# create a filename with optional portions
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [March 21, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246 "2012-03-21T14:03:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@prorokrak](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/prorokrak)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/1 "2012-03-21T14:03:18Z")
Hi, I would like to rename my files according to this scheme:
- If there is not track number, I want my filename like this: Artist - Title
- If there is track number then the name should follow this schme: (track) Artist - Title
I tried to use this action, but it doesn't work. What am I doing wrong?
$validate($if($isdigit(%track%),'('$num(%track%)') ',2),)%artist% - %title%,\_)
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/2 "2012-03-21T16:51:03Z")
> [@Prorok Rak](#):
>
> If there is not track number...
You could use the converter Tag-Filename and the mask
[(%track%)]%artist% - %title%
The square brackets enclose the optional part
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### Author:  [@prorokrak](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/prorokrak)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/3 "2012-03-21T17:00:31Z")
Unbelievable. Who would say it's so easy.
Thank you.
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### Author:  [@pone](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/pone)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/4 "2012-03-21T17:11:17Z")
If it is crucial for your naming filenames, that %track% has to be a number, this is the optional %track% part like you wanted it in the first way:
$if($isdigit(%track%),'('$num(%track%,2)')' ,)
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### Author:  [@ra7h35m20s](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ra7h35m20s)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/5 "2012-04-25T20:33:25Z")
Not sure how much detail you want in your filenames but this is how I like my filenames....
If I have multi disc sets then I append the discnumber as in the format below. Inversely, no multi disc just %track% %title%
%discnumber%-%track% %title%
For example:
The Album "Days of Rising Doom" from AINA. Disc 2, Track 2 would look like this:
2-17 The Beast Within
(I also number all tracks sequentially from 1 - number of tracks ... this seems to make it easier for some apps in the sorting process I have found)
I suppose the mechanics of it may be a bit confusing. But if you have the field %totaldiscs% or an equivalent this will work in your action group ...
**Action:**** Format Value**
1. Field: \_FILENAME
2. Format String: $ifgreater(%totaldiscs%,1,$left(%discnumber%,2)-$num(%track%,2) %title%,$num(%track%,2) %title%)
Hope this helps you....
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### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/6 "2012-04-26T02:15:33Z")
> [@Prorok Rak](#):
>
> Hi, I would like to rename my files according to this scheme:
>
> - If there is not track number, I want my filename like this: Artist - Title
> - If there is track number then the name should follow this schme: (track) Artist - Title
Try this format string expression with an action of your choice ...
**$if(%TRACK%,'('$num(%TRACK%,2)') ',%DUMMY%)%ARTIST%' - '%TITLE%)**
If you want to prepend the running disc number, then try this expression ...
**$ifgreater(%TOTALDISCS%,1,$num(%DISCNUMBER%,1)'-',%DUMMY%)$if(%TRACK%,'('$num(%TRACK%,2)') ',%DUMMY%)%ARTIST%' - '%TITLE%)**
DD.20120436.0636.CEST
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### Author:  [@prorokrak](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/prorokrak)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/7 "2012-04-26T16:50:57Z")
Thank you all for your tips.
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-a-filename-with-optional-portions/13246/8 "2026-02-09T12:23:44Z")