---
title: "File Naming Rules"
slug: "filenamingrules"
tags: ["file naming rule settings", "File naming rules", "inheritance", "Naming Rule Parts"]
updated: 2025-06-26T08:32:02Z
published: 2025-06-26T08:32:02Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.12dsynergy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# File Naming Rules

Admin Content

File Naming rules provide the option to control how files should be named when they are created in or added to the system. These rules are based on the type of file (its extension) and its location.

They can be applied at the following levels:

- **System** level – to apply to all the files in all the jobs in the system for which the file naming rule has been created
- **Job** level – to apply to all the files in the job for which the file naming rule has been created
- **Sub-job** level – to apply to all the files in the sub-job for which the file naming rule has been created
- **Folder** level – to apply to all the files in the folder for which the file naming rule has been created

They can also be inherited from the levels above.

### 1.1. File Naming Rules Inheritance

File Naming rules can be inherited from the level above in the tree structure. Inheritance can happen at the following levels:

- A sub-folder can inherit file naming rules from its parent folder
- A folder can inherit file naming rules from its parent job
- A folder can inherit file naming rules from its parent folder
- A sub-job can inherit file naming rules from its parent job

To inherit these rules from one level above, select the **Inherit file naming rules from above**check box either while editing or creating [a job/sub-job](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/job-operations#11-how-to-create-a-job)/[folder/sub-folder](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/v5foldersoperations#11-how-to-create-folders). If this check box is selected for top-level job, then it has no affect, as there is no structure above to inherit from.

### 1.2. How to Create a File Naming Rule

#### 1.2.1. From the 12d Synergy Administration Application

When a file naming rule is created in the **12d Synergy Administration** application, the rule applies to all the files created in your system.

1. In the **12d Synergy Administration**application, select the **System Rules**tab **> File Naming Rules**tab. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-qla6lyxk.jpg)
2. [Create the file naming rule.](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/v5filenamingrules#123-creating-a-file-naming-rule)

#### 1.2.2. From the 12d Synergy Client Application

When a file naming rule is created while editing a job or a folder, then the rule applies to all the files in the jobs or folders respectively. If this rule is not created, and if there is a system-level file naming rule created in the **12d Synergy Administration**application or a rule is created and inherited from a parent level, then the latter is applied to all the files being created.

1. Right-click the job or folder for which you want to create the file naming rule, and select the **Edit**option. The **Edit a Job: <*Job Name*>**window or **Edit a Folder: <*Folder Name*>**window is displayed accordingly.
2. Select the **Rules**tab **> Naming Rules**tab. If you are editing a job, the following window is displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-oty0z9ey.jpg) If you are editing a folder, the following window is displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-wbvoowpx.jpg)
3. [Create the file naming rule.](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/v5filenamingrules#123-creating-a-file-naming-rule)

#### 1.2.3. Creating a File Naming Rule

If you have created a naming rule using the **12d Synergy Administration** application, you can view, edit or delete it only from there. Similarly, if you create one for a specific folder in the **12d Synergy Client** application, it can only be viewed, edited or deleted while editing that specific folder only in the **12d Synergy Client** application.

1. Click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-n759y5dl.png) icon button. The **Edit a File Naming Rule Set**window is displayed. You can create or edit an existing file naming rule from this window. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-foqdr9e2.jpg)
2. Enter a name for the file naming rule set in the **Set name:** box.
3. In the **Extensions**tab, click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-qaylmavl.png) icon button to add the file extension types to which this file naming rule set is applicable. A ***New Extension*** placeholder box is displayed in the **Extensions** tab. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-1o5noutp.jpg)
4. Enter the extension of the files for which this rule has to apply in the ***New Extension*** placeholder box. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-4pjmt6ne.jpg)

  - For files that may have multiple extensions like Microsoft Word, ensure to enter both **.doc** and **.docx** as entries in the **Extensions** tab.
  - If you wish to ignore specific file types, simply prefix the extension with a **!**(exclamation mark). For instance, if you enter **!MSG**, then the rule will apply to all files other than .MSG files.
5. Select the **Rules** tab to define the file naming rule.
6. Click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-s7qeuve6.png) button. The **File Naming Rule Builder**prompt is displayed.
7. Click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-rzszgfjv.png) button. The **Add File Naming Rule Part**prompt is displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-pawusogs.jpg)
8. From the **Type**list, select the required type of component that you want to include in the file name.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/cda.jpg)
9. If the component selected in step 8 of this procedure has a sub-type, then those sub-types are displayed in the list below the **Type**list. Select the required sub-type component that you want to include in the file name. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-bivmm9lv.jpg)

Refer to the [Naming Rule Parts](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/v5filenamingrules#15-naming-rule-parts) section below for more details about the naming rule components.
10. Based on your selections in steps 8 and 9 of this procedure, one of the following happens in the **Value**box.
  - The value (syntax) of the naming rule part is calculated and displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-18hwxpgc.jpg)
  - If user input is required for the type and/or sub-type that you have selected, then enter the required value in the **Value**box. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-orszi4by.jpg)
11. Click the **Add**button. The naming rule part is displayed in the **Naming Rule Builder** prompt. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-cmd1dpvc.jpg)
12. Repeat steps 7 to 11 to add more components to the naming rule to complete it as per your requirement and then click the **Set**button. The created rule is displayed in the **Edit a File Naming Rule Set** window. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-j1xgty06.jpg)
13. Click the **Set**button. Based on the application that you are using for creating the file naming rule, the created rule is displayed in the following location.
  - In the **12d Synergy Administration application > System Rules tab > File Naming Rules tab**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-c076hy5k.jpg)
  - In the**12d Synergy Client**application, right-click a job or folder and select the **Edit**option. The **Edit a Job: <*Job Name*>**or **Edit a folder<Folder Name>**window (shown below) is displayed accordingly. Select the **Rules tab > Naming Rules tab**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-ortwuhty.jpg) ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-geytrcox.jpg)
14. Click the **Save**button. The file naming rule is set.

### 1.3. How Naming Rules Work

File naming rules are processed in the following instances:

- When you move/add a file to a folder or a job that has the naming rules defined for its files
- When creating a new file in a folder or a job that has the naming rules defined for its files
- When renaming the files in a folder or a job that has the naming rules defined for its files

Note that the naming rules apply only to the file extensions for which the rules have been defined.

When you do any of the above-listed actions with a file of the type for which the naming rule has been defined, the following prompt is displayed.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-w7h6xv33.jpg)

If there are multiple rules created for the same file type and the [Prompt for multiple file naming rules](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/v5filenamingrules#14-file-naming-rule-settings) setting is set to **Yes**, then the rules are displayed as options in the **Rule to apply:**list. You can select which rule to apply and click the **Set**button to name the file accordingly.

If you have configured [data flows](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/data-flows) on the folder which has the naming rules set, and the [Combined Filename and Attribute Editor](/v1/docs/combined-file-name-and-attribute-editor) feature is enabled for your project, then the Combined File name and Attribute Editor is displayed when you perform any of the above listed file operations.

### 1.4. File Naming Rule Settings

There are some system settings in the **12d Synergy Administration**application **> System Settings** tab which are related to file naming rules. These settings are detailed below:

| **System Setting** | **Default Value** | **Description** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enforce naming rules for linked files | On | This setting decides whether or not to apply file naming rules to [linked files](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/v5fileoperations#12-how-to-create-a-linked-file). |
| Free text prompt behaviour | Prompt except for CAD Publishing | This setting decides whether or not to prompt for a value for the text component of the rule. The initial value of the free text component is always the file name, regardless of this setting. |
| Naming rule value priority | File name | This setting determines whether to give precedence to file name or attribute value when processing the file naming rules. |
| Prompt for multiple file naming rules | No | This setting determines whether or not to prompt the user with an option to select from multiple file naming rules when processing file naming rules. This setting applies only when multiple file naming rules are created for the same type of files. |
| Skip naming rule checks for managed folders | No | This setting determines whether or not to ignore naming rules for managed folders. |

### 1.5. Naming Rule Parts

The File Naming Rule is made up of the following components:

- Type of component
- Sub-type of the selected type of component
- Value of the component based on the Type and sub-type selected

![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-aqwmllf1.jpg)

The following table displays the characters or symbols that cannot be used in file names.

| ? question mark | / forward slash | < left angle bracket |
| --- | --- | --- |
| " double quotes | : colon | > right angle bracket |
| \| pipe | \ back slash | * asterisk |

An [attribute value](https://support.12dsynergy.com/knowledge/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=37717059#V5%E2%AC%9DAttributes-AttributeType) can have special characters, but when it is included in a file naming rule, only ., -, _ and <space> are permitted.

| **Type of Component** | **Sub-type of the Component, if applicable** | Value of the component | **Description** | **Syntax** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Attribute** | **NA** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | In the **Find an Attribute**window, select the required attribute from the displayed list of attributes in the system. The value of this attribute is added to the file name. | [AttributeName] |
| **Job Variable** | **Parent job name** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | The name of the parent job is included in the file name. | [Job.Name] |
| **Parent job attribute** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | Select a job attribute from the list of job attributes displayed in the **Select an Attribute** window. The value of this job attribute is added to the file name. | [Job.Attribute Name] |
| **Parent job counter** | Enter a name for the counter. | If you want to add an attribute value to the file name, then click the **Select**button and choose the required attribute from the **Find an Attribute**window. You can also enter the number of digits in the counter, in the **Zero Padding (Total number of digits):**box. To understand zero padding, please read the note below this table. | [Job.Counter:Zero Padding.Counter Name] |
| **User Variable** | **Creating user name** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | The name of the user creating the file is included in the file name. | [User.Name] |
| **Creating user initials** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | The initials of the user creating the file is included in the file name. | [User.Initials] |
| **Creating user attribute** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | You can select a contact attribute from the list of attributes displayed in the **Select an Attribute**window. The value of this contact attribute is added to the file name. | [User.Attribute Name] |
| **Creating user counter** | Enter a name for the counter. | If you want to add an attribute value to the file name, then click the **Select**button and choose the required attribute from the **Find an Attribute**window. You can also enter the number of digits in the counter, in the **Zero Padding (Total number of digits):**box. To understand zero padding, please read the note below this table. | [User.Counter:Zero Padding.{AttributeName}.Counter Name] |
| **Folder Variable** | **Parent folder name** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | The name of the parent folder is included in the file name. | [Folder.Name] |
| **Parent folder attribute** | The value of the component is displayed based on the selected Type and/or Sub-type of the component. | Select a folder attribute from the list of folder attributes displayed in the **Select an Attribute** window. The value of this folder attribute is added to the file name. | [Folder.Attribute Name] |
| **Parent folder counter** | Enter a name for the counter. | If you want to add an attribute value to the file name, then click the **Select**button and choose the required attribute from the **Find an Attribute**window. You can also enter the number of digits in the counter, in the **Zero Padding (Total number of digits):** box. To understand zero padding, please read the note below this table. | [Folder.Counter:Zero Padding.{AttributeName}.Counter Name] |
| **Named Value** | **NA** | Enter any name of your choice. The name can include alphabets, special characters, and numbers. | The value you enter in the **Value** box is a name for a masked value. You can also choose to define the format of named value by using the **Mask**. To do so, click the ellipsis ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-31ekog6v.png)button and then double-click the required components of the mask from the **Build Naming Rule Mask**window. Then click the **Add**button to add the selected format to the **Mask**box. When a file is created, you are prompted to enter the values for the mask and that value is included in the file name. > [!NOTE] > After you select a named value type of attribute, if you select the**Default to current file name** check box that is displayed, then the file name is displayed by default in the named value type of attribute column. | (Named Value {Mask}) |
| **Fixed String** | **NA** | Enter the string of characters that you want to have in every file name. | The entered fixed string of characters become a part of the job/sub-job name when a job/sub-job is created. It can include alphabets, numbers and delimiters such as _ , . , - and <*space*>. | Text |
| **Free text** | **NA** | NA | You can add a name of your choice to the job/sub-job name when creating the job/sub-job. It can include alphabets, numbers and delimiters such as _ , . , - and <*space*>. | * |
| **File name** | **NA** | NA | When you want to rename the file utilising its existing file name as one of the naming rule parts, then you can select this component | {File Name} |
| **Timestamp** | **NA** | The time stamp format that you create to add to the file name. | To create the required timestamp, click the ellipsis ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5filenamingrules.doc-image-qzo316hd.png)button and then double-click the required components of the timestamp from the **Build Naming Rule Time Stamp** window. Then click the **Add**button to add the selected format to the **Value**box. | [Timestamp.Timestamp format string] |
| **Counter** | **NA** | Enter a name for the counter. - If you do not enter a name for a counter, the counter can be used across all your projects, making it a global counter. - When you create a named counter, you can use it in different instances within a job, in multiple jobs, or in a folder. | You can enter the number of digits in the counter, in the **Zero Padding (Total number of digits):**box. To understand zero padding, please read the note below this table. | [Counter:Zero Padding.Counter Name] |

- To understand zero padding, say if you enter **4** in the **Zero Padding (Total number of digits):**box, then it means that the counter's value is prefixed by zeroes to make it a 4-digit number like ***0001***.
- Attribute types such as list, date/time, text, user, company, contact, etc. need you to enter a value for it at run time. So if you select such an attribute for the file naming rule, then you will be prompted to enter its value when you are creating a file.