# Create action (s) to delete and insert text
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-action-s-to-delete-and-insert-text/41805
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [May 28, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-action-s-to-delete-and-insert-text/41805 "2018-05-28T14:50:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Beluna](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Beluna)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-action-s-to-delete-and-insert-text/41805/1 "2018-05-28T14:50:51Z")
trying to create several actions within a group.
I want to delete spaces before an after :
Example 1. Written-By : carole King. Notice there are 2 spaces before and after the :
example 2. Background vocal : Sarah Vaughan
to read
Written By: Carole King (notice I removed the - and spaces before and after the : (with only one space behind the 🙂
Last, remove everything before Written. Regardless of what is it word, character, etc..
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-action-s-to-delete-and-insert-text/41805/2 "2018-05-28T15:02:08Z")
To remove any space in front or behind the colon except one:
Use an action of the type "Format value"
Format string: $regexp(%fieldname%,\s+:\s+,': ')
To replace a hyphen
Action of the type "Replace" for the field
Search string: -
Replace string:
(a blank)
To remove anything in front of "Written":
Action of the type "Replace with regular expression" for the field,
Search string: .\*Written
Replace: Written
---
### Author:  [@Beluna](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Beluna)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-action-s-to-delete-and-insert-text/41805/3 "2018-05-28T20:58:39Z")
I won't prolong the issue
The $regexp(%fieldname%,\s+:\s+,': ') solution doesn't work. Simply removes everything the entire field.. I'm using it as a stand alone action, to insure no other actions are interfering.
Sample.
Programmed By [Drums] : Alex Hill
Backing Vocals : Force M.D.'s, Lee Peters, Michael Cooper
Engineer : David Houston
Producer, Arranged By, Written By :
#2. \*Written using the example above only removes the space anot everything in front.
I did however change the Written-By..
Any suggestions. If not, thanks
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2018, 4:52am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-action-s-to-delete-and-insert-text/41805/4 "2018-05-29T04:52:49Z")
> [@Beluna](#):
>
> Sample.
> Programmed By [Drums] : Alex Hill
> Backing Vocals : Force M.D.'s, Lee Peters, Michael Cooper
> Engineer : David Houston
> Producer, Arranged By, Written By :
provided it can be found in "subtitle" gets transformed with
`$regexp(%subtitle%,\s+:\s+,': ')`
` "Programmed By [Drums] : Alex Hill
Backing Vocals : Force M.D.'s, Lee Peters, Michael Cooper
Engineer : David Houston
Producer, Arranged By, Written By :"
-\>
"Programmed By [Drums]: Alex Hill
Backing Vocals: Force M.D.'s, Lee Peters, Michael Cooper
Engineer: David Houston
Producer, Arranged By, Written By :"`
The last : is left out as there is nothing following - exactly as intended by the regular expression.
So please check your implementation.
The same applies to your complaints about #2(? Wasn't replacing the hyphen #2?)
So
"Programmed By [Drums] : Alex Hill
Backing Vocals : Force M.D.'s, Lee Peters, Michael Cooper
Engineer : David Houston
Producer, Arranged By, Written By :"
becomes
"Written By :"
.... adn didn't you get some similar advice years ago:
> [@How to remove white space](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-to-remove-white-space/17504/4):
>
> I'm missing something. first let me state this change goes under the field Performers So using your syntax how would i write the text(also, the words should be Capped Field: Performers Original Replace To look like so: Marcus Miller : Bass, Keyboard Thanks
If all that with the regular expression is too error-prone then try two simple replaces to get rid of the extra space around the colon:
First action of the type "replace"
Search: ``
Replace: ``
(where the term in \<\> means the space key)
Second action of the type "Replace"
Search: `:`
Replace: `:`
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/create-action-s-to-delete-and-insert-text/41805/5 "2026-02-09T12:27:27Z")