How to do 'Find/Replace' in a particular Field

Support
1

Hi, I have a very simple question, the answer to which should save me some time, but I don't want to push blindly ahead, and then find I've screwed up!

In the Title field, I show the title of the piece of music, and then, using the Convert function, which I learnt from another forum-mrmber here, I was able to show that original title, and then have the composer's name automatically added afterwards in brackets.

Originally it would show: 'Nocturne in C minor' (the composer in the composer's column would show Chopin, Frederick.

Using Convert, the title would then show as Nocturne in C minor [Chopin, Frederick}

Just suppose I had spelt Chopin incorrectly, say Shopin. It would be easy to change all the instances in the Composer column from Shopin, Frederick to Chopin, Frederick.

But this DOESNT alter the composer's name appended to the title, so that will still show incorrectly. If I just select everything and do the Convert again, while it takes the information from the corrected composer's name, it doesn't delete the original entry!

So I'd end up with Nocturne in C minor [Shopin, Frederick] [Chopin, Frederick

What I' like to be able to do is to take the Composer column in bulk, and do what on Word would be Find and Replace, or similar,

I would ask it to find all the instances of Shopin, and ask that these be changed to Chopin - of ask it to find all Shopin, Fredericks and bulk change these inot Chopin, Frederick.

It must be easy, but I'm always afriad of screwing up, even with a couple of backups!

Many thanks!

2

You can do this in different wqys (with the converter or as an action group). Here is a way with the converter which gives you an (immediate) preview of the result. The way of an action would give you the possibility to do it in one go to change both fields.

Converter Tag->Tag
Field. COMPOSER
Format String: $replace(%composer%,Shopin,Chopin)

then next

Converter Tag->Tag
Field. TITLE
Format String: $replace(%title%,Shopin,Chopin)

More about $replace(): Have a look at the Help and the scripting section.

With actions you can use the action-type "Replace".

3

Use a filter to "Find" (i.e. narrow down the number of displayed files)
%title% HAS Shopin

The use an Action (Quick) of the type "Replace" like in Word:
Search: Shopin
Replace: Chopin

4

I am always having little rethinks about laying out my CD collection.

I had some help with resorting the Genre column, which I originally wanted to divide up as such:
Genre: Ethnic Genre: Vocal etc or by Instrument: Instrument: Piano Instrument: Saxophone

I want to rethink a few categories and will need to change Piano: Piano Concertos for Genre: Piano Concertos. It will basically involve swapping some 'Genres' for 'Instruments, and I'm looking for a batch-type action to help me.

Any ideas greatly received,

Wolksby

5

I don't understand the systematic that it's why I cannot really think of a clever way to deal with the problem.
So it would be an action of the type "Replace"
Search string: Piano:
Replace string: Instruments:

6

Maybe filter for something like;
%genre% HAS Piano

Then doing a Quick Action of Replace in the Genre field to include the colon so that is differentiated;
Field: Genre
Original: Piano:
Replace with: Genre:

Change the filter to any other instrument you used that you want to change, and make the necessary change as well in the Replace action, keeping the colon there as well.

7

Hi, and many thanks so far! Some while back, when wanting to work on 'Genre' the first instruction is was given - and I quote- was

Load all files of your collection

Load all files of your collection

Select all files

I've forgotten how to do this!

If I open a particular MP3 in the programme, only that MP3's details are accessible - I can't recall what I was told to see all the rest. I seem to recollect something with 'Directory', but it's a while back now!

8

Open the folder highest up in the hierarchie of your collection.
For that, either drag&drop that folder from the Windows Explorer on the Mp3tag file list or
use File>Change folder
and navigate to the highest folder.

The function to select all files is either Ctrl-A or Edit>Select all.

9

Many thanks - it's all becoming a lot clearer as I delve in and use it.

Just one little question:

Is there are way to rename any for the column headings? Specifically, I'd love to change the 'Genre' heading to 'Form / Genre / Instrument' if possible. Can this be achieved, or is it major surgery? TIA

10

Occasionally, it may be worthwhile to consult the documentation:

Try a right-click on a column header and select Columns ...

11

That all looks pretty complicated to me!

Just supposing I wanted to rename the Genre column as Genre etc - how would I go about this, starting off with this screen?

Columns

12

"Name" is where you enter the displayed column header.

This is also described in the linked documentation:

Editing Columns

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