# Replace a string, except if the string is preceded and followed by "x" **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [June 8, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568 "2022-06-08T18:52:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/spirosg/32/8589_2.png) [@SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/SpirosG)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/1 "2022-06-08T18:52:27Z")
Hi, I want to create an action to replace a hyphen with a round bracket this is possible if i use a **Format Value** action `$regexp(%title%, - , '(')`, but i also want to exclude the occasions where there is a digit before and after the hyphen `\d - \d`. How will i accomplish that? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/2 "2022-06-08T19:11:14Z")
You want to have one regular expression looking for a hyphen excluding the case \d space hyphen space \d Correct? Then you could create a regular expression loooking for \D space hyphen space \D The uppercase \D is a "non-digit". To be sure if this works, you should show us some real world examples. ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/3 "2022-06-08T19:17:11Z")
You could try .... Edit: the first was rubbish. Edit 2: This one looks better: `$regexp(%title%,(.*)[^0-9] - [^0-9](.*),'$1' '(''$2')` transforms "Story of 6 - 6 Life" -\> "Story of 6 - 6 (Life" ---
**Author:** ![SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/spirosg/32/8589_2.png) [@SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/SpirosG)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/4 "2022-06-08T19:40:08Z")
Hi @LyricsLover Real example. **Give It To Me - Vocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)** and i want this to be renamed to **Give It To Me (Vocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)** If i use the `$regexp(%title%, - , '(')`, the result is **Give It To Me (Vocal Club Edit (95 (122 Transition)** **_PS_. there is already an action to add the the missing round bracket at the end of the (Vocal Club Edit)** If i use `$regexp(%title%,\D - \D, '(',)` then, the result is **Give It To M (ocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)** @ohrenkino if i use your regex, title remains the same as before. ---
**Author:** ![SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/spirosg/32/8589_2.png) [@SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/SpirosG)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/5 "2022-06-08T19:44:05Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#): > > $regexp(%title%,(.\*)[^0-9] - ^0-9,'$1' '(''$2') Nope, this is not correct. If i apply this one, then happens the opposite of what i want. **Give It To Me - Vocal Club Edit (95 (122 Transition)** ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/6 "2022-06-08T19:45:22Z")
If it is always the second hyphen that is to be left alone, then try: `$regexp('Give It To Me - Vocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)',(.*?) - (.*),'$1' '(''$2')` ---
**Author:** ![SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/spirosg/32/8589_2.png) [@SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/SpirosG)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/7 "2022-06-08T19:51:34Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#): > > $regexp('Give It To Me - Vocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)',(._?) - (._),'$1' '(''$2') This one works but i want to be sure that even if the `\d - \d` string is the first one will remain intact. I know i could use a filter like `TITLE MATCHES " - " AND NOT TITLE MATCHES "\d - \d"` but i was wondering if there is a regular expression which would do the same. ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/8 "2022-06-08T19:55:32Z")
then the best way is still to filter for the files that should be treated. ---
**Author:** ![SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/spirosg/32/8589_2.png) [@SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/SpirosG)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/9 "2022-06-08T19:58:18Z")
I see. I was typing almost the same 😅. Thanks both of you @ohrenkino and @LyricsLover for the help. ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/10 "2022-06-08T21:20:44Z")
> [@SpirosG](#): > > If i use `$regexp(%title%,\D - \D, '(',)` then, the result is **Give It To M (ocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)** You could try it with `$regexp(%title%,(\D) - (\D),'$1 ($2'))` for your given example. This would transform the content in %TITLE% from `Give It To Me - Vocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)` into `Give It To Me (Vocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition))` Please test it carefully with some more real world examples. Short explanation: Search for a combination of any non-digit character (and put it into the captured group $1) followed by a space a hyphen a space followed by any non-digit character (and put it into the captured group $2) Then rearrange found combinations with the content of $1 followed by a space an opening round bracket and the content of $2 then add a closing round bracket at the end ---
**Author:** ![SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/spirosg/32/8589_2.png) [@SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/SpirosG)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/11 "2022-06-11T19:01:56Z")
Hey @LyricsLover i totally missed this one. I gave it some tries and it works, but i had to remove the last round bracket because otherwise i had a bracket at the end of every title, even those without any bracket at all. The one that works for me is `$regexp(%title%,(\D) - (\D),'$1 ($2')` if i use this one, the title will transform to `Give It To Me (Vocal Club Edit (95 - 122 Transition)` afterwards i use another regular expression to close any open bracket if there is any. Then the title will be transformed to `Give It To Me (Vocal Club Edit) (95 - 122 Transition)` Thanks a lot for the help. Appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-a-string-except-if-the-string-is-preceded-and-followed-by-x/57568/12 "2022-07-11T19:02:49Z")
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