# sorry for another simple one- shorten filename
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorry-for-another-simple-one-shorten-filename/9016
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [September 23, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorry-for-another-simple-one-shorten-filename/9016 "2009-09-23T20:55:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Darfyddi](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Darfyddi)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorry-for-another-simple-one-shorten-filename/9016/1 "2009-09-23T20:55:04Z")
Hi, I can find the 'Shorten to 64' option andd also I found one post to shorten file names if they have 2 or more parts to them with a dividing character and it is easy enough to copy that for similar or more parts.
However, I only have one part in my file names and would like to limit them all to a set number of characters while retaining .mp3 at the end. I believe I am limited to 31 characters.
I already know that the answer to this will be dead simple but I can't figure it out.
Thank you again for your time.
EDIT:
Just an idea, this is the post I mentioned
[shorten file names](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/8789/1)
I can not figure out what "convert filename filename" is to even begin with!
After that all his equation relies on the fact that there are 2 parts to the filenam with a seperator defining them whereas mine is just a standard title based filename **e.g. 01 This Is A Song.m3p**
On this example, say I went for 10 characters then I would want this as a result - **01 Thi.mp3**
Cheers
EDIT:
No worries now....
Action type: Format value
Field: %\_ANY\_FIELD\_YOU\_WANT%
Formatstring: $left(%\_ANY\_FIELD\_YOU\_WANT%,XY)
Where XY is the numerical length of text you want [ie. 31] [Allow for .ext if necessary]
Can I please ask though that any users posting expressions/fixes in these forums state the 'Action Type' as I found most of the solutions to peoples problems in here are without any clue of what Action it should be assigned to ☹
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorry-for-another-simple-one-shorten-filename/9016/2 "2026-02-09T12:21:49Z")