# Convert Filename \> Filename (Blank Spaces)
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [May 7, 2014, 8:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724 "2014-05-07T08:08:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Brendi2334](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Brendi2334)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2014, 8:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/1 "2014-05-07T08:08:31Z")
Mp3tag Forums,
Let me introduce myself, I am new around here online the forums however have been using Mp3tag for many years now and understand my way around it well.
It has only been lately that I have started using the "Convert" tag options available in Mp3tag and have had great success so far, but have recently come across a hiccup that I am unable to work out, and have searched the forums with no answer - however I'm sure someone will easily be able to help answer my question.
I have track names (%title):
Example: **"Redshot / Hot Before Me / Together Clap"**
And have had success in using the convert option "Tag \> Filename" to transfer the tags across to the filenames.
However, because Windows Operating Systems don't allow for such characters as "/" in their filename, the filenames look more like this...
Example: **"Redshot Hot Before Me Together Clap"** (I am unable to show due to the forum posting) but between each song is a triple blank space.
```
e.g. each "/" is replaced with a space instead)
```
As you can see they simply are replaced with blank spaces...
So far, that is all fine and well, but when I go to the convert option "Filename \> Filename" and attempt to remove those extra blank spaces so that it looks more like this...
Example: **"Redshot Hot Before Me Together Clap"**
I have trouble and I am unable to find a way to do the above!
If anyone has any support, it would greatly be appreciated.
Cheers!
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2014, 8:43am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/2 "2014-05-07T08:43:56Z")
If you want to compose a filename that might contain certain illegal characters but want these to appear in a certain fashion, then let the whole string be treated by the function
$validate()
e.g. if you want to have illegal characters replaced by \_
then use the converter (e.g. tag-filename)
and enter as mask
$validate(%artist% %album% %title%,\_)
this should replace any illegal characher with an underscore.
See [https://docs.mp3tag.de/scripting](https://docs.mp3tag.de/scripting)
for the $validate function
---
### Author:  [@Brendi2334](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Brendi2334)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2014, 9:57am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/3 "2014-05-07T09:57:16Z")
I simply want those illegal characters in the filename "/" to be replaced with a blank space, and then want to remove all double & triple blank spacing from the filename to just a single blank space.
Example:
**"Redshot / Hot Before Me / Together Clap"**
to look like...
**"Redshot Hot Before Me Together Clap"**
See Above: Without the illegal characters "/" and extra blank spacing removed.
If you could show me the code/s in step-by-step that will create this, that would be appreciated.
PS - I don't think the validate command is what I want, as that will change all the illegal characters to underscores, which isn't what I'm after.
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/4 "2014-05-07T15:38:35Z")
> [@Brendi2334](#):
>
> I simply want those illegal characters in the filename "/" to be replaced with a blank space, and then want to remove all double & triple blank spacing from the filename to just a single blank space.
> Example: **"Redshot / Hot Before Me / Together Clap"**
> to look like... **"Redshot Hot Before Me Together Clap"**...
**$replace(%TITLE%,' / ',' ') From: "Redshot / Hot Before Me / Together Clap" To: "Redshot Hot Before Me Together Clap"**
DD.20140507.1938.CEST
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/5 "2014-05-07T17:31:14Z")
> [@Brendi2334](#):
>
> I simply want those illegal characters in the filename "/" to be replaced with a blank space, and then want to remove all double & triple blank spacing from the filename to just a single blank space.
>
> Example:
> **"Redshot / Hot Before Me / Together Clap"**
>
> to look like...
>
> **"Redshot Hot Before Me Together Clap"**
>
> See Above: Without the illegal characters "/" and extra blank spacing removed.
>
> If you could show me the code/s in step-by-step that will create this, that would be appreciated.
>
> PS - I don't think the validate command is what I want, as that will change all the illegal characters to underscores, which isn't what I'm after.
OK, then you can try the Converter Tag-Tag for \_FILENAME
Enter as mask:
$replace(%\_filename%,' ',' ')
(the first 2 ' enclose 2 blanks, the second 2 just one)
---
### Author:  [@Brendi2334](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Brendi2334)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/6 "2014-05-08T02:38:26Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> **$replace(%TITLE%,' / ',' ') From: "Redshot / Hot Before Me / Together Clap" To: "Redshot Hot Before Me Together Clap"**
>
> DD.20140507.1938.CEST
Right, I think that's the answer I may have been looking for. It is that a "," is the replacement key for a blank space. I think that fixed it, however I will reply back and confirm this. I simply wasn't sure what character was the replacement character for a blank space.
---
### Author:  [@Brendi2334](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Brendi2334)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/7 "2014-05-08T05:17:00Z")
Great! That's got the first part of my answer working!
Now to the second part which involved looking up those illegal characters "/" in the filter search box down the bottom which is all well, except, I only want to search for the illegal characters in the TRACK field not in every search term.
Example: If "/" character appears in the TRACK, ALBUM, ARTIST etc., I only want it to display search results in the TRACK field, how do I do that?
Edit: I have already read [Filter expressions](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/10080/1) with no help so far.
Edit 2: I believe I solved my own question. The answer was %title% HAS "/"
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2014, 5:36am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/8 "2014-05-08T05:36:36Z")
Perhaps you should also search ARTIST if you have AC/DC or De/Vision in your collection.
Also, some albums have this character e.g. double EPs like Soul Scanner / All Gone by Forbidden Society.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-filename-filename-blank-spaces/15724/9 "2026-02-09T12:25:02Z")