# Directory field in tag panel not showing the whole path
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [November 21, 2023, 9:34am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821 "2023-11-21T09:34:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DavidGDFC](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DavidGDFC)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 9:34am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/1 "2023-11-21T09:34:56Z")
Hi,
I've noticed that, if you right click, in file explorer, on a particular folder and then you click on the Mp3tag icon to open the programme with all the audio files contained in it, the _Directory_ field on the main screen only shows the name of the parent folder.
This my case scenario:
1. I have the following folder: _E:\podcasts_.
2. Inside this folder, there are two subolders (_Saludos cordiales_ and _Teatro de la nube_), each containing a number of audio tracks.
3. When I move up and down on the track list of the main screen of the programme, I expected the _Directory_ field to show if the track is either in _E:\podcasts\Saludos cordiales_ or in _E:\podcasts\Teatro de la nube_, but it only shows _E:\podcasts_.
Two more comments:
1. If Mp3tag is already open and I drag _E:\podcasts_ into it, what I've described earlier applies.
2. However, if I get into the _Podcast_ folder and, once there, I select both subfolders and I drag them into Mp3Tag, in this case the _Directory_ field displays, for all my audio tracks, the following: _E:\podcasts\Teatro de la nube_.
I hope this thread is useful! Thanks!
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 10:12am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/2 "2023-11-21T10:12:22Z")
> [@DavidGDFC](#):
>
> the _Directory_ field on the main screen only shows the name of the parent folder.
The field for DIRECTORY shows the current working directory.
If you have to see the path for an individual file, you have to create a column that shows that property for the single file.
The working directory also determines where e.g. the export output is saved if not specified otherwise.
---
### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 10:35am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/3 "2023-11-21T10:35:56Z")
Just to show some of the possible [path variables](https://docs.mp3tag.de/format/#file-name-and-path-information)
as columns:
Feel free to add the columns you like to see.
---
### Author:  [@DavidGDFC](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DavidGDFC)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 11:12am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/4 "2023-11-21T11:12:50Z")
Thank for your comments, @LyricsLover and @ohrenkino,
Before I posted, I spent some time trying to find the solution myself, but in fact, in the list of fields of the Tag Panel, I couldn't find _\_FolderPath_ as an option: that's why I decided to come here.
In my previous message, I wasn't referring to the columns of the audio track list, but to the Tag Panel (I should have been more precise).
Anyway, even if it's not on the list, I can add _\_FolderPath_, but the field doesn't show any information.
---
### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 11:16am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/5 "2023-11-21T11:16:11Z")
As you can find here in the [documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/format/#technical-information):
> Technical information fields begin with an underscore `%_` are read-only and may also be used in the File List, format strings, filters and export configurations, **but not in the Tag Panel**.
And from the help about the [Tag Panel](https://docs.mp3tag.de/customization/tag-panel/#editing-fields):
> [Technical information](https://docs.mp3tag.de/format/#technical-information) **cannot be added as field to the Tag Panel** with the exception of the special fields `_DIRECTORY` which is used to add a directory field and `_SEPARATOR` to add a separator that creates a new row.
---
### Author:  [@DavidGDFC](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DavidGDFC)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 11:31am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/6 "2023-11-21T11:31:37Z")
Thank you, @LyricsLover ,
In that case, since _Directory_ is intended to just show the parent folder, my suggestion would be to make _Folderpath_ available in the Tag Panel.
When I have audio tracks from different folders, it's really useful to know, with just a glance, where each audio track is. _Folderpath_ is certainly one of my columns in the File List, but it'd save me time if it could also be a field in the Tag Panel.
Anyway, there must be a technical reason why this hasn't been implemented yet, but here goes my suggestion.
Thanks again!
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/7 "2023-11-21T13:06:04Z")
> [@DavidGDFC](#):
>
> When I have audio tracks from different folders, it's really useful to know, with just a glance, where each audio track is
Esp. for this case it is probably not the best way to check that in the tag panel as the tag panel has its virtues when assigning (and viewing) the data that is common to all the selected files.
Please note also, that the history list in the the special directory field lets you change the loaded files - but does not modify the path to the files.
To see (and sort) the folders of the files, a column in the file list is the better approach.
---
### Author:  [@DavidGDFC](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DavidGDFC)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/8 "2023-11-21T16:33:21Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> Please note also, that the history list in the the special directory field lets you change the loaded files - but does not modify the path to the files.
I didn't get this part. Could you please explain "the history list in the the special directory field"?
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/9 "2023-11-21T16:39:37Z")
The field for directory does not behave like the other fields in the tag panel.
While most of the other fields show the data for a field from the selected files in the dropdown list, the directory fields collects the last loaded folders, irrespective of the currently loaded and/or selected files.
If you you now select an entry from the directory list, then you do not set that path to the selected files like you would in all the other fields but you select that folder to be loaded (again) - and become the current work directory.
I admit that this is a little irritating, perhaps even misleading - your observation is proof enough that the current implementation does not explain itself.
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/10 "2023-11-21T16:57:06Z")
I've tried to remove the directory picker from the Tag Panel before. As you've noticed, it's a special control that behaves differently from the other fields.
Many users got so used to it over the years, that it's impossible to remove by now — at least not without needing to deal with huge amounts of negative feedback.
If you're not happy with how it's behaving, you can disable or remove it via the configuration options.
I've added your vote for displaying technical information fields on the Tag Panel to my internal wish list.
---
### Author:  [@DavidGDFC](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DavidGDFC)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/11 "2023-11-21T18:20:31Z")
Thank you for the explanation.
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### Author:  [@DavidGDFC](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DavidGDFC)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/12 "2023-11-21T18:21:29Z")
> [@Florian](#):
>
> If you're not happy with how it's behaving, you can disable or remove it via the configuration options.
>
> I've added your vote for displaying technical information fields on the Tag Panel to my internal wish list.
I have removed it now from my Tag Panel. Thank you for considering my suggestion, Florian!
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2026, 9:35am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/14 "2026-10-11T09:35:29Z")
> [@DavidGDFC](#):
>
> In that case, since _Directory_ is intended to just show the parent folder, my suggestion would be to make _Folderpath_ available in the Tag Panel.
>
> When I have audio tracks from different folders, it's really useful to know, with just a glance, where each audio track is. _Folderpath_ is certainly one of my columns in the File List, but it'd save me time if it could also be a field in the Tag Panel.
> [@Florian](#):
>
> I've added your vote for displaying technical information fields on the Tag Panel to my internal wish list.
This is now possible with [Mp3tag v3.37-beta.1](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/455). You can add a new field `_FORMAT` via **Options → Tag Panel** and use `%_folderpath%` as **Value**.
---
### Author:  [@DavidGDFC](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DavidGDFC)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2026, 10:06am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/directory-field-in-tag-panel-not-showing-the-whole-path/62821/16 "2026-10-11T10:06:40Z")
I've just tried it and it works! Thanks!