# Possible to prompt for a value in an action?
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/possible-to-prompt-for-a-value-in-an-action/66408
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [November 3, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/possible-to-prompt-for-a-value-in-an-action/66408 "2024-11-03T03:08:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JCDinPGH](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/JCDinPGH)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/possible-to-prompt-for-a-value-in-an-action/66408/1 "2024-11-03T03:08:45Z")
When trying to properly format, for example, titles for an mp3, I find a lot of times they are not properly named. So I have an action built that uses cutLeft(%title%,4) but what I am hoping is to be able to replace the "4" with a "?" or similar character so I am prompted for a value since it is always going to change depending on the improperly named titles.
If this isn't available, I wonder if it could be added as a feature.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 6:50am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/possible-to-prompt-for-a-value-in-an-action/66408/2 "2024-11-03T06:50:19Z")
There is no way to prompt for anything while executing actions.
See e.g. here:
> [@Is there an Action %ask% capability?](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/is-there-an-action-ask-capability/16593):
>
> I have an action to trim a number of characters from the front of a Title (My) Problem is the number of characters varies and I have to edit the action statement For ex -- this will delete 4 char: $right(%title%,$sub($len(%title%),4)) and if I need to delete 2 then I have to edit it to $right(%title%,$sub($len(%title%),2)) Sometime I forget and run it with the old/wrong number If the action 'language' would allow (if it already does, I did't find it) a 'run time' input, possibly with a pr…
If you want to use varying expressions, Convert\>Tag-Tag may be an alternative. In "Manage History ..." you can set names for format strings and so retrieve them easily.
Or, the use of a filter would also be an option to limit down the number of files to match the set parameters.
As you do not give a real example of the data, I can only suggest in general that perhaps the currently used expression is not the best for the purpose, e.g.
`$regexp(%title%,\d+\s*,)` would remove any leading digit.
But to get a better format string would require a real example.
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### Author:  [@JCDinPGH](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/JCDinPGH)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/possible-to-prompt-for-a-value-in-an-action/66408/3 "2024-11-03T14:50:45Z")
The simplest example and the one I have run into the most, is trying to fix an mp3 whose title is similar to
"01. Song name here" when it should actually be "Song name here" instead. The "01. " varies a lot but is usually consistent on several tracks so cutting the first XX characters (4 in this example) where XX could be a popup prompt would make editing a selectable group of mp3s easier.
I will look into your suggestions also.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/possible-to-prompt-for-a-value-in-an-action/66408/4 "2024-11-03T14:53:32Z")
> [@JCDinPGH](#):
>
> 1. Song name here"
would be treated with
`$regexp(%title%,\d+\.\s*,)`
and any number of leading digits followed by a dot to become "Song name here" - no input required
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/possible-to-prompt-for-a-value-in-an-action/66408/5 "2024-12-03T14:53:42Z")
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