My way of dealing with duplicates is this:
My naming for files is:
- Artist - Title ( for albums )
and
Artist - Title ( for orphan VA's all in one folder(s) )
( if yours is deferent it might not work adjust it as you like )
and i put duplicate numbering at the end of Title like 13. Artist - Title (1) just to match windows naming
So!
- first create a column with:
Name: File already exists ( or whatever you like )
Value: $if($eql(%_filename%,$if($if2(%track%,%tracknumber%),[$if2(%track%,%tracknumber%). ],)$if(%title%,$if(%artist%,[%artist% - ],),%artist%)$if(%title%,%title%,)),OK,File already exists)
- then go to actions and create 11 GROUPS ( or more if you like ) but don't tick them. ( i put them at the bottom )
The groups should be like this ( or whatever you like ):
File allready exists#Title + ( 1 ) ( and should contain this: )
1 Replace with regular expression
Field: TITLE
Regular expression: \s*(+\s*[0-9]{1,2}\s*)+$
Replace matches with: nothing leave empty
2 Format value
Field: TITLE
Format string: %title% (1) ( change with the appropriate number like 1 in this group )
3 Format value
Field: _FILENAME
Format string: $if(%track%,$num(%track%,1). ,)%artist% - %title%
4 Format value
Field: _FILENAME
Format string: $trim(%_filename%)
File allready exists#Title + ( 2 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 2 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 3 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 3 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 4 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 4 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 5 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 5 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 6 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 6 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 7 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 7 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 8 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 8 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 9 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 9 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + ( 10 ) ( enter the same 4 action types changing only the second with the appropriate number like 10 in this group )
File allready exists#Title + clear ( this should contain ):
1 Replace with regular expression
Field: TITLE
Regular expression: \s*(+\s*[0-9]{0,2}\s*)+$
Replace matches with: nothing leave empty
2 Format value
Field: TITLE
Format string: %title%
3 Format value
Field: _FILENAME
Format string: $if(%track%,$num(%track%,1). ,)%artist% - %title%
4 Format value
Field: _FILENAME
Format string: $trim(%_filename%)
Now the first thing i do ( for orphan VA's folders ) is to remove tracknumbers and to convert:
Tag - Filename with
Format string: %artist% - %title% ( no tracknumber because i don't use it for VA folders containing orphans so i can spot the real duplicates ) ( if it is for an album(s) you add tracknumber too but i don't thing you will find a lot )
After a lot of ignore
The first results at the ( File already exists column ) appear and you sort that column.
There they are. You select all the File already exists files and go to the
ACTION TAB AT THE FILE MENU ( NOT THE RIGHT CLICK ACTION MENU )
from the drop down menu you select
File already exists ---> Title + ( 1 )
and your filles should be renamed as
Artist1 - Title (1)
Artist2 - Title (1)
and so on for duplicates only.
If again you have duplicates after applying, that didn't renamed, select them from the column again and
go to
ACTION TAB AT THE FILE MENU ( NOT THE RIGHT CLICK ACTION MENU )
from the drop down menu you select
File already exists ---> Title + ( 2 )
and your filles should be renamed as
Artist1 - Title (2)
Artist2 - Title (2)
and so on for duplicates only.
If you want a clear start in title tags go to
ACTION TAB AT THE FILE MENU ( NOT THE RIGHT CLICK ACTION MENU )
from the drop down menu you select
File already exists ---> Title + clear
and your ( TITLE TAGS not the filenames ) should be renamed as
Title
Title
but you will have complains about duplicates renaming again.
I hope this works for you as it does for me.
It is much faster than it looks.
Use it with a portable Mp3Tag and some copied files for testing it.
