# Remove everything before - in \_filename **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [March 17, 2021, 7:03am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404 "2021-03-17T07:03:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Clayman648)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 7:03am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/1 "2021-03-17T07:03:53Z")
Hey, basically I need a line of code that I can use to remove everything before: - including the space on the right side so I can use do in tag to tag Before: Shaggy - It Wasn't Me After: It Wasn't Me I can't do %TITLE% becuase A) they are both different and B) that's where I was this information to go I'm using another program to mass change the titles to a certain layout then loading those files into mp3tag and then changing the %title% Thanks for reading ---
**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:** [March 17, 2021, 7:07am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/2 "2021-03-17T07:07:16Z")
Did you know that you can set more than one field variable when you import data from filenames? So > [@Clayman648](#): > > Shaggy - It Wasn't Me Could import data with Convert\>Filename-Tag Mask: %artist% - %title% And if you want to get just the last part to go to TITLE, then use Mask: %dummy% - %title% ---
**Author:** ![Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Clayman648)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 7:27am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/3 "2021-03-17T07:27:26Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#): > > Did you know that you can set more than one field variable when you import data from filenames? > So Thank you for your fast reply! in Tag to tag I do but i'll now delete my old TITLE and just use your method Thanks! now i'm just thinking about adding a column that shows just the title from the file name and renaming it something like New Title AFTER filename - Tag so I can see the differences at a glance ---
**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:** [March 17, 2021, 7:33am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/4 "2021-03-17T07:33:56Z")
You could import the data from the filename to a user-defined field like e.g. CHECK\_TITLE. Then use a filter that shows you all files where TITLE does not equal CHECK\_TITLE: `"$if($eql(%title%,%check_title%),1,0)" IS 0` ---
**Author:** ![Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Clayman648)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 8:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/5 "2021-03-17T08:01:46Z")
hmm, can I have both methods please? because I was just going to use the filter and search for individual changes I have applied and imported so I can verify manually like that ---
**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:** [March 17, 2021, 8:12am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/6 "2021-03-17T08:12:28Z")
> [@Clayman648](#): > > can I have both methods please You are free to use whatever you think is suitable. Yet, I don't understand what you mean by "both methods". If you want to compare 2 strings, it is much easier to have them nice and separated in fields than to cut a piece of data from a longer piece. ---
**Author:** ![Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Clayman648)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 8:22am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/7 "2021-03-17T08:22:14Z")
both methods from your: CHECK\_TITLE. Then use a filter that shows you all files where TITLE does not equal CHECK\_TITLE: `"$if($eql(%title%,%check_title%),1,0)" IS 0` and my: Adding a column that shows just the title from the filename by adding some code into value I want to see and understand fully of what and how your suggestion works as well as mine ---
**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:** [March 17, 2021, 8:26am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/8 "2021-03-17T08:26:09Z")
Yeah, go ahead. Do this for a sample file. Import some data into CHECK\_TITLE, create a column that has %check\_title% as value and field. Then compare if really CHECK\_TITLE contains that part that you just imported from the file. Then apply the filter and see if the result is convincing. Perhaps I forgot to mention: After you have finished the comparison, you simply delete that user-defined field CHECK\_TITLE as you probably don't need it anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Clayman648)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 9:00am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/9 "2021-03-17T09:00:26Z")
hmm, I tried it but the new column ends up dataless even when both titles were different but that's okay because a sample I have manually changed the file name from 3 Doors Down - By my Side 3 Doors Down - By My Side then import (all my changes to files in one hit) then go to convert Filename - Tag The last thing I want to do is add a column with changed %\_filename% in the Value section to show: By My Side So I Can see all the changes in like a list format going down to double check and see what the before and after is going to be. I tried it but $cutleft doesn't pickup special characters like "- " what code is that please? ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 9:05am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/10 "2021-03-17T09:05:11Z")
> [@Clayman648](#): > > hmm, I tried it but the new column ends up dataless > even when both titles were different As I don't know what you did to fill the column with data and how the column is defined, I cannot help you. To separate a string with "`-`" as devider try as value: `$regexp(%_filename%,.* - (.*),$1)` Leave field empty. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2021, 9:09am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/11 "2021-03-17T09:09:18Z")
> [@Clayman648](#): > > The last thing I want to do is add a column with changed %\_filename% in the Value section > to show: By My Side Did you know that there is an action to change the case of words? That relieves you from the task to manipulate every title individually. ---
**Author:** ![Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Clayman648](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Clayman648)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 9:28am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/12 "2021-03-17T09:28:49Z")
That's alright This is PERFECT! thank you so much Yeah because now I can see the differences in the old and current title and to see my changes in the file name that I can change in mp3tag Thank you so much! ---
**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, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-everything-before-in-filename/52404/13 "2026-02-09T12:29:07Z")