# Convert text file to tag help
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [February 24, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535 "2014-02-24T22:51:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@scott967](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/scott967)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/1 "2014-02-24T22:51:30Z")
I am having trouble figuring out how to use the text file to tag feature.
I have mp3 files with ID3 tags (created by other software) and APE tags (created by mp3tag). The tags aren't identical (by design). I used the other software to create replaygain\_\* tags (TXXX: in ID3). From searching, it seems there is no way to just transfer those specific tags into APE as REPLAYGAIN\_\*. So I did an "export" of the MP3 tag data to text file, with the intention of then using the convert text file to tag to import it into the APE tags.
My exported file looks like this:
```
F:\testmusic\4Minute\4Minutes Left\01 4Minutes Left.mp3 | -9.70 dB × -7.40 dB × 0.999969
F:\testmusic\4Minute\4Minutes Left\02 거울아 거울아.mp3 | -9.70 dB × -9.90 dB × 0.999969
```
and my convert format string looks like this
```
%_path% | %REPLAYGAIN_ALBUM_GAIN% x %REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN% x %REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK%
```
but all I get is "Can't parse line 1 etc". I tried some variations, but still didn't work. I guess I don't understand how to build the format string correctly.
scott s.
.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/2 "2014-02-25T05:44:37Z")
Try the export with a unified separator, e.g. the semicolon.
Instead of
abc | def x hij x klm
use
abc;def;hij;klm
Take care that there are no blanks between the separator and the field variable.
The import would then use the same mask.
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2014, 10:44am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/3 "2014-02-25T10:44:02Z")
> [@scott967](#):
>
> I am having trouble figuring out how to use the text file to tag feature. ... My exported file looks like this:
> F:\testmusic\4Minute\4Minutes Left\01 4Minutes Left.mp3 | -9.70 dB × -7.40 dB × 0.999969
> ... and my convert format string looks like this ...
> %\_path% | %REPLAYGAIN\_ALBUM\_GAIN% x %REPLAYGAIN\_TRACK\_GAIN% x %REPLAYGAIN\_TRACK\_PEAK%
Correct the different ~~delimiter~~ separator characters.
The Mp3tag preview promises success.
See attached picture.
DD.20140225.1244.CET
---
### Author:  [@scott967](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/scott967)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/4 "2014-02-27T00:48:53Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> Correct the different delimiter characters.
> The Mp3tag preview promises success.
OK Thanks for the help. I see (from lots of trial and error) my core problem is the separator character that was in my export file was actually a unicode "multiplication sign" 00D7 × but I misread it as the letter x unicode 0078. Live and learn I guess.
scott s.
.
---
### Author:  [@DJ\_Antoon](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DJ_Antoon)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/5 "2014-07-30T06:34:12Z")
I try to get this to work for a couple of days now. (After a rest for a long time)
Installed new version of mp3tag (I was on 2.49) and latest version of complete tags.
I managed last night to get it working once, don't know why, but today it doesn't work again.
Reading these posts I did manually change to %\_path%, because the standard: %\_filename\_ext% doesn't seem to work. (Found out yesterday after study the screenshot scott967)
However I think this is where I have to find the issue.
Tested also with removing the path in the txt output, 1 row of data and 1 row structure changed.
This does work...
Changed the separator character: | to PQP (Just something else) this seems to work for 1 file.
I'm stuck.
I get with import the message: Cannot parse line 1 (up to 6)
Even the format line, which is line 6
When I remove %\_path% it does work, however files are parsed random, so it's a big mess afterwards.
---
### Author:  [@DJ\_Antoon](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DJ_Antoon)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 9:14am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/6 "2014-07-30T09:14:25Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> Try the export with a unified separator, e.g. the semicolon.
> Instead of
> abc | def x hij x klm
>
> use
> abc;def;hij;klm
>
> Take care that there are no blanks between the separator and the field variable.
>
> The import would then use the same mask.
Yes, finally, this seems to do the trick.
To avoid single semicolon, I used a double. (;😉
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 9:19am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/7 "2014-07-30T09:19:19Z")
> [@DJ Antoon](#):
>
> ... I'm stuck. ... When I remove %\_path% it does work, however files are parsed random, so it's a big mess afterwards.
Read there ...
[Import tags from text file](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/8093/2)
[Text File to Tag Conversion Tips](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/8299/2)
[Import From Unsorted Text File](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/13734/4)
You will find even more related topics in the Mp3tag Forums.
[https://www.google.de/search?q=site:forums....ort+%25\_path%25](https://www.google.de/search?q=site:forums.mp3tag.de+text+tag+import+%25_path%25)
DD.20140730.1323.CEST
---
### Author:  [@DJ\_Antoon](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DJ_Antoon)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2014, 10:46am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/8 "2014-07-30T10:46:04Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> You will find even more related topics in the Mp3tag Forums.
Thank you I just did test it on a couple of thousand files and it seems to work ok.
Glad I have this working as my PCDJ DEX 1 playing software makes a mess of my carefully arranged tags.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/convert-text-file-to-tag-help/15535/9 "2026-02-09T12:24:56Z")