How to Use the Command 'convmv' (with examples)

The convmv command is a versatile tool used primarily in Linux systems for converting the encoding of filenames rather than the content of the files themselves. This is incredibly useful when dealing with files whose names are in a character encoding that appears incorrectly in your current system locale, or when migrating files between systems with different encoding standards. convmv enables users to ensure that their file names display correctly, which is particularly important in multilingual environments or older systems.

Use Case 1: Test Filename Encoding Conversion (Don’t Actually Change the Filename)

Code:

convmv -f from_encoding -t to_encoding input_file

Motivation:

The primary motivation to use this test command is to verify whether a filename conversion between different encodings will work as expected without making any actual changes to the files. This is particularly useful if you’re unsure about the correctness of the encodings specified or if you want to prevent any potential loss of data due to incorrect conversions. By running this test command, you can safely identify how the filenames will be translated from one encoding to another.

Explanation:

• convmv: This is the command used to start the conversion process for filenames.
• -f from_encoding: This argument specifies the original encoding of the filename. It tells convmv what character set the filenames are currently in, such as UTF-8, ISO-8859-1, or others.
• -t to_encoding: This argument indicates the target encoding to which you want to convert the filename. This tells convmv into which character set the filename should be translated.
• input_file: The name of the file whose filename you want to test for encoding conversion. This is the filename that will be converted as per the specified encodings.

Example Output:

convmv: checking the possibilities of conversion from from_encoding to to_encoding...
No actual conversion done. Use --notest to really convert.

This output indicates that the conversion is feasible as per the encodings provided and suggests using the --notest option for an actual conversion.

Use Case 2: Convert Filename Encoding and Rename the File to the New Encoding

Code:

convmv -f from_encoding -t to_encoding --notest input_file

Motivation:

This use case comes into play when you are sure about the conversion details and are ready to make the changes permanently. It allows you to seamlessly change the encoding of your filenames and rename them according to the new specified encoding. This is particularly useful when migrating files between systems with incompatible default encodings, ensuring that filenames remain readable and accessible, regardless of the platform.

Explanation:

• convmv: Initiates the filename conversion process.
• -f from_encoding: Specifies the current encoding of the filename. This helps convmv understand the character set in which the filename is encoded before conversion.
• -t to_encoding: Designates the encoding you wish to convert the filename to, thereby guiding convmv in translating the filename into the desired character set.
• --notest: This crucial option executes the conversion command and applies changes, effectively renaming the file with the new encoding. Without this option, the command would only test the conversion possibilities without making any actual changes.
• input_file: Specifies the target file whose filename encoding you intend to convert.

Example Output:

convmv: renaming input_file -> input_file_newname
Ready! Converted 1 file.

This output confirms that convmv has successfully renamed and converted 1 file as per the specified encodings.

Conclusion

The convmv command is a powerful utility for managing filename encodings, ensuring that file names are interpreted correctly across different systems and locales. By utilizing both test and actual conversion commands, users can manage file name encodings with confidence, allowing for compatibility and accessibility regardless of the operating environment.