# Creating new actions on Mac
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304
**Category:** Mac
**Created:** [April 5, 2024, 6:48am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304 "2024-04-05T06:48:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@iAutobot](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iAutobot)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2024, 6:48am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/1 "2024-04-05T06:48:27Z")
I'm trying to create a custom action in MacOS version 1.8.19 (102) but I am not seeing the option. In the action panel, the only new option is for action group. Any ideas?
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2024, 7:02am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/2 "2024-04-05T07:02:17Z")
Can you check this topic from the documentation and see if it answers your question?
> [@Quick Actions and Action Groups](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/quick-actions-and-action-groups/51882):
>
> Mp3tag for Mac provides a variety of Actions, which can be used on filenames and tags. The actions can be applied individually via Actions → Quick Actions ⌥⌘ 6 or be grouped into named and reusable Action Groups via Actions → Actions ⌘ 6. Action Groups serve as repeatable workflows in Mp3tag for Mac. When using Quick Actions you can select one of the different available action types from the list. This action will be applied to the selected files and the changes are saved immediately. Tip 1…
**TLDR;** You can create an action (or multiple ones) in an action group if you want to reuse them or use Quick Actions for disposable ones.
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### Author:  [@iAutobot](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iAutobot)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/3 "2024-04-06T21:50:30Z")
> [@Quick Actions and Action Groups](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/quick-actions-and-action-groups/51882/1):
>
> ⌥
Thank you so much for the help, Florian. I don't think it answers my question. I'm trying to create a custom action, not reuse one of the existing quick actions. For more context, I was trying to create a custom action that would allow me to set track numbers based on their file creation dates. I was attempting to follow these instructions:
_MP3tag allows you to perform various operations using file properties, including the creation date. Here's how you can achieve this:_
_1. Open MP3tag and load the directory containing your MP3 files._
_2. Select all the files you want to modify._
_3. Go to "Tools" \> "Actions" (or press Alt+6) to open the Actions dialog._
_4. In the Actions dialog, click on the "New Action" button (or press Insert) to create a new action._
_5. Give your action a name, such as "Set track numbers by creation date"._
_6. In the "Available functions" list, find and double-click on "Format value". This will add the function to the action list on the right._
_7. In the "Format string" field, enter the following:_
- $num(%\_createtime%,1)\*
- This function will assign track numbers based on the creation date of the files. The "%\_createtime%" variable represents the file's creation date/time, and the "1" parameter specifies the starting track number.\*
_8. Click "OK" to close the Edit Action dialog._
_9. Back in the Actions dialog, make sure your new action is selected, and click "Run Action" to execute it on the selected files._
_10. After the action is completed, the track numbers will be assigned based on the creation dates of the files._
_Note: Make sure that the files are sorted by creation date in the desired order before running the action. You can sort the files by clicking on the "Created" column header in MP3tag._
_Once you've completed these steps, the track numbers should be set according to the creation dates of the MP3 files. Let me know if you have any further questions!_
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 5:58am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/4 "2024-04-07T05:58:10Z")
And where in this long list of instructions did you get stuck?
To me it looks like AI-generated.
And at least this part
> [@iAutobot](#):
>
> - $num(%\_createtime%,1)\*
> - This function will assign track numbers based on the creation date of the files. The "%\_createtime%" variable represents the file's creation date/time, and the "1" parameter specifies the starting track number.\*
does not look like being from MP3tag.
See here for available placeholders for properties:
> [@Format Strings and Available Placeholders](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-strings-and-available-placeholders/51688):
>
> Mp3tag uses format strings in various of its features to describe the structure of file names and imported data. A format string is built of either standard text (e.g., Music), placeholders (such as %artist%, %title%, ...), or slash characters / that usually denote directory structures. Characters with Special Functionality Some characters have special functionality and need to be treated with extra care. If you experience some unexpected behavior when using format string, check if some of t…
where I do not find a placeholder %\_createtime% but only `%_file_create_date%` (and others).
See here for the correct use of $num()
> [@Scripting Functions](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/scripting-functions/51689):
>
> Mp3tag offers various built-in scripting functions, which can be used at various places in the program. These functions offer advanced display and converting options and are to be used in combination with [Format Strings and Available Placeholders](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-strings-and-available-placeholders/51688). General Functions Replace $replace(string,from,to) or $replace(string,from1,to1,from2,to2,...) Example: $replace(%title%,\_,-) This example replaces all underscores with dashes. You can provide additional pairs of from/to as parameters. Case Co…
which does not feature a starting value.
So it would help if you could show us a real example of the data what it looked like for a start, then what it should look like after the modification and the function with which you tried to achieve the modification.
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### Author:  [@iAutobot](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iAutobot)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 6:15am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/5 "2024-04-07T06:15:38Z")
Thanks for the help - I probably shouldn't have pasted that whole text. I am trying to figure out how to create a custom action and that option doesn't seem to exist for me.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 6:18am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/6 "2024-04-07T06:18:08Z")
What have you tried so far?
As a start: you have to select at least 1 file in the file list to do anything with actions (create, modify, execute them).
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### Author:  [@iAutobot](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iAutobot)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 6:23am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/8 "2024-04-07T06:23:07Z")
So working with 15+ MP3s selected, I've been attempting to create custom actions but appear to only have the option to create action groups containing preset actions. Here is a screenshot of what I'm referencing:
thanks again for the help
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 6:28am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/9 "2024-04-07T06:28:44Z")
Have a look at the keyboard short cuts:
> [@Keyboard Shortcuts](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/keyboard-shortcuts/51736):
>
> Mp3tag menu Shortcut Command ⌘ , Preferences... ⌘ H Hide Mp3tag ⌥⌘ H Hide Others ⌘ Q Quit Mp3tag File menu Shortcut Command ⌘ O Open... ⇧⌘ O Add... ⌥⌘ C Copy to... ⌥⌘ M Move to... ⌫ Remove ⌥⌫ Delete ⌘ P Create Playlist... ⌘ E Export... ⌘ R Refresh ⌥⌘ R Refresh Tag ⌘ S Save ⌥⌘ S Save (Force) ⌘W Close Edit menu Shortcut Command ⌘ Z Undo ⇧⌘ Z Redo ⌘ X Cut ⌘ C Copy ⌘ V Paste ⌥⌘⌫ Remove Tag ⌘ A Select All ⌥⌘ ↑ Select Previ…
## Action Groups Sidebar
**Shortcut** **Command**
⌘ N Add Action Group or Category
⌘ D Duplicate Action Group
⌫ Delete Action Group
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### Author:  [@iAutobot](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iAutobot)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 8:07am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/10 "2024-04-07T08:07:53Z")
I'm not seeing "create action" there - am I missing it? Are custom actions possible on mac?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 8:14am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/11 "2024-04-07T08:14:37Z")
I took all the links from the Mac documentation.
What happens if you open the Actions ... dialogue and then press the referenced keyboard shortcut?
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2024, 10:46am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/12 "2024-04-07T10:46:11Z")
You can use the **+** button on the lower right of the actions list to add actions to an action group:
Please also note that I've used `%_counter%` instead of the creation timestamp (the latter doesn't make sense).
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### Author:  [@iAutobot](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iAutobot)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2024, 7:05am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/13 "2024-04-08T07:05:37Z")
Thanks for the help Florian - when I check that option, I only have these as actions possible to add. Am I missing the custom tag option?
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2024, 7:24am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/14 "2024-04-08T07:24:33Z")
> [@iAutobot](#):
>
> Am I missing the custom tag option?
I think you're looking for the **Format tag field** action from that list. If this is not the right action, please try to rephrase the problem.
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### Author:  [@iAutobot](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iAutobot)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/15 "2024-04-14T21:38:02Z")
Thanks, Florian - I'll experiment with this and follow up with a new post.
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/creating-new-actions-on-mac/64304/16 "2024-07-13T16:44:57Z")
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