# Change the space to hypen in filename
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [August 30, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573 "2025-08-30T10:22:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mamyllyn](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mamyllyn)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573/1 "2025-08-30T10:22:22Z")
I think that this might be a basic question but wonder what is the easiest way to do it:
I have filename that is in format: 01 W.A.S.P. and I want to add a hypen JUST to replace this empty space.
So the right filename should be: 01 - W.A.S.P.
What is the easiest function to do this?
---
### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2025, 10:25am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573/2 "2025-08-30T10:25:19Z")
> [@mamyllyn](#):
>
> What is the easiest function to do this?
Use an Action "[Replace](https://docs.mp3tag.de/actions/replace/)"
or
Use the Convert Tag -\> Tag for \_FILENAME with `$replace`
---
### Author:  [@mamyllyn](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mamyllyn)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2025, 10:28am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573/3 "2025-08-30T10:28:38Z")
Thank you for the fast answer.
Before adding my question here I did try to make it with the replace function.
The problem is that is adds the hypen then on every space and I do not know how to limit it only to the first instance. I have some kind of feeling that I have found that function ages ago.
---
### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2025, 10:34am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573/4 "2025-08-30T10:34:40Z")
To only replace the first space between the tracknumber and the title in the filename:
Convert Tag - Tag
Field: \_FILENAME
Format string:
`$regexp(%_FILENAME%,(\d+)\s(.*),$1 - $2)`
Would convert
`01 W.A.S.P. and other titles.mp3`
to
`01 - W.A.S.P. and other titles.mp3`
Or with an Action "Replace with regular expression":
Field: \_FILENAME
Regular expression:
`(\d+)\s(.*)`
Replace matches with:
`$1 - $2`
> [@mamyllyn](#):
>
> The problem is that is adds the hypen then on every space and I do not know how to limit it only to the first instance
Please include this information in future questions, providing examples that demonstrate this requirement.
---
### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2025, 10:44am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573/5 "2025-08-30T10:44:42Z")
> [@mamyllyn](#):
>
> What is the easiest function to do this?
BTW:
Assuming that you have filled your fields already as mentioned [here](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/add-hyphen-in-filename-for-all-tracks/69346/3), you could also rebuild your filename with the content of your fields like this:
Convert Tag - Filename:
`%track% - %title%`
---
### Author:  [@mamyllyn](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mamyllyn)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2025, 11:05am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573/6 "2025-08-30T11:05:09Z")
Thank you a lot and I will try with these methods!
The “convert Tag - Tag” hint worked like a charm and I will use this one in the future as well.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2025, 11:06am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/change-the-space-to-hypen-in-filename/69573/7 "2025-09-29T11:06:03Z")
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.