# Only add text via an Action if the field is empty?

**URL:** <https://community.mp3tag.de/t/only-add-text-via-an-action-if-the-field-is-empty/15240>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [November 25, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/only-add-text-via-an-action-if-the-field-is-empty/15240 "2013-11-25T11:01:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jezz](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Jezz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Jezz)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/only-add-text-via-an-action-if-the-field-is-empty/15240/1 "2013-11-25T11:01:02Z")

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Hi, is it possible for me to configure an Action such that it will only add text to an empty field, but won't override a field that already contains text? (Using "format action" I guess).

I want to have an Action that will add certain text to certain fields, but not if those fields already contain something. I'm not sure if this is currently possible, or how to configure it if it is.

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**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:** [November 25, 2013, 11:38am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/only-add-text-via-an-action-if-the-field-is-empty/15240/2 "2013-11-25T11:38:55Z")

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To check if a tag value is empty use  
$if(%comment%,yes, no)

For your purpose you can use:

Action Format value  
Field: COMMENT  
Format string: $if2(%comment%,My string if comment is empty)

It reads: If comment tag present, keep it. Else add my string.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jezz](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Jezz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Jezz)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/only-add-text-via-an-action-if-the-field-is-empty/15240/3 "2013-11-25T12:06:53Z")

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Perfect! That worked, thanks!!! 🙂

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**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/only-add-text-via-an-action-if-the-field-is-empty/15240/4 "2026-02-09T12:24:47Z")

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Closed on February 9, 2026, 12:24pm UTC