# Convert \> Text file - Tag: format string
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-tag-format-string/12161
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [June 17, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-tag-format-string/12161 "2011-06-17T15:02:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dgrainge](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dgrainge)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-tag-format-string/12161/1 "2011-06-17T15:02:21Z")
I have a collection of about 7000 tracks, coded by a musician, who has made loads of mistakes tagging the files. Did you know that Schubert was a Blues composer?
It is much easier to export tags into Excel, where I can correct many of these errors quickly by using formulae, by using drag after making some manual changes.
I have exported all the necessary fields to a tsv file. No problem. I can correct the mistakes, in Excel.
I then need to convert the tags by re-importing.
I have looked at Convert \> Text file - Tag and at Mp3tag/help/main\_converter.html#tff. This suggests:
Example
Line in file: Artist / Title / Album / Year
Format string: %artist% / %title% / %album% / %year%
This uses / as a delimiter. Is there any constraint on what I can use here? Comma, semicolon? Tab?
I prefer to ask rather than possibly screw up a lot of files!
regards Derek
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2011, 10:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-tag-format-string/12161/2 "2011-06-22T10:01:09Z")
> [@dgrainge](#):
>
> ... Example
> ... uses / as a delimiter. Is there any constraint on what I can use here?
Why don't you follow the example?
The first line should reflect the data structure that follows by indicating the field's position and the delimiter.
So I would be careful with commas.
It should be possible to use a test file first, I would guess. Usually the screwing up comes from surprises that an alleged safe delimiter appeared in the text.... Even with the forward slash groups like Colurbox M/A/R/R/S or AC/DC may spoil the import.
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-tag-format-string/12161/3 "2011-06-22T14:18:50Z")
> [@dgrainge](#):
>
> ... Did you know that Schubert was a Blues composer? ...
It could be, if you mean Dirk Schubert from Wuppertal.
> [@dgrainge](#):
>
> ... I then need to convert the tags by re-importing. I have looked at Convert \> Text file - Tag and at Mp3tag/help/main\_converter.html#tff. This suggests:
> Example
> Line in file: Artist / Title / Album / Year
> Format string:%artist% / %title% / %album% / %year%
> _This uses / as a delimiter_.
> Is there any constraint on what I can use here? Comma, semicolon? Tab?
> I prefer to ask rather than possibly screw up a lot of files! ...
Using the converter "Textfile - Tag" you will have the chance for a preview before making mistakes, and if a mistake has really happened, then the "Undo change tag" option can be the last help.
I want to point out, that in the given example the ~~delimiter~~ separator between the data items is indeed a ~~delimiter~~ separator _string_ of three characters: space slash space.
It is not only one slash.
Some data string like ...
**M/U/R/K/S / ... this was / The A/B Sides Album / 22/6/2011**
... should be split by the converter "Textfile - Tag" using the format string ...
**%ARTIST% / %TITLE% / %ALBUM% / %YEAR%**
into the four components ...
ARTIST=M/U/R/K/S
TITLE=... this was
ALBUM=The A/B Sides Album
YEAR=22/6/2011
Because Mp3tag per se does not support any specifically designed text data format, you can feel free in choosing a ~~delimiter~~ separator character or string, which will work at its best with your data.
DD.20110622.1818.CEST
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-tag-format-string/12161/4 "2026-02-09T12:23:10Z")