# Format Directory than Format Filename
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [December 26, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633 "2017-12-26T19:50:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ron\_Mark](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Ron_Mark)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/1 "2017-12-26T19:50:54Z")
Using format directory to move files to new location, than trying to create Disc Folders using format filename in the newly created directory location however:
Format Directory - moves folder to new location
Format Filename - generates Disc folders but pulls files back to original location to do so?
Why is that and how can I achieve my end result without having to pull the new directory folder into MP3tag and than run the format filename?
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/2 "2017-12-26T20:01:28Z")
see [Moving all files (including non mp3) and rename if required](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/19511/8)
---
### Author:  [@Ron\_Mark](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Ron_Mark)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/3 "2017-12-26T22:59:26Z")
I did try absolute paths as well as some options suggested by Dano/Damage after searching the previous entries in the forums dating all the way back to the beginning...no love there either.
Like this one from 2010:
Format Value
Field: \_FILENAME
Format string: %\_folderpath%$if($geql(%discnumber%,1),CD $num(%discnumber%,1),)%\_filename%
however this one created folders with the complete folderpath which is not what I was after...
Was hoping to get some new insight by asking again...
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2017, 7:41am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/4 "2017-12-27T07:41:08Z")
> [@MyAlteredEgo](#):
>
> ....
> however this one created folders with the complete folderpath which is not what I was after...
>
> Was hoping to get some new insight by asking again...
I think that it is still true that actions to rename files or folders are always executed last in a row of actions.
So, the simplest way would be to start the action for folders apart from the one for filenames.
But you already got that advice.
---
### Author:  [@Ron\_Mark](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Ron_Mark)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/5 "2017-12-28T03:07:07Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> I think that it is still true that actions to rename files or folders are always executed last in a row of actions.
> So, the simplest way would be to start the action for folders apart from the one for filenames.
> But you already got that advice.
You sound almost annoyed that I am looking for alternate ideas?
A fresh pair of eyes or ideas doesn't hurt...
I spent considerable time working on this via knowledge and forum queries:
See Compilation Volume...
Than someone suggested something to someone else in the forums and I was able to basically boil it all down to:
See Forum Suggestion Compilation...
obviously much cleaner and easier...
I am just looking at options and/or a different perspective...Apologies if you seem put out by this as that was not my intent as you are a wealth of insight.
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2017, 9:10am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/6 "2017-12-28T09:10:59Z")
> [@MyAlteredEgo](#):
>
> ... I am looking for alternate ideas ...
You have attached a picture, which shows this format string ...
$mid(%album%, (Hands|Festival|Sampler|Compilation|Volume),999)
This looks as an improper usage of the function $mid(string,startposition,length).
Within this regular expression ...
$regexp(%album%,'^.\* (Volume \D+).\*$','$1')
... there is applied the placeholder \D, ... which specifies a non-digit-value, ...
is this intended?
To move a file to a new location and define folders, you may apply such a formatstring ...
Action: Format Value ... on field: \_FILENAME ...
Formatstring:
'M:\MUSIC\_NEW\'$upper($left($if2(%ALBUMARTIST%,%ARTIST%),1))'\'$if2(%ALBUMARTIST%,%ARTIST%)'\'[$left(%YEAR%,4)' - ']$if2(%ALBUM%,'Unknown')'\'%\_filename%
DD.20171228.1159.CET
---
### Author:  [@Ron\_Mark](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Ron_Mark)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/7 "2017-12-28T21:50:38Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> You have attached a picture, which shows this format string ...
>
> $mid(%album%, (Hands|Festival|Sampler|Compilation|Volume),999)
>
> This looks as an improper usage of the function $mid(string,startposition,length).
So basically I have bastardized this function however it does exactly what I need it to do and I do not require one function for each item (Hands|Festival|Sampler|Compilation|Volume|Part)..however as it does work I think that I will not be trying to correct my error...
Guess sometimes the easiest way to do something is by accident...
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2017, 10:19am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/8 "2017-12-29T10:19:48Z")
> [@MyAlteredEgo](#):
>
> So basically I have bastardized this function ...
Yes, you did some sort of fake here.
> [@MyAlteredEgo](#):
>
> ... however it does exactly what I need it to do ...
Ok, each one according to his personal form ... put some botch in .. and it gives botch out.
> [@MyAlteredEgo](#):
>
> ... however as it does work I think that I will not be trying to correct my error.
I am still of the opinion that you gave us a totally improper example of applying the Mp3tag Scripting language.
DD.20171229.1219.CET
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/9 "2017-12-29T13:40:57Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> I am still of the opinion that you gave us a totally improper example of applying the Mp3tag Scripting language.
>
> DD.20171229.1219.CET
I completely agree: I tried it with
$mid(%album%, (Diary|Festival|Sampler|Compilation|Volume),999)
for an Album called "Ambient.Diary One"
and it returns nothing.
---
### Author:  [@Ron\_Mark](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Ron_Mark)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/10 "2017-12-30T02:08:53Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> I completely agree: I tried it with
> $mid(%album%, (Diary|Festival|Sampler|Compilation|Volume),999)
> for an Album called "Ambient.Diary One"
> and it returns nothing.
It would seem that I owe you both an apology. I went back and took another look at the action itself and ran it singularly ....and you both are 100% correct, this actually does nothing at all....
When I entered this I added it to a UTILS action grouping that had an action that already populated the guess value fields...so I mistook this as the action that did it...my sincerest apologies
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/format-directory-than-format-filename/19633/11 "2026-02-09T12:27:09Z")