# Remove numbers or other characters from a field

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [March 9, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789 "2017-03-09T19:55:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![choujij](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@choujij](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/choujij)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/1 "2017-03-09T19:55:50Z")

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Hi. I have a problem that's been driving me crazy. I've tried for hours and searched here and google and nothing I've found has worked for me.

I am trying to remove numbers and/or charecters from a field, such as title. For example:

TITLE:  
05 - Crazy  
to  
Crazy

or

05 Crazy  
to  
Crazy

I use the quick action REPLACE and select the field (in this case TITLE).  
None of the codes I've found work in removing the numbers or dashes.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

MP3Tag v2.81

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### Author: ![stevehero](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/stevehero/32/337_2.png) [@stevehero](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/stevehero)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/2 "2017-03-09T20:19:43Z")

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You need to use replace with regular expression and use on the TITLE with:

Replace: **^\d\*\s\*-_\s_**  
With: **Leave Blank**

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### Author: ![Beluna](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Beluna](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Beluna)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/3 "2017-04-12T15:13:31Z")

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> [@stevehero](#):
>
> You need to use replace with regular expression and use on the TITLE with:
> 
> Replace: **^\d\*\s\*-_\s_**  
> With: **Leave Blank**

have a similar problem, but it won't delete the track #.

Change Title

06 - Just For One Day - (Featuring: Imaani)

To read:

Just For One Day - (Featuring: Imaani)

are need to create and action to delete leading 5 characters

Thanks

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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: [April 12, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/4 "2017-04-12T15:21:02Z")

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> [@Beluna](#):
>
> ...  
> Change Title  
> 06 - Just For One Day - (Featuring: Imaani)  
> To read:  
> Just For One Day - (Featuring: Imaani)  
> ...

Try an action of the type "Replace with regular expression" for TITLE  
Search string: (?-i)\d+ - (.\*)  
Replace string: $1

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/nikinik/32/18607_2.png) [@nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/nikinik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/5 "2025-01-08T18:10:05Z")

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I also have problem. ALL topics and `^\d*\s*-*\s*` similar strings ware tested, without result.  
It never remove simple : `01. C-Block` to `C-Block` for example. I go to Actions quick, then replace with regular extensions, then FILENAME and in lower field `^\d*\s*-\s`, or `^\s*[01-19]\d+\s*-\s*` and I press OK and still nothing happened. Do I have to do anything extra, to press some other button or?

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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: [January 8, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/6 "2025-01-08T18:14:50Z")

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The problem is more that

> [@nikinik](#):
>
> `01. C-Block`

has a dot as separator and not a hypen (minus) which you specified in

> [@nikinik](#):
>
> `^\d*\s*-\s`

For your regular expression the source would have to look like this:  
`01- C-block`

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/nikinik/32/18607_2.png) [@nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/nikinik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/7 "2025-01-08T19:01:39Z")

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So what I have to write then? I tried ^\d\*\s\*-\s what you mentioned and still not work.

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### Author: ![nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/nikinik/32/18607_2.png) [@nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/nikinik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/8 "2025-01-08T19:03:07Z")

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If there is a string to remove everything before the first letter, please share it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### 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: [January 8, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/9 "2025-01-08T19:14:59Z")

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> [@nikinik](#):
>
> ^\d\*\s\*-\s

This is the same that you tried in

> [@nikinik](#):
>
> lower field `^\d*\s*-\s`

If you want to address a string like

> [@nikinik](#):
>
> `01. C-Block`

then the search pattern would be:  
`^\d+\.\s*`

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/nikinik/32/18607_2.png) [@nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/nikinik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/10 "2025-01-08T19:36:24Z")

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> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> ^\d+.\s\*

I have tried all of those and nothing works

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<div class="post-metadata">

### 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: [January 8, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/11 "2025-01-08T19:38:29Z")

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> [@nikinik](#):
>
> and nothing works

Strange.  
If your sample string is correct, then it works over here:  
 ![grafik](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/3X/b/e/be37cae492d21e74aa4decdc1274eb7c13d64107.png)

So right now, it would be nice, if you could supply screenshots of the real filenames and the real actions that you apply.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/nikinik/32/18607_2.png) [@nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/nikinik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/12 "2025-01-08T19:52:21Z")

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So a quick update to ALL users. Finally, it works. here is the situation. It does not matter what you write as a string, if you type FILENAME in the first field, IT NEVER WORKS. REMEMBER THAT.  
So the magic trick is to use: ^\d+.\s\* ,but in the FIELD you put: ARTIST, and on the lower field, you paste: ^\d+.\s\* then it changes ONLY the field ARTIST. After that, if all is ok, you have to use the top menu and to choose TAG to FILENAME and all will be good! Thanks to all of you for the support! In return, I will make a video to help other users with this. Cheers!

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<div class="post-metadata">

### 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: [January 8, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/13 "2025-01-08T19:54:10Z")

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> [@nikinik](#):
>
> if you type FILENAME

The correct name for the field is \_FILENAME and not FILENAME. Your fieldname is missing the underscore.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/nikinik/32/18607_2.png) [@nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/nikinik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/14 "2025-01-08T20:19:57Z")

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Thanks a lot for the support brother!

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<div class="post-metadata">

### 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: [January 8, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/15 "2025-01-08T20:28:26Z")

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Could it be that the error in the fieldname also led to the problems with the regular expressions?

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/nikinik/32/18607_2.png) [@nikinik](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/nikinik)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/16 "2025-01-09T14:04:07Z")

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Absolutely! With underscore, it works.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/17 "2025-01-09T14:41:31Z")

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> [@nikinik](#):
>
> With underscore, it works.

This is one of the reasons why we always suggest providing [screenshots](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/hints-for-asking-support-requests/56190#use-screenshots-to-exemplify-the-issue-2) of such Actions.  
Sometimes "Two heads are better than one" (or as we call it in German: “Four eyes see more than two”).

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-numbers-or-other-characters-from-a-field/18789/18 "2025-02-08T14:42:04Z")

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