# Replace characters in filename playlist creation
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-characters-in-filename-playlist-creation/15715
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [May 5, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-characters-in-filename-playlist-creation/15715 "2014-05-05T11:58:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@gsa999](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/gsa999)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-characters-in-filename-playlist-creation/15715/1 "2014-05-05T11:58:12Z")
Hi
I'm trying to write an action that trawls through all my mp3s in all folders and creates a playlist in each folder
The code below works fine:
```
$filename(%_folderpath%\$if($eql(%albumartist%,Various Artists),$cutleft(%album%,6),%artist% - $cutleft(%album%,6)).m3u8,utf-8)#EXTM3U
#EXTART:$if($eql(%albumartist%,Various Artists),%albumartist%,%artist%)
#EXTALB:%album%
$loop(%track%)$loop(%_filename_ext%)#EXTINF:%_length_seconds%,%artist% - %title%
%_filename_ext%
$loopend()$loopend()
```
However - if I have artists or albums with with / or : in them I want to replace them with -
The code below does not work and does not even create a playlist. I have tried wrapping the $replace function around $filename function and within it - neither works
```
$filename($replace(%_folderpath%\$if($eql(%albumartist%,Various Artists),$cutleft(%album%,6),%artist% - $cutleft(%album%,6)),/,-,:, - ).m3u8,utf-8)#EXTM3U
#EXTART:$if($eql(%albumartist%,Various Artists),%albumartist%,%artist%)
#EXTALB:%album%
$loop(%track%)$loop(%_filename_ext%)#EXTINF:%_length_seconds%,%artist% - %title%
%_filename_ext%
$loopend()$loopend()
```
Any ideas
Thanks
G
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-characters-in-filename-playlist-creation/15715/2 "2014-05-05T12:50:40Z")
> [@gsa999](#):
>
> ... if I have artists or albums with with / or : in them I want to replace them with - ...
For example ... here is the underline character used instead of the hyphen minus character ...
**$filename(%\_folderpath%$replace($if($eql(%ALBUMARTIST%,'Various Artists'),$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6),%ARTIST%'/:\* - '$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6))'.m3u8','/','\_',':','\_','\*','\_'),utf-8)**
... or ...
**$filename(%\_folderpath%$replace($if($eql(%ALBUMARTIST%,'Various Artists'),$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6),%ARTIST%'/:\* - '$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6)),'/','\_',':','\_','\*','\_')'.m3u8',utf-8)**
... or ...
**$filename(%\_folderpath%$regexp($if($eql(%ALBUMARTIST%,'Various Artists'),$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6),%ARTIST%'/:\* - '$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6)),'[/:\*]','\_')'.m3u8',utf-8)**
Example for a MTE script ...
**01: $filename(%\_folderpath%$regexp($if($eql(%ALBUMARTIST%,'Various Artists'),$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6),%ARTIST%' - '$cutLeft(%ALBUM%,6)),'[/:\*]','\_')'.m3u8',utf-8)$puts(**
**02: )'#EXTM3U'
03: '#EXTDATE - original creation date of the playlist'
04: '#EXTAUTHOR - playlist author'
05: '#EXTCOVER - name and location of an image file with the CD cover art'
06: '#EXTBACK - same as #EXTCOVER, but backside'
07: '#EXTINLET - same as #EXTCOVER, but inlet, maybe multiple'
08: '#EXTIMAGE - generic associated image, maybe multiple'
09: $loop(%TRACK%)$loop(%\_filename\_ext%)
10: '#EXTARTIST '%ARTIST%
11: '#EXTALBUM'%ALBUM%
12: '#EXTTITLE'%TITLE%
13: '#EXTNUMBER '%TRACK%
14: '#EXTINF'%\_length\_seconds%','%ARTIST%' - '%TITLE%
15: %\_filename\_ext%
16: $loopend()$loopend()**
DD.20140505.1835.CEST
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-characters-in-filename-playlist-creation/15715/3 "2026-02-09T12:25:02Z")