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Naming Blocks for Consistent Filenames

Naming Blocks are reusable fields that make a filename predictable. Instead of asking AI to invent the whole name every time, you build a pattern from blocks such as Created Date, Title, Original Name, Client, Vendor, Amount, Scene, or Document Type.

Use Naming Blocks inside Templates when you want every file in a workflow to follow the same structure.

How Naming Blocks work

Section titled “How Naming Blocks work”

Each block becomes one part of the filename. Some blocks come from the file itself, some come from dates or counters, and some are generated by AI from the file content.

For example, this pattern:

{Created Date}-{Client}-{Document Type}-{Title}

Can produce names like:

2026-06-28-acme-contract-renewal-summary.pdf
2026-06-28-acme-dashboard-payment-error.png

The structure stays consistent, while the AI-generated parts still describe what is inside each file.

Build a filename pattern

Section titled “Build a filename pattern”
  1. Open Templates.
  2. Open Smart Rename to edit the default setup, or open another Template for a specific workflow.
  3. Find the Naming Blocks section.
  4. Click + to open the block picker.
  5. Search for a block or expand a category such as Core, File, Media, Audio, Photo, or Documents.
  6. Add the blocks you need.
  7. Drag blocks to reorder them.
  8. Click a block or separator chip to adjust formatting.
  9. Check the preview filename below the pattern.
The Naming Blocks picker showing searchable block categories and core blocks such as Title, Original Name, Rename Date, Rename Time, Year, and Month.
The block picker groups reusable fields by category so you can build a pattern without writing a prompt from scratch.

Format blocks and separators

Section titled “Format blocks and separators”

Click a block chip to change how that part of the name is formatted. For text blocks, you can choose case style and word separator options. Use this to keep names consistent across a folder.

Common choices include:

  • Title Case for readable names such as Client Meeting Notes
  • lower case for compact names such as client-meeting-notes
  • UPPER CASE when a workflow uses short codes or strict labels
  • Underscore, Hyphen, Dot, or Space separators
A Naming Block formatting menu showing case style and word separator options.
Formatting options let one AI title become different filename styles depending on the Template.

Use the preview before saving

Section titled “Use the preview before saving”

The preview under the block row shows a sample filename. Use it to catch problems before you run a batch:

  • missing date or context
  • too many repeated words
  • separators that make the name hard to scan
  • a pattern that is too long for daily use
  • a block order that does not sort well in Finder or File Explorer
A Template naming pattern with Created Date and Title blocks and a preview filename.
The preview makes it clear how blocks, separators, and case settings will combine.

Common block categories

Section titled “Common block categories”
CategoryGood forExample blocks
CoreGeneral names that work for most filesTitle, Original Name, Rename Date, Rename Time, Year, Month
FilePreserving source detailsExtension, counter, parent folder, original filename
DatesSorting files chronologicallyCreated Date, Modified Date, Detected Date, custom date format
AI contextContent-aware namesTopic, object, scene, category, summary, document type
DocumentsReceipts, invoices, contracts, reportsVendor, amount, invoice number, contract name, report title, client
MediaImages, videos, subtitles, and transcriptsTitle, frame context, resolution, subtitles, transcript, audio metadata
ProjectsClient and production workflowsClient, campaign, location, department, project, status
Section titled “Recommended patterns”
WorkflowPattern to start with
General Smart Rename{Title}
Screenshots{Created Date}-{Title}
Receipts{Created Date}-{Vendor}-{Amount}
Client deliverables{Client}-{Project}-{Document Type}-{Title}
Photos{Created Date}-{Event}-{Location}-{Title}
Videos{Project}-{Scene}-{Title}-{Resolution}
Audio or podcasts{Artist}-{Title}-{Version}

Start with a simple pattern. Add more blocks only when the extra information helps you sort, search, or understand the file later.

Use Naming Blocks with Smart Rename

Section titled “Use Naming Blocks with Smart Rename”

Smart Rename is the default Template. Editing its Naming Blocks changes what Zush uses when no other Template is selected.

The Smart Rename Template showing its Naming Blocks and related settings.
Smart Rename is the right place to set the default naming pattern for everyday batch renames.

Use Naming Blocks with batch rename and monitoring

Section titled “Use Naming Blocks with batch rename and monitoring”

Once a Template has the right Naming Blocks, you can use it in two places:

  • AI Rename for a one-time batch where you review names before applying them.
  • Monitor for a folder that should automatically use the same naming pattern for new files.
The AI Rename Template picker used before a batch rename.
Batch rename lets you choose a Template before adding files.
The Monitor Template picker used to assign a Template to a watched folder.
Folder monitoring can use a different Naming Block pattern for each watched folder.

Keep patterns readable

Section titled “Keep patterns readable”

Use enough structure to make files sortable, but not so much that names become hard to scan. For most folders, three to five blocks are enough.

Put date blocks near the beginning when chronological sorting matters. Put AI-generated title or topic blocks near the end when searchability matters. Avoid adding both Original Name and Title unless you need to preserve the old name.

Section titled “Related docs”