can save any number of presets to reuse them at a later time.