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..
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
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
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:
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: <double blank>
Replace: <single blank>
(where the term in <> means the space key)
Second action of the type "Replace"
Search: <single blank>:
Replace: :