g.rename - GRASS GIS manual
Author: GRASS Development Team
Description: g.rename: Renames data base element files in the user's current mapset.
Keywords: general, map management, rename

## NAME

g.rename - Renames data base element files in the user's current mapset.

## KEYWORDS

general, map management, rename

## SYNOPSIS

g.rename
g.rename --help
g.rename [raster=from,to] [raster_3d=from,to] [vector=from,to] [label=from,to] [region=from,to] [group=from,to] [--overwrite] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]

### Flags:

--overwrite
  Allow output files to overwrite existing files
--help
  Print usage summary
--verbose
  Verbose module output
--quiet
  Quiet module output
--ui
  Force launching GUI dialog

### Parameters:

raster=from,to
  raster map(s) to be renamed
raster_3d=from,to
  3D raster map(s) to be renamed
vector=from,to
  vector map(s) to be renamed
label=from,to
  paint label file(s) to be renamed
region=from,to
  region definition(s) to be renamed
group=from,to
  imagery group(s) to be renamed

## DESCRIPTION

g.rename allows the user to rename data base element files in the user's current mapset. The user can specify all necessary information to g.rename on the command line, by specifying: the type of data base element to be renamed (one or more of: raster, raster_3d, vector, icon, labels, region, and group); the specific file element in the current mapset to be renamed (old); and the new name to be assigned to this file element (new) in the current mapset. The file element old is then renamed to new.

Users can also simply type g.rename --help without arguments on the command line, to receive a menu of existing data base element types and files from which to choose for possible renaming:

           raster   raster map(s) to be renamed
        raster_3d   3D raster map(s) to be renamed
           vector   vector map(s) to be renamed
           labels   paint label file(s) to be renamed
           region   region definition(s) to be renamed
            group   imagery group(s) to be renamed

## NOTES

If a data base element has support files (e.g., as is commonly the case with raster maps), these support files also are renamed.

If the user attempts to rename a file to itself by setting the new file name equal to the old file name (e.g., g.rename raster=soils,soils), g.rename will not execute the rename, but instead state that no rename is needed. However, g.rename will allow the user to overwrite other existing files in the current mapset by making the new file name that of an already existing file.

For portability reasons, g.rename is ignoring case of names. To change the case of a map name, first rename the map to a name which differs by more than case, then rename it to the intended name.

## EXAMPLE

    # rename raster map
    g.rename raster=oldrast,newrast

    # rename vector map
    g.rename vector=oldvect,newvect

    # combined renaming
    g.rename raster=oldrast,newrast vector=oldvect,newvect

## SEE ALSO

g.copy, g.list, g.remove

## AUTHOR

Michael Shapiro, U.S.Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory

## SOURCE CODE

Available at: g.rename source code (history)

Accessed: Tuesday Jun 16 04:04:26 2026

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© 2003-2023 GRASS Development Team, GRASS GIS 7.8.8 Reference Manual