# Convert file name to tag
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [July 9, 2023, 8:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498 "2023-07-09T08:08:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@oldmanbob](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oldmanbob)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 8:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/1 "2023-07-09T08:08:16Z")
I wish to convert file names in the form artist - title using the format string %artist% - %titles%. This has worked for years without trouble but is now failing with the latest release. I would like to try a workaround by reverting to the previous release which would also nail the bug for diagnosis. Any suggestions?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 8:11am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/2 "2023-07-09T08:11:27Z")
> [@oldmanbob](#):
>
> which would also nail the bug for diagnosis
I doubt that you see a bug.
I much more assume that the pattern in the filename has changed.
Or that the hyphen is no hpyhen but something else.
See e.g. here:
> [@Take Part of Filename and Copy it to a Field](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/take-part-of-filename-and-copy-it-to-a-field/61477/5):
>
> @Andacar If you want to quick test your filename for special (unicode) characters, you can copy & paste it in the Input text box here and press "Identify": [https://www.babelstone.co.uk/Unicode/whatisit.html](https://www.babelstone.co.uk/Unicode/whatisit.html) Then you can check in the result box, if one of the text characters is not the one you used in the format string. For example if your hyphen is not the usual U+002D : HYPHEN-MINUS {hyphen, dash; minus sign} or your space is not the usual U+0020 : SPACE or your underscore ist not the u…
A screenshot helps in many cases to analyse the problem.
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### Author:  [@oldmanbob](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oldmanbob)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 9:35am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/3 "2023-07-09T09:35:45Z")
Thanks for your rapid response which is much appreciated. (In a previous life, I performed the same service as you.) When I check the identity of the separator, i find that it is: U+002D : HYPHEN-MINUS {hyphen, dash; minus sign}
When the problem first occurred, I thought it had to be a problem with the separator, just as you have done. I did my best to ensure that the symbol in the file name and that in the format string were identical by using copy and paste but the problem is still present.
I have a screenshot which records my problem but I cannot see how to communicate it. Can you please advise.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 9:41am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/4 "2023-07-09T09:41:37Z")
> [@oldmanbob](#):
>
> communicate it
See here:
> [@Hints for asking Support Requests](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/hints-for-asking-support-requests/56190):
>
> If you need support using Mp3tag, you can help the community members that are about to support you in finding a solution or workaround to your problem, by following these simple guidelines. Be descriptive, also in what you’ve already tried Please give a short explanation what’s not working as expected or what you’re trying to achieve. It’s best to know any details about the problem at hand and especially, what steps you’ve already tried to solve it by yourself. Helpful information also includ…
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### Author:  [@poster](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/poster)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/5 "2023-07-09T13:01:26Z")
> [@oldmanbob](#):
>
> using the format string %artist% - %titles%
You have to use %title%, not %title **s** %
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### Author:  [@oldmanbob](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oldmanbob)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/6 "2023-07-09T16:33:35Z")
Titles was a typo in my message to log the problem. The actual format string used is as you suggest. Sorry to be wasting your time with typo. Can anyone explain to me how to add the relevant screengram to my report?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/7 "2023-07-09T16:36:02Z")
> [@oldmanbob](#):
>
> Can anyone explain to me how to add the relevant screengram to my report?
It's all described in the already linked post:
> [@Hints for asking Support Requests](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/hints-for-asking-support-requests/56190):
>
> If you need support using Mp3tag, you can help the community members that are about to support you in finding a solution or workaround to your problem, by following these simple guidelines. Be descriptive, also in what you’ve already tried Please give a short explanation what’s not working as expected or what you’re trying to achieve. It’s best to know any details about the problem at hand and especially, what steps you’ve already tried to solve it by yourself. Helpful information also includ…
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/8 "2023-07-09T16:44:58Z")
> [@oldmanbob](#):
>
> Can anyone explain to me how to add the relevant screengram to my report?
Copy & Paste the picture or Drag & Drop the picture to your answer.
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### Author:  [@oldmanbob](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oldmanbob)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/9 "2023-07-09T16:54:25Z")
[Audacity evidence.pdf](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/short-url/gr0AcjOmmiK6anFv173GH1ki6qg.pdf) (168.1 KB)
I stored the screengrab in a PDF file which I hope I have attached successfully to this message. Thanks for your patience.
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/10 "2023-07-09T16:58:36Z")
There is no need to convert the picture into a PDF. You can c&p or d&d the picture directly to your answer. (But the PDF works too...)
If you copy your filename `Al Jones... .mp3` from Windows File Explorer, then open the above URL
[https://www.babelstone.co.uk/Unicode/whatisit.html](https://www.babelstone.co.uk/Unicode/whatisit.html)
and then paste the filename into the Input Box and press Identify, what does the result box shows you?
Please show us a screenshot from the "whatisit" result webpage.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/11 "2023-07-09T17:01:17Z")
THis is what I get:
So, are perhaps the spaces not really spaces?
What happens if you copy and paste the whole separator-part (space, hypen, space) from the filename and paste it to the converter?
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### Author:  [@oldmanbob](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oldmanbob)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/12 "2023-07-09T17:21:35Z")
That has solved it. Thanks. I have a bit more digging to do to understand exactly what has happened and why but I now have the tools and the clues. Thanks to everyone. Live long and prosper.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/13 "2023-07-09T17:23:07Z")
And? Which tricky character has it been?
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-file-name-to-tag/61498/14 "2023-08-08T17:23:18Z")
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