Batch Rename IPTC Caption-Abstract data to an image's filename

[gatorphotography]

Hi Phil and everyone else,

Hope someone can help me with this.  Been reading the forums and messing around with ExifTool for the past few hours and can not figure it out.  I am currently using Photo Mechanic to imbed all the IPTC information and do the caption work for hundreds of photos for sporting events.  But the magazine wants basically the caption as a unique filename. 

I've been trying to use:  exiftool '-filename<caption-Abstract' image_file.ext and dragging in the folder containing the photos but either get invalid photo location.  Wondering if it could be due to special characters perhaps in the captions?  Any help would be GREATLY appreciated as it might actually give me a personal life back instead of spending overs renaming filenames individually lol.

[StarGeek]

If there are characters such as line feeds in the caption you've typed, then those need to be taken out.  Try this command
Exiftool '-filename<caption-Abstract;' DIR/FILE
The semicolon at the end of the tag part strips out characters that aren't filesystem safe.  And if you're on windows, switch to double quotes.