# \[file\_column\] change file names before upload?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-change-file-names-before-upload/108365>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [July 2, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-change-file-names-before-upload/108365 "2007-07-02T20:38:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jnicholson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@jnicholson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jnicholson)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-change-file-names-before-upload/108365/1 "2007-07-02T20:38:23Z")

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Hi guys,

I’m using file\_upload to manage image uploads on a site. Is there a way  
I can generate new names for the uploads before they’re thumbnailed etc?

I just want the file names to be lilke an md5 of the current time or  
something along those lines.

Any help would be great.

Cheers.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jnicholson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@jnicholson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jnicholson)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-change-file-names-before-upload/108365/2 "2007-07-03T00:17:27Z")

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Hi Jim,

2007/7/2, Jim N. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid):

> I’m using file\_upload to manage image uploads on a site. Is there a way  
> I can generate new names for the uploads before they’re thumbnailed etc?

Why not try [http://agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/uploadcolumn](http://agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/uploadcolumn)  
instead? I’m sure you can do it with this, it’s very nice, works like  
a charme!

Beate