# Remove characters based on (First N, Last N) from field.
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-characters-based-on-first-n-last-n-from-field/15935
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [July 23, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-characters-based-on-first-n-last-n-from-field/15935 "2014-07-23T13:49:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@fohrums](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fohrums)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-characters-based-on-first-n-last-n-from-field/15935/1 "2014-07-23T13:49:06Z")
My Genre field is set like so:
%genre%: Hip-Hop; East Coast Hip-Hop
%genre%: Electronic; Drum & Bass
this was because I wanted to use MusicBee's auto-EQ feature which was based off 'grouping' tags (Electronic, Hip-Hop, Rock, etc). Now that i'm going back to Foobar2000 I didn't like how it's displayed and I made up my mind to revert back to good ole' (1) genre label like so:
%genre%: East Coast Hip-Hop
%genre%: Drum & Bass
=============================
Now there are (2) ways to delete them:
#1. [First N, Last N] from which the number 'N' removed the relative amount of characters.
I got this method from the utility 'Bulk Renamer'
#2 [Character Specific] delete the respective characters (most likely grouped) within %genre% including separators & spaces.
--info--
nice read for music library organization for genre
[http://www.blisshq.com/music-library-manag...sic-genre-list/](http://www.blisshq.com/music-library-management-blog/2011/01/25/fundamental-music-genre-list/)
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-characters-based-on-first-n-last-n-from-field/15935/2 "2014-07-23T15:30:12Z")
> [@fohrums](#):
>
> My Genre field is set like so:
> %genre%: Hip-Hop; East Coast Hip-Hop ... and I made up my mind to revert ... genre label like so: %genre%: East Coast Hip-Hop ...
Make sure to see only those files which you want to manipulate ...
Set Filter: GENRE MATCHES "^.+?;.+?$"
... or ...
Set Filter: GENRE HAS "; "
Begin Action Group **Test2014#20140723.SetGenreFromItem2**
Action #1
_Actiontype 5:_ **Format value**
_Field \_\_\_\_\_\_:_ **GENRE**
_Formatstring:_ **$replace(%GENRE%,'; ','\\')**
Action #2
_Actiontype 5:_ **Format value**
_Field \_\_\_\_\_\_:_ **GENRE**
_Formatstring:_ **$meta(GENRE,1)**
End Action Group **Test2014#20140723.SetGenreFromItem2** (2 Actions)
From: GENRE = Hip-Hop; East Coast Hip-Hop
To: GENRE = East Coast Hip-Hop
... or ...
Action "Format value"
Field: GENRE
Formatstring: **$cutLeft(%GENRE%,$add($strstr(%GENRE%,'; '),1))**
... or ...
Formatstring: **$ifgreater($strstr(%GENRE%,'; '),0,$cutLeft(%GENRE%,$add($strstr(%GENRE%,'; '),1)),%GENRE%)**
DD.20140723.1935.CEST, DD.20140724.1329.CEST
---
### Author:  [@fohrums](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fohrums)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2014, 7:54am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-characters-based-on-first-n-last-n-from-field/15935/3 "2014-07-24T07:54:37Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> Begin Action Group **Test2014#20140723.SetGenreFromItem2**
>
> ... or ...
>
>
>
> Action "Format value"
> Field: GENRE
> Formatstring: [size=1][font="Courier New"]**$cutLeft(%GENRE%,$add($strstr(%GENRE%,'; '),1))**
>
>
>
> DD.20140723.1935.CEST
I prefer this one as it's simply a shorter method. BUT, is there a way to notify the genre tag if it doesn't have anything before "'; " (yes, including that space) then don't apply this command. Otherwise it removes one character from beginning N like so:
East Coast Hip-Hop \> ast Coast Hip-Hop
Drum & Bass \> rum & Bass
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2014, 8:00am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-characters-based-on-first-n-last-n-from-field/15935/4 "2014-07-24T08:00:26Z")
> [@fohrums](#):
>
> I prefer this one as it's simply a shorter method. BUT, is there a way to notify the genre tag if it doesn't have anything before "'; " (yes, including that space) then don't apply this command. Otherwise it removes one character from beginning N like so:
>
> East Coast Hip-Hop \> ast Coast Hip-Hop
> Drum & Bass \> rum & Bass
>
> 
What about an action of the type "Replace with regular expression" for GENRE
Search string: .\*;
(with a blank at the end)
Replace String:
(leave that empty).
This should delete that part of a string that is in front of a "; ".