# Replace the first occurrence **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [October 27, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902 "2022-10-27T18:10:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/gialandra/32/12524_2.png) [@gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/gialandra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/1 "2022-10-27T18:10:05Z")
Hi, I want to replace the first occurrence of a point "." with a space + dash " -" of some columns. Is it possible? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/motleyg/32/440_2.png) [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/2 "2022-10-27T18:35:58Z")
This is for the column names, or the data in the list? Perhaps post a screenshot of what you have now, and describe in detail what you want to change. ---
**Author:** ![gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/gialandra/32/12524_2.png) [@gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/gialandra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/3 "2022-10-27T19:15:05Z")
I want to change the data in the list (title and filename), this is the screenshot: ![2022-10-27_211243](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/2/22574f8ee586a1f831251e94782e939dda688b1b.png) ---
**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:** [October 27, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/4 "2022-10-27T21:06:13Z")
You could try an action of the type "Format value" for TITLE Format string: `$regexp(%title%,'(.*?)\.(.*)',$1 - $2)` This leads from "142 Numeri. Capitolo..." to "142 Numeri - Capitolo ..." ---
**Author:** ![gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/gialandra/32/12524_2.png) [@gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/gialandra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/5 "2022-10-27T22:33:09Z")
The format string works good with a glitch: a double space to the right of the dash. I don't understand the syntax of string, is it possible correct it? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 6:22am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/6 "2022-10-28T06:22:09Z")
Please try Format string: `$regexp(%title%,'(.*?)\. (.*)',$1 - $2)` or Format string: `$regexp(%title%,'(.*?)\.(.*)',$1 -$2)` ---
**Author:** ![gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/gialandra/32/12524_2.png) [@gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/gialandra)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 7:21am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/7 "2022-10-28T07:21:27Z")
It seems that both work perfectly even they are different, this is disorienting to me... With the new format, tag switchs from ID3v2.4 to ID3v2.3. Is it normal? ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 7:51am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/8 "2022-10-28T07:51:35Z")
> [@gialandra](#): > > this is disorienting to me Maybe it helps if you understand the function of `(.*?)\. (.*)` `(.*?)` looks for and groups every character BEFORE the first `\. ` dot and a space `(.*)` looks for and groups every character AFTER the above dot and space If you prefer it as picture: ![image](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/1/179de506f0b4ec0b31bc2ab42552b0235a83a19b.png) Then the content of `%TITLE%` (the 2 groups with the collected characters) will be replaced like this `$1` content of first group `- ` a space a minus/dash and a space character `$2` content of the second group ---
**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:** [October 28, 2022, 8:05am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/9 "2022-10-28T08:05:57Z")
> [@gialandra](#): > > With the new format, tag switchs from ID3v2.4 to ID3v2.3. Is it normal? This depends on the settings you have in File\>OptionsTags\>Mpeg. ID3V2.3 is still the tag version that is supported by most players. ---
**Author:** ![gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/gialandra/32/12524_2.png) [@gialandra](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/gialandra)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/10 "2022-10-28T20:09:29Z")
Thank you all for your help and useful explanations ---
**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/replace-the-first-occurrence/58902/11 "2022-11-27T20:09:34Z")
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