# Copying Text Within Brackets To Another Field Unsuccessful

**URL:** <https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copying-text-within-brackets-to-another-field-unsuccessful/45741>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [June 23, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copying-text-within-brackets-to-another-field-unsuccessful/45741 "2019-06-23T01:29:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dasyurus](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Dasyurus](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Dasyurus)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copying-text-within-brackets-to-another-field-unsuccessful/45741/1 "2019-06-23T01:29:55Z")

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Hi,

In my classical music collection I use the Year Tag for date of composition; and the Comment Tag for date of recording. I do this with the use of square brackets at the beginning of the Comment Tag, followed by label and catalogue number.

However, I would like now to take the year of recording contained within the square brackets and transfer it (without brackets) to the Recording Date Tag which I have created, but leave behind the label and catalogue number. e.g.

From this - Comment Tag: [2019] Sony Classics 123456;  
To this - Comment Tag: Sony Classics 123456; Recording Date Tag: 2019

I realise copying information within brackets from one field to another field seems a common question in this forum, and several examples are given how to achieve this. However, I have had only limited success in adapting the recommendations to my situation using both the Guess Value, and Format Value actions.

e.g. When **adapting** Ohrenkino's suggestion of using Format Value from Feb 2014. with the following expression: **$regexp(%COMMENT%,'^. _[(.+)]._ $','$1')** I get [2019] Sony 123456 in Recording Date tag instead of just the year.

Similarly, when using Guessing Value I am unable to limit the copying to just the year within the square brackets. I am at a loss to know where to go from here, and I would appreciate very much any assistance given in solving this.

Thanks in anticipation.

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**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 7:24am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copying-text-within-brackets-to-another-field-unsuccessful/45741/2 "2019-06-23T07:24:28Z")

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> [@Dasyurus](#):
>
> `$regexp(%COMMENT%,'^. *[(.+)].* $','$1')`

try Format value for %recording date%:  
`$regexp(%COMMENT%,'^\[(\d+)\].*','$1')`

Or Guess value  
Source: %comment%  
Target: [%recording date%]%dummy%  
or if you want to move the year to %recordng date%:  
Target: [%recording date%] %comment%

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dasyurus](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Dasyurus](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Dasyurus)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copying-text-within-brackets-to-another-field-unsuccessful/45741/3 "2019-06-23T21:05:19Z")

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> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> [%recording date%] %comment%

The last action you proposed worked exactly as I wished for. A very elegant solution!

Thank you very much for your help and a very quick response.

Best Regards

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**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copying-text-within-brackets-to-another-field-unsuccessful/45741/4 "2026-02-09T12:28:08Z")

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