---
title: Advanced Options in the File Renaming on Upload Plugin
description: Generate WordPress image ALT text and media titles automatically, and pull in custom fields and taxonomies when renaming.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/advanced-renaming-options/"
updated: "2026-09-25"
category: How to
tags:
  - File Renaming on Upload
---

# Advanced Options in the File Renaming on Upload Plugin

## Advanced options in Rename Media Files

[Rename Media Files: Improve Your WordPress SEO](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/) goes beyond renaming the file itself. Its advanced options let you generate ALT text and media titles automatically, pull in custom field and taxonomy data, schedule updates, and limit renaming to specific user roles and post types. These options are part of Pro and live on the General Settings tab.

![Advanced ALT text and media title options in the Rename Media Files plugin](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-112-1024x472.png)

### Where the settings live

Go to **WPFactory > File Renaming** in your WordPress admin. The settings page is titled **File Renaming on Upload**. The options below are on the **General Settings** tab.

### ALT attribute

The `change_image_alt_method` radio controls how the image ALT attribute is set. The default is `default_mechanism`, which leaves the ALT text as entered on upload. Other choices generate ALT text from the original filename or from your defined filename structure. Two sub-options refine the behavior: `update_on_filename_update` (off by default) updates the ALT text when a filename changes, and `update_on_new_attachment` (on by default) applies the chosen method to newly uploaded files. `alt_separator_whitespaces` replaces the separator character with a space for a more natural reading.

### Media title

The `change_media_title_method` radio works the same way for the media title. The default is `default_mechanism`. Sub-options include `update_media_title_on_filename_update` (off by default), `update_media_title_on_new_attachment` (on by default), `title_separator_whitespaces`, and `get_natural_string`.

### Custom field and taxonomy rules

`custom_field_rule` enables `{cf:fieldname}` tokens so you can pull a custom field value into filenames, ALT text, and titles, for example `{cf:_myfield}`. `taxonomy_rule` enables `{tax:taxonomy-slug}` tokens to bring in a post term from a chosen taxonomy, for example `{tax:category}`.

### Jpeg To JPG

`jpeg_to_jpg` converts an uploaded `jpeg` extension to the more common `jpg`. It is off by default.

### Schedule Filename Update

`schedule_filename_update` sets an interval, in hours, for a background process that finds and corrects filenames that do not match your current rules. Pair it with `filter_by_last_x_hours` to limit the scan to recently modified media.

### Allowed user roles and post types

`restrict_user_role` limits renaming to uploads made by the selected user roles, and `restrict_post_type` limits renaming to the selected post types. Leave either blank to apply renaming to all roles or all post types.

### Options reference

| Setting | Option ID | Type | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alt attribute (method) | `change_image_alt_method` | Radio | `default_mechanism` | Pro |
| Media title (method) | `change_media_title_method` | Radio | `default_mechanism` | Pro |
| Custom field rule | `custom_field_rule` | Checkbox | On | Pro |
| Taxonomy rule | `taxonomy_rule` | Checkbox | On | Pro |
| Jpeg To JPG | `jpeg_to_jpg` | Checkbox | Off | Pro |
| Schedule Filename Update | `schedule_filename_update` | Number (hours) | Blank | Pro |
| Allowed user roles | `restrict_user_role` | Multiselect | Blank (all) | Pro |
| Allowed post types | `restrict_post_type` | Multiselect | Blank (all) | Pro |

### Ready to set this up?

These are Pro features of [Rename Media Files](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/). If you are still on the free version, upgrading unlocks them along with the rest of the Pro toolkit. [Get Rename Media Files Pro](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/).

Related articles

- [Monitoring Background Processes in File Renaming on Upload Plugin](https://wpfactory.com/docs/background-process-monitoring/)
- [Advanced Options for File Renaming in WordPress](https://wpfactory.com/docs/advanced-file-renaming/)
- [Configuring the File Renaming on Upload Plugin](https://wpfactory.com/docs/file-renaming-plugin/)
- [Rename Media Files on Upload: Advanced Troubleshooting](https://wpfactory.com/docs/troubleshooting-rename/)
- [File Renaming on Upload Pro: Troubleshooting Tips](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-troubleshooting-tips/)

 

[![Rename Media Files on Upload for WordPress](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/File-Renaming-on-Upload.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/)