# Customization of Tag Panel and File List

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/customization-of-tag-panel-and-file-list/56067
**Category:** Documentation
**Tags:** mac
**Created:** [January 26, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/customization-of-tag-panel-and-file-list/56067 "2022-01-26T14:46:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/customization-of-tag-panel-and-file-list/56067/1 "2022-01-26T14:46:31Z")

</div>

Mp3tag supports flexible tagging, which means that the tag fields available on the Tag Panel on the left and as columns in the File List are not fixed. While you can reference any field which is, e.g., listed in the extended tag dialog as _name_ via a placeholder `%name%` in Mp3tag, it's also possible to customize the UI using these placeholders.

# Customizing the Tag Panel

The Tag Panel is the sidebar on the left of the File List that shows the fields to enter metadata. Besides the standard fields, you can add user-defined tag fields to the Tag Panel via _ **Preferences → Tag Panel** _. Here, you can add and remove fields via the **+** and **-** buttons below the fields list.

To configure a field, you need to provide a _ **Name** _, which is the label text that appears on the Tag Panel. The _ **Field** _ is the actual tag-field name. This can be any of the pre-defined fields chosen from the drop-down list, e.g., `ISRC` or a custom user-defined field identifier like `MYCUSTOMFIELD1`.

_ **Width** _ allows for configuring the size of the field on the Tag Panel. _ **Type** _ can be either _Text_ (most commonly used) or _Check_, which represents a boolean value `0` (unchecked) or `1` (checked).

Finally, individual fields can be temporarily hidden by unchecking _ **Active** _.

To change the position of any of the fields, you can use drag and drop to arrange them in the field list.

# Customizing the File List

The File List is the main list that lists the files loaded with Mp3tag. While it already provides a range of different columns to display file information, it can be extended and adapted to your needs via _ **Preferences → File List** _. Here, you can add and remove columns via the **+** and **-** buttons below the columns list.

To configure a column, you need to provide a _ **Name** _, which is the text that appears on the column header in the File List.

_ **Value** _ is required and denotes the content displayed in this column. It usually contains a [placeholder](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-strings-and-available-placeholders/51688), sometimes combined with [scripting functions](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/scripting-functions/51689).

A simple example would be `%ISRC%`, the placeholder for the `ISRC` tag field. Another example would be `$metasep(artist,\\)`, a format string that displays all existing `ARTIST` fields separated by Mp3tag multi-field separator `\\`

_ **Field** _ usually contains a placeholder that is used for editing the content of the field through the File List. Please note that if this field is empty, the column is write-protected. You can only use placeholders for tag fields (e.g. `%ISRC%`) as well as `%_filename_ext%` and `%_filename%` here.

If _ **Sort by** _ is empty, Mp3tag uses the contents of _Value_ for sorting. Otherwise, the evaluated content of this field is used.

The _ **Numeric** _ checkbox affects the sorting of the column and determines if the column contents are aligned left or right.

Finally, individual columns can be temporarily hidden by unchecking _ **Active** _. Showing and hiding columns is also possible via the right-click context menu on the File List column header.

To change the position of any of the columns, you can use drag and drop to arrange them in the columns list or directly by dragging the column header in the File List.

## Further Reading

- [Format Strings and Available Placeholders](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-strings-and-available-placeholders/51688/)

- [Scripting Functions](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/scripting-functions/51689/)