I have frequent issue that I export audio as mp3 file and then, of course, edit tags but after that I change something in audio source so I have to export to mp3 file again, which overwrites previous file and I loose all tagging.
MP3Tag has export option but it seems all just meant to be used for exporting into various visual formats. There is no option to import exported tags, or at least I cannot find it.
So, is it possible to export tags in some data format so it can be imported and applied to new file?
The direct answer to your question is yes. Both export and import options exist with correct matching configurations.
You can also use copy/paste for all files in a list. Why not use a separate temporary folder when you rerip the "new" mp3 files? Use the old files to copy the metadata then paste them into the new files. If the tracks are in the correct order in both folders this can be done in one shot.
Well, that is what I do now: i save old mp3 and then copy tags from it to new file. But it is cumbersome and I have to remember to save old file before I generate one or I loose all tagging, which happens frequently - only after I generate new mp3 I realize I did not save old one.
I would like to have an option to just export ALL tags into a designated file and then reimport when needed without having to take care to manually save previous mp3 so not to overwrite tags.
I did look for export option before posting. I did not understand how it could do what I need. It seems to me as some kind of script to create lists of files and I have to specify each tag I want to use in export. I just want top export all tags for single mp3.
Import option I understand less. It seems as there is actually no option to select format or so.
After you pointed out that I went to read it all again I am afraid I do not realize how to use them. Is there some kind of tutorial or example that may help me how to sue export and import to fit what I need.
I am pretty sure there are others that would benefit having this option that would simplify application usage.
A change of workflow would still be the easiest way - even with the current one you have to remember how the export file was called so that you can import the correct data and also, if you want to import data for more than just a single file, you have to match the filenames of the original files with the new ones.
With a good number of backups, it should be possible to find the original file somewhere in the backup and copy the data from there.
How do you circumvent all your problems at the moment?
In the export script you can use the $list() command that exports all tag data except the picture as the export always results in some kind of text file. And text files do not support binary data like pictures.
The output format is in a human readable format so that you can identify to which field the data belongs - it is not possible to directly import the data from the file directly into the tag fields again. You would have to do some post-processing.
And as all this is a little more complicated than the adaptation of your workflow to keep the original file until the new file is there and then coy&paste the tag data (including the picture) between the files, I suggest that you use that way until your feature request has been implemented.
The copy/paste method is about as simple as it gets. It uses the exact same concept that virtually every other editor on desktop applications uses including simple Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V keystrokes, the right-click mouse menu, and in the Edit menu in the top bar.
This is the only part of your current workflow that you may have to consider changing. Whatever program you are using to rip from CD, or otherwise "generate" the new file, perhaps set the default destination folder to a temporary folder location such as Desktop\NewMusic where they can safely be stored. This should leave the original file intact and allow you to copy all metadata including any album art using the simple copy/paste method from the old to the new file.
You can also use mp3tag to then delete the old file only when you are actually ready to do so. Then use the Convert Tag-Filename function to move the new file from the temporary folder to your preferred final directory location when it is complete. If you do this often an Action can even be created to further simplify the move.
While this does require a change to your current process, all of the actions and metadata remains within mp3tag. No need to export data in any way to yet a third file, then import it back afterwards. After a couple of practice efforts I am sure you will find this process to be much faster than an export/import routine. You won't lose any images. And there are no lingering text files hanging around in a directory somewhere that will need to be cleaned up either.