# Remove Part of the File name, after the "-"
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [January 20, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965 "2012-01-20T03:08:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@monet60707](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/monet60707)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965/1 "2012-01-20T03:08:42Z")
Hi,
Can you help me with Regular Expressions? I want to remove part of the file name after the dash "-" e.g. Depeche Mode - People Are People should become just Depeche Mode. I figured out the way to do it with single words e.g. Europe - Carrie (becomes Europe) but it does not work with 2-worded bands.
And also how would i do it the other way around, meaning to remove the band before the "-" but leave the song title (e.g. Depeche Mode - People Are People should become just People Are People)?
Any help is much appreciated.
Peter J.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965/2 "2012-01-20T04:57:46Z")
Use the converter "Filename - FIlename".
Enter as mask for the original filename:
%1 - %2
Enter as mask for the target filename (if you want to keep the first part):
%1
Enter as mask for the target filename (if you want to keep the second part):
%2
The Preview function in the dialogue should give you a hint whether the mask fits.
---
### Author:  [@monet60707](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/monet60707)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965/3 "2012-01-20T16:06:13Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> Use the converter "Filename - FIlename".
> Enter as mask for the original filename:
> %1 - %2
> Enter as mask for the target filename (if you want to keep the first part):
> %1
> Enter as mask for the target filename (if you want to keep the second part):
> %2
>
> The Preview function in the dialogue should give you a hint whether the mask fits.
Thanx ohrenkino!
It does the trick for me. Really appreciate you taking the time to solve this.
---
### Author:  [@camelx](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/camelx)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965/4 "2012-01-21T18:34:58Z")
> [@monet60707](#):
>
> Thanx ohrenkino!
>
> It does the trick for me. Really appreciate you taking the time to solve this.
On a similar note can I do something similar for a tag field, such as album?
Obviously I can do a regular Exp, but didn't want to miss something simpler like above.
For example I have Album with something like this:
Year - Conductor - Album Name
I want to convert it to JUST the album name and get rid of the "Year - Conductor - " part.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was using GUESS VALUES with
%album%
to
%year% - %conductor% - %album%
* * *
What I didn't like is that it replaced my year and conductors with that, I'd rather keep my values, I was hoping for something like %dummy% - %dummy% - %album%.
thanks.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965/5 "2012-01-21T18:43:19Z")
> [@Steve Holiday](#):
>
> On a similar note can I do something similar for a tag field, such as album?
> Obviously I can do a regular Exp, but didn't want to miss something simpler like above.
>
> For example I have Album with something like this:
>
> Year - Conductor - Album Name
>
> I want to convert it to JUST the album name and get rid of the "Year - Conductor - " part.
>
> Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am afraid not.
Or - you could do a "Replace with Regular Expression"
Input-Mask:
.\* - (.\*)
Replace string:
$1
This should get rid of everything up to the last hyphen.
---
### Author:  [@camelx](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/camelx)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965/6 "2012-01-21T19:40:15Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> I am afraid not.
> Or - you could do a "Replace with Regular Expression"
> Input-Mask:
> .\* - (.\*)
> Replace string:
> $1
> This should get rid of everything up to the last hyphen.
Great one!! Very simple, thanks so much.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/remove-part-of-the-file-name-after-the/12965/7 "2026-02-09T12:23:35Z")