# For \*.m4a files, leading zero for track numbers 1 to 9 (01, 02, 03, ...)
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [August 15, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614 "2024-08-15T11:06:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Pavel206](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Pavel206)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614/1 "2024-08-15T11:06:22Z")
For \*.m4a files in the "Track" column, it is not possible to prefix the leading zero for track numbers 1 to 9 (01, 02, 03, ...).
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2024, 11:18am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614/2 "2024-08-15T11:18:02Z")
Is this a question or a statement?
In any case, see also here:
> [@Not possible to save track numbers with leading zero in m4a](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/not-possible-to-save-track-numbers-with-leading-zero-in-m4a/49664):
>
> Hello, In mp3tag, it's not possible to save track numbers with leading zeros in m4a files. If I write 01 or 001 as track number, mp3 tag only saves 1. In other formats like MP3 or FLAC, the problem doesn't exists. In other programs, like Foobar2000, the leading zeros work, but mp3tag shows only 1 instead of 01 or 001. Is there the possibility to fix this? System: Win10 x64, latest mp3-tag-Version, German system. Greetings Adrian Kurz
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### Author:  [@Pavel206](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Pavel206)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2024, 11:52am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614/3 "2024-08-15T11:52:14Z")
It is a statement and a question at the same time.
When the data "$num(%track%,2)" is inserted when renaming the file, then the data with a zero in front is inserted into the file name: 01, 02, ..., without the need to create this new column. Although the data 01, 02, ... will be displayed in the newly created column, the data 1, 2, ... will still remain in the "Track" column.
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2024, 11:55am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614/4 "2024-08-15T11:55:28Z")
Filename is a string so the leading zero can be manipulated and added as desired.
In the m4a format leading zeros are not permitted in this number formatted field and as such they will be dropped when saved in mp3tag.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2024, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614/5 "2024-08-15T12:12:52Z")
> [@Pavel206](#):
>
> file name ...the "Track" column.
As @MotleyG said: filenames are not tags. Tags have their rules and so have filenames. E.g. not all characters which are perfectly valid in tags are allowed in filenames.
If you want to see leading zeros regardless of the tag format, use as
Value: $num(%track%,2)
in the column definition.
Please note, that this will remove the total number of tracks, if that is part of the data.
... and aren't the leading zeros only a kludge for players that cannot sort numerically?
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2024, 12:13pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/for-m4a-files-leading-zero-for-track-numbers-1-to-9-01-02-03/65614/6 "2024-09-14T12:13:46Z")
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