mapper: Gate the file renaming behaviour behind rename=True

datafiles/mapper.py

@@ -266,16 +266,20 @@ def save(self, *, include_default_values: Trilean = None, _log=True) -> None:
             self._root.save(include_default_values=include_default_values, _log=_log)
             return
 
-        # Determine whether the attributes that are involved in the path were changed
+        # Determine whether the expected filepath of the file has changed (which
+        # happens as a result of modifying attributes that compose the filename).
+        # Note that this behaviour is gated behind rename=True flag.
         file_rename_required = False
         original_path = self.path
-        with hooks.disabled():  # hooks have to be disabled to prevent infinite loop
-            if "path" in self.__dict__:
-                del self.__dict__["path"]  # invalidate the cached property
 
-            # This call of self.path updates the value since the cache is invalidated
-            if self.path != original_path:
-                file_rename_required = True
+        if self._rename:
+            with hooks.disabled():  # hooks have to be disabled to prevent infinite loop
+                if "path" in self.__dict__:
+                    del self.__dict__["path"]  # invalidate the cached property
+
+                # This call of self.path updates the value since the cache is invalidated
+                if self.path != original_path:
+                    file_rename_required = True
 
         if self.path:
             if self.exists and self._frozen:
@@ -292,7 +296,7 @@ def save(self, *, include_default_values: Trilean = None, _log=True) -> None:
             text = self._get_text(include_default_values=include_default_values)
 
         write(self.path, text, display=True)
-        if file_rename_required:
+        if self._rename and file_rename_required:
             remove(original_path)
 
         self.modified = False