# Help Left Function **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [August 5, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090 "2019-08-05T14:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fracta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/1 "2019-08-05T14:00:40Z")
Hello, I am writing several info into the Comment field. Basically I have the key, then rating, the other info.. I would like to extract the key and the rating from the comment field to 2 additional fields called: KEY2 and Rating I tried to use the left() function..but it does not work.. I did some search on the forum..and did not found what to fill in for the value , the field... Any one could help me ? thanks fracta ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/2 "2019-08-05T16:58:08Z")
See e.g. the help on string functions: > **[Scripting Functions – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/scripting/#string-functions)** > > Documentation on Mp3tag's scripting functions. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor. **$left(x,n)** returns the leftmost n characters of string x. So, to get the first 7 characters from the left of a string (e.g. "Rolling Stones") use $left("Rolling Stones",7) and get "Rolling". Instead of a string constant you can also use string variables like %artist%: $left(%artist%,7) or in your case $left(%comment%,5). But if you show us the real, typical data, it could be that $left() is not the best function for your problem. ---
**Author:** ![fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fracta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/3 "2019-08-05T17:13:30Z")
great thanks a lot for your quick answer. my comment field is like this 5A - 5 - Top - Tubes - Intro or 12B - 3 I would like to extract the comment field into 3 or 4 fields Field 1 would contain the key 2/3 digits Field 2 would contain the iTunes rating Field 3 would contain the rest in the comment field, All data are separated by a "-" thanks a lot for your help ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/4 "2019-08-05T17:20:53Z")
> [@fracta](#): > > 5A - 5 - Top - Tubes - Intro You could try an action of the type "Guess value" Source: %comment% Pattern: %initialkey% -%popularimeter% - %field3% and for > [@fracta](#): > > 12B - 3 use also "Guess value" Source: %comment% Pattern: %initialkey% -%popularimeter% ---
**Author:** ![fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fracta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/5 "2019-08-05T17:24:39Z")
ok I did not know this function... my concern is that I should use the same formula...so will use the first 1 and my field 3 will be empty some times... will give a try a let you know thanks again ---
**Author:** ![fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fracta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/6 "2019-08-05T17:39:44Z")
i give a try...it works for the classic field "mood"..but not for the new field I have added... i have created a field Key2. and Rate...to collect the key and the rating.. here the action I did: %key2% - %rate% - %mood% result: Im able to extract the mood value: top - end but not the key and rate thanks for your help ---
**Author:** ![fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@fracta](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fracta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/7 "2019-08-05T17:46:53Z")
ok i made some progress... now I have the output..but only if the field3 is in comment If comment = 5A - 5 - Top this is working properly %key2% - %rate% - %mood% but if comment = 5A - 4 I get nothing in output.... any idea ? thanks ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 7:52am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/8 "2019-08-06T07:52:19Z")
> [@fracta](#): > > but if comment = 5A - 4 > I get nothing in output.... Yes, that is a different pattern - there is nothing to fill %mood%. So you may only use > [@fracta](#): > > %key2% - %rate% ---
**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 8:05am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/help-left-function/46090/9 "2019-09-05T08:05:04Z")
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