# Request: Replace with a 2-column old/new value list

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/request-replace-with-a-2-column-old-new-value-list/62578
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [October 28, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/request-replace-with-a-2-column-old-new-value-list/62578 "2023-10-28T14:46:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![silentdrum](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@silentdrum](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/silentdrum)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/request-replace-with-a-2-column-old-new-value-list/62578/1 "2023-10-28T14:46:09Z")

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I use the $replace function often when I need to replace multiple possibilities and it works well;

$replace(%artist%,Creedence Clearwater Revival,C.C.R.,Daryl Hall & John Oates,Hall & Oates,Electric Light Orchestra,E.L.O)

However, when the list of possible values gets long, it makes it harder to read and introduces possible mistakes, copies, and missed values.

I would like to see the replace action with a list of multiple possible values to replace;

Old Value New Value  
Creedence Clearwater Revival C.C.R.  
Daryl Hall & John Oates Hall & Oates  
Electric Light Orchestra E.L.O

Additionally it might be helpful to import a list of values from a text value in the same manner as Custom List Values on the tag panel.

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### Author: ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/request-replace-with-a-2-column-old-new-value-list/62578/2 "2023-10-28T15:10:49Z")

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I think this is what [Action Groups](https://docs.mp3tag.de/actions/#action-groups) are intended for:

 ![image](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/9/98b986ede9746071c67da2bb31c43af55f724ec8.png)

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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: [October 28, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/request-replace-with-a-2-column-old-new-value-list/62578/3 "2023-10-28T15:13:15Z")

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> [@silentdrum](#):
>
> Additionally it might be helpful to import a list of values from a text value

You could do that creating `.MTA` files and place it in the Mp3tag configuration subfolder `\data\actions`  
The first action in the above screenshot would look like this` Replace Multipe Artists.mta`

```auto
[#0]
T=2
F=ARTIST
1=Creedence Clearwater Revival
2=C.C.R
3=0|0

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![silentdrum](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@silentdrum](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/silentdrum)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/request-replace-with-a-2-column-old-new-value-list/62578/4 "2023-10-28T17:01:51Z")

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That is a good workaround and I can move the order for if needed, however it's still a bit more work than just making/adding to a list.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![silentdrum](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@silentdrum](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/silentdrum)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/request-replace-with-a-2-column-old-new-value-list/62578/5 "2023-10-28T17:08:37Z")

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> [@LyricsLover](#):
>
> You could do that creating `.MTA` files and place it in the Mp3tag configuration subfolder `\data\actions`  
> The first action in the above screenshot would look like this` Replace Multipe Artists.mta`
> 
> ```auto
> [#0]
> T=2
> F=ARTIST
> 1=Creedence Clearwater Revival
> 2=C.C.R
> 3=0|0
> 
> ```

This is also a good workaround, but still has a little extra overhead to just a simple list, especially if the order needs changing, which means the preceding numbers also need reordering.