# Still don't understand to make filename match title
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [July 15, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298 "2024-07-15T20:20:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@craigbuhlerjazz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/craigbuhlerjazz)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/1 "2024-07-15T20:20:01Z")
Although I have used computers for decades, have read your manual, and have done a bit of programming in FORTRAN and C, I still don't understand your instructions. I simply want the "titles" of all my mp3 files to match the "filename." (It seems like a no-brainer that 95% of everyone would want this, so why is it not the default?) I would gladly donate, if you could create a simple macro to accomplish this fete, apart from having to do all of this %$? programming.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/2 "2024-07-15T20:28:33Z")
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> I simply want the "titles" of all my mp3 files to match the "filename."
This will not be possible for titles that feature characters that the are invalid for filesystem.
Filenames may also have length restrictions.
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/3 "2024-07-15T21:04:59Z")
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> I simply want the "titles" of all my mp3 files to match the "filename
Should the filename get the content of your current TITLE?
Or should the TITLE get the current filename?
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### Author:  [@craigbuhlerjazz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/craigbuhlerjazz)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/4 "2024-07-15T21:48:31Z")
I originally created all of the filenames (xyz.mp3), and they are currently correct. The titles need to be the same as the filenames. When I created the file names, I had no idea the title would be different. Why would anyone ever want two names for the same file? Doesn't make much sense.
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### Author:  [@craigbuhlerjazz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/craigbuhlerjazz)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/5 "2024-07-15T21:49:47Z")
Oh, we could leave off the ".mp3", as one of your users already noted
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### Author:  [@craigbuhlerjazz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/craigbuhlerjazz)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/6 "2024-07-15T21:51:25Z")
The filenames are designed so that the songs play in the correct sequence. (01 xyz.mp3, 02 xyz.mp3, 03 xyz.mp3, etc.)
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/7 "2024-07-15T21:53:53Z")
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> I simply want the "titles" of all my mp3 files to match the "filename."
This should be all you neee to manage what you are asking.
> **[Format Value – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/actions/format/)**
>
> Documentation on the Format Value action type that can be performed as Quick Action or as reusable workflow from Action Groups. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor.
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> Why would anyone ever want two names for the same file? Doesn't make much sense.
Some prefer to include things like disc and track numbers, the Artist, or other things they feel are important in their individual cases. Everyone manages their libraries in their own way.
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/8 "2024-07-15T21:57:26Z")
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> I had no idea the title would be different. Why would anyone ever want two names for the same file? Doesn't make much sense.
What program did you use for ripping these files? It would be that app that set the metadata.
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### Author:  [@anon32189785](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/anon32189785)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2024, 4:15am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/9 "2024-07-16T04:15:50Z")
> I simply want the "titles" of all my mp3 files to match the "filename."
## look here:
## opens:
(#4 will fill in automatically once you select the field you want)
And no, not everyone would like the titles to be equal to the filenames. I for one will have information like "composer - year - artist - title" in the filename, visible from the "outside" and reflect only the ´"title" in the _field title_, because I can access the rest of the information otherwise (in the player).
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2024, 6:09am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/10 "2024-07-16T06:09:41Z")
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> The filenames are designed so that the songs play in the correct sequence
Usually my player does not need the filename to determine any kind of play order but uses the data in the tags.
In your case
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> 01 xyz.mp3
it would mean that the filename should be split in TRACK and TITLE to get decently structured data. But this would be something that you have to tell the program and that cannot be overcome with
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> a simple macro
If you want to get several macros for different cases then you would have to be able to address them somehow. And as there are so many possible combinations that need to be covered the most flexible way is
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> to do all of this %$? programming
(BTW: for a simple transfer of data from the filename or to the filename, you do not need $ and `?`.)
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2024, 7:16am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/11 "2024-07-16T07:16:54Z")
> [@craigbuhlerjazz](#):
>
> When I created the file names, I had no idea the title would be different. Why would anyone ever want two names for the same file? Doesn't make much sense.
That makes much sense.
Because you can't write a filename with exactly this TITLE content:
`Question: Is 3 * 2 > then 14 / 7 ?`
In the TITLE tag you can write whatever you want.
In the filename - at least under Windows - you have several restrictions. For example you can't use/write these characters in a filename:
```auto
< (less than)
> (greater than)
: (colon)
" (double quote)
/ (forward slash)
\ (backslash)
| (vertical bar or pipe)
? (question mark)
* (asterisk)
```
That's why many of us use the TITLE tag to display the complete, unrestricted songname and then use the filename as good as its possible with the given restrictions by the operating system ("Windows").
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/still-dont-understand-to-make-filename-match-title/65298/12 "2026-02-09T12:30:18Z")