Templates for Reusable File Renaming Workflows

Templates save a complete renaming setup so you do not have to rebuild the same workflow every time. A Template can control the filename structure, AI instructions, language, date format, Finder tags, Spotlight metadata, and the settings used by monitored folders.

Use Templates when the same kind of files arrive again and again: screenshots, receipts, client deliverables, design exports, photos, videos, audio files, meeting notes, legal documents, or a Downloads folder that needs regular cleanup.

Watch the Templates workflow: open Smart Rename, adjust Naming Blocks, then use the setup for a batch rename.

Open Templates

Open Templates in the sidebar. Zush shows Smart Rename first, followed by reusable workflow templates such as Screenshots, Designer Assets, Bookkeeper Expenses, Photographer Shoots, Video Production, Music Tracks, and Client Meeting Notes.

Templates live in their own section and can be reused from AI Rename and Monitor.

Smart Rename is the default Template

Smart Rename is the default setup for AI Rename. If you do not choose another Template, Zush uses Smart Rename.

Open Smart Rename when you want to change the default behavior for general file cleanup. This is useful if you always want a certain date format, title style, separator, metadata setting, or custom rename prompt.

Smart Rename controls the default Naming Blocks, localization, metadata, and AI prompt settings.

What a Template can save

Setting	What it controls
Naming Blocks	The filename pattern, such as date, title, client, document type, or original name
Block formatting	Case style, word separators, block order, and separators between blocks
Localization	Language and date format used in generated names
Custom prompts	The instructions Zush uses when generating AI parts of a filename
Smart Metadata	Finder tags and Spotlight metadata added to renamed files
Monitoring options	File type behavior and rules used by monitored folders
AI mode	The AI provider or local/cloud setup used for the workflow

Create or edit a Template

1. Open Templates from the sidebar.
2. Click + to create a new Template, or open an existing Template to change it.
3. Give the Template a clear name, icon, and description so it is easy to pick later.
4. Build the filename pattern with Naming Blocks.
5. Set language, date format, metadata, and any custom prompt rules the workflow needs.
6. Save the Template.
7. Test it on a small batch before using it on a large folder or a monitored folder.

A Template preview shows how the selected blocks will look before you use the Template on real files.

Tip

Editing a Template changes future renames that use that Template. It does not rename files that were already processed.

Apply a Template to batch rename

Use this when you have files ready now and want to review the suggested names before applying them.

AI Rename is the manual workflow: choose a Template, add files, review the generated names, then apply the batch.

1. Open AI Rename.
2. Click the Template button in the top-right corner.
3. Choose Smart Rename or one of your saved Templates.
4. Add files or folders by drag and drop, or click Select files….
5. Review the generated names.
6. Edit any individual filename that needs a correction.
7. Apply the batch when the preview is ready.

The Template picker lets one-off batch renames use the same saved workflows as Templates.

Assign a Template to folder monitoring

Use this when new files keep arriving in the same folder and should follow the same naming convention automatically.

1. Open Monitor.
2. Add the folder you want Zush to watch, or select an existing monitored folder.
3. Click the Template button next to that folder.
4. Choose the Template that matches the folder.
5. Set monitor options such as subfolders, filename filters, and included file types.
6. Turn monitoring on when the setup is ready.

Each monitored folder can use its own Template, so different folders can follow different naming rules.

Choose the right Template

Workflow	Good Template pattern
Screenshots	Created date + AI title
Designer assets	Client or brand + project + asset type + platform + variant
Receipts and invoices	Date + vendor + amount + document type
Photo imports	Capture date + client or event + place + subject
Video production	Date + client or project + scene + resolution
Music or audio	Artist + track title + release year + version
Client meeting notes	Meeting date + client + topic + project

Keep the Template name specific. Screenshots is better than Work files because it tells you exactly when to use it.

Best practices

Start with Smart Rename for general cleanup. Create a separate Template only when a folder needs a different structure or different AI instructions.

Keep filenames readable. Three to five Naming Blocks are usually enough. Add more blocks only when they make files easier to sort, scan, or search.

For automated folders, test the Template with a manual batch first. Once the names look right, assign the same Template to folder monitoring.

Related docs

• Naming Blocks
• Batch rename files
• Folder monitoring
• Custom prompts