# Copy pasting filename tag
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [August 17, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220 "2022-08-17T13:02:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Akhilesh](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Akhilesh)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/1 "2022-08-17T13:02:37Z")
I use copy paste to transfer tags from one file to another, but the filename doesn't change with this.
Is there any way to do this?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/2 "2022-08-17T13:06:36Z")
Copying tags really only copies the embedded metadata (tags).
The filename is a managing property for the underlying filesystem.
You would have to rename the file afterwards.
If you don't have a naming scheme that generates the filename from tag data, then you could create a user-defined field, e.g. MY\_FILENAME which holds the filename as data - this field would be copied.
After pasting, you apply an action or the converter\>tag-filename which uses the contents of MY\_FILENAME to rename the file.
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 1:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/3 "2022-08-17T13:24:07Z")
In addition to @ohrenkino's advice, you can have a look at the documentation:
> **[Rename Files – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/converters/rename-files/)**
>
> Documentation on Tag to Filename, a converter to rename files based on tags. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor.
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### Author:  [@Akhilesh](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Akhilesh)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/4 "2022-08-17T13:34:51Z")
Thanks for your reply. I don't know how to create user-defined field. If you mean the **User-defined filed mappings** option, it shows 3 columns - Tag, Source and Target. But I don't know how to do that.
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/5 "2022-08-17T13:46:22Z")
Please show us a [screenshot](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/hints-for-asking-support-requests/56190#use-screenshots-to-exemplify-the-issue-2) with your current metadata from your track after you have copy & pasted this informations.
And please show us also an example how you would like to see your filename in the end.
Something simple like
`%TRACK% - %TITLE%`
or something more advanced like
`%ARTIST%\%ALBUM%\%YEAR%\$num(%TRACK%,2) - %TITLE%`
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### Author:  [@Akhilesh](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Akhilesh)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/6 "2022-08-17T13:53:52Z")
In the example above, I would like to transfer the filename of the 1st file (.flac) to the 2nd file (.ogg)
The source filename could contain any characters, I would just like to copy the entire filename. This is in addition to all other tags.
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/7 "2022-08-17T14:12:16Z")
In this example case, the filename is in this format;
%track%. %title%
I don't know if all files you are working on have this same filename structure. Nor do you mention if you are also looking to change the path (from C:Users... to F:\Music).
I would create an `Action` that will allow you to call this at any time for one or more selected files. Have the action set up as follows;
Action Type: Format Value
Field: `_FILENAME`
Format String: `F:\Music\%albumartist%\%album%\%discnumber%-%track%. %title%`
You can add more, or remove fields that don't apply. But this will let you rename your files at any time, and put them in a consistent folder structure. This is often better than just using a copy/paste method, as often times you may edit the contents of some of these fields.
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### Author:  [@Akhilesh](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Akhilesh)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/8 "2022-08-17T14:32:52Z")
Thanks. If I understand it correctly, this Action will replace the text in `_FILENAME` with the text in `%title%` in my case. But I wanted to know if it is possible to copy the filename of one file and paste that in another file.
- Let's imagine I have 2 different codecs of same music file with filenames as `01.ABCD` and `09.LMNO`.
- The file `09.LMNO` has incorrect filename, so I'd like to replace it with `01.ABCD`.
Can I do this without renaming it manually?
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/9 "2022-08-17T14:39:54Z")
There is no relationship between two different files in mp3tag. So this will still require a manual intervention of some kind. In the main window you can click into the filename column on the file you want to copy, then click again to highlight that name, and copy it with right click or `Ctrl-C`. Then do the same for the one you want to write over, and paste. But if there is a file with the same extension and in the same folder, you will get an error.
I'd still recommend my prior suggested `Action` is the better long-term solution. It will ensure your files all follow the same naming convention as you build your library, using the data in your tag fields for accuracy. And if you make any changes, you simply need to run this action again and the files will be renamed (and moved) if necessary.
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### Author:  [@Akhilesh](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Akhilesh)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/10 "2022-08-17T14:52:45Z")
I tried the `Action` you suggested.
What now happens is,
- The file with the correct Title is first transferred to the incorrect file
- The `Action` you suggested then replaces this title in the filename
In short, this works for me. I've been using mp3tag since many years, but never delved deeper into its capability. Thanks a lot for your help 😁
Also thanks to everyone else who replied.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/11 "2022-08-17T15:45:32Z")
> [@Akhilesh](#):
>
> Can I do this without renaming it manually?
Yes, I described it in
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> If you don't have a naming scheme that generates the filename from tag data, then you could create a user-defined field, e.g. MY\_FILENAME which holds the filename as data - this field would be copied.
> After pasting, you apply an action or the converter\>tag-filename which uses the contents of MY\_FILENAME to rename the file.
To create such a user-defined field create an action of the type "Format value". As field name type in MY\_FILENAME
As
Format string: %\_filename%
You can check if the user-defined field has been created in the dialogue "Extended Tags" Alt-T
Then copy and paste the tags.
To apply the old filename use Converter\>Tag-Filename
Format string: %my\_filename%
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### Author:  [@Akhilesh](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Akhilesh)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/12 "2022-08-17T17:10:28Z")
As the extended tag isn't present in new files, I have to create it each time using `Action > MY_FILENAME`
Only then can I use `Convert > Tag-Filename`
But it works as well. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-pasting-filename-tag/58220/13 "2022-09-16T17:10:49Z")
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