# Trim some contributing artist from filename
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [January 7, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660 "2010-01-07T10:35:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@kimosapiens](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/kimosapiens)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/1 "2010-01-07T10:35:59Z")
Hi !
How do I trim the filename to make it show only the first artist from a list of contributing artists ?
Example:
```
Original Artists: Alfa, Beta, Gamma Tittle: My Song
Actual filename: alfa, beta, gamma _ My Song
I want to trim the filename field after the first ( , ) to obtain this:
Expected filename: alfa _ My Song
```
---
### Author:  [@Tarc](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Tarc)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/2 "2010-01-07T14:22:37Z")
Hi,
Double check if it works:
Make a new action: "Replace with regular expression"
"Field": _FILENAME
"Regular expression": ^(.?)(\s?),(.\*?)_(\s\*?)([^\s])(.\*)$
"Replace with": $1 \_ $5$6
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/3 "2010-01-07T14:51:24Z")
> [@Kimosavi](#):
>
> ... Actual filename: alfa, beta, gamma \_ My Song ... Expected filename: alfa \_ My Song
$left(%\_FILENAME%,$sub($strchr(%\_FILENAME%,','),1))$mid(%\_FILENAME%,$strchr(%_FILENAME%,'_'),$len(%\_FILENAME%))
DD.20100107.1651.CET
---
### Author:  [@kimosapiens](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/kimosapiens)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/4 "2010-01-07T20:38:00Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> $left(%\_FILENAME%,$sub($strchr(%\_FILENAME%,','),1))$mid(%\_FILENAME%,$strchr(%_FILENAME%,'_'),$len(%\_FILENAME%))
>
> DD.20100107.1651.CET
I put your command in FORMAT VALUE and work fine except in cases where the name of one of the artists includes last name:
```
Example: alfa, beta, gamma gamma, zeta_Song Title
```
in these case, the filename is not trimed.
Thanks again !!!
---
### Author:  [@Tarc](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Tarc)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/5 "2010-01-07T20:39:22Z")
> [@Kimosavi](#):
>
> Thank's for your help. But, I need to know where to put this.  Is it a regular expression, guess value, or what ?
>
> 1. Action Type:
>
> 2. Field:
>
> 3. Regular Expression:
>
> 4. Replace Matches with:
>
> or whatever the setting is.....
>
> Thanks again !!!
> 
Mine didn't work?
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/6 "2010-01-07T21:06:10Z")
> [@Tarc](#):
>
> Mine didn't work?
He does not know where ... or why ...
DD.20100107.2305.CET
---
### Author:  [@Tarc](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Tarc)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/7 "2010-01-07T21:09:01Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> He does not know where ... or why ...
>
> DD.20100107.2305.CET
OK it's just that while your (impressive-looking by the way) explanation did not say where he should put it, mine explained that, too, and as far as I know it is a working solution, so I was just wondering if he ever tried it.
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/8 "2010-01-07T21:13:01Z")
> [@Kimosavi](#):
>
> Thank's for your help. But, I need to know where to put this.  Is it a regular expression, guess value, or what ?
I guess it is a "Format value" on the field "\_FILENAME".
DD.20100107.2312.CET
---
### Author:  [@Tarc](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Tarc)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/9 "2010-01-07T21:17:12Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> I guess it is a "Format value" on the field "\_FILENAME".
>
> DD.20100107.2312.CET
Are you a programmer?
I noticed you are good at coding but not always know how exactly mp3tag applies RegExp:)
Some of the stuff you write takes quite a while for me to see through (nice)
---
### Author:  [@kimosapiens](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/kimosapiens)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/10 "2010-01-07T21:38:14Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> I guess it is a "Format value" on the field "\_FILENAME".
>
> DD.20100107.2312.CET
I put your command in FORMAT VALUE and work fine except in cases where the name of one of the artists includes last name:
Example: alfa, beta, gamma gamma, zeta\_Song Title
in these case, the filename is not trimmed. Any solution ? ? ?
Thanks again !!!
---
### Author:  [@kimosapiens](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/kimosapiens)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/11 "2010-01-07T21:53:57Z")
> [@Tarc](#):
>
> Hi,
> Double check if it works:
>
> Make a new action: "Replace with regular expression"
> "Field": _FILENAME
> "Regular expression": ^(.?)(\s?),(.\*?)_(\s\*?)([^\s])(.\*)$
> "Replace with": $1 \_ $5$6
It's perfect !!! 😃 Thank's !!!  This forum rocks !
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2010, 8:45am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/12 "2010-01-08T08:45:06Z")
> [@Kimosavi](#):
>
> ... I put your command in FORMAT VALUE and work fine except in cases where the name of one of the artists includes last name:
> Example: alfa, beta, gamma gamma, zeta\_Song Title
> in these case, the filename is not trimmed. Any solution ? ? ?
> Thanks again !!!
I cannot see any problem, scripting expression works fine even with your new example:
$left(%\_FILENAME%,$sub($strchr(%\_FILENAME%,','),1))$mid(%\_FILENAME%,$strchr(%_FILENAME%,'_'),$len(%\_FILENAME%))
Preview gives:
"O:\TEST\alfa, beta, gamma gamma, zeta\_Song Title.mp3" -\>
"O:\TEST\alfa\_Song Title.mp3"
DD.20100108.1044.CET
---
### Author:  [@cforbush](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/cforbush)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/13 "2010-01-22T21:59:29Z")
ok, I understand how to replace with regular expression. I just don't know what codes to use to do what I need to do.
I want to DELETE the artist name from the file name, and only leave the song title. my song looks like this
artist - title
I want it to look like this
title
I just do not know what codes to put in which places (I'm assuming it is a \_filename, but I'm not sure on the "regular expression: and the "replace matches with" function should show. Also, a lot of these songs may not have the artist name in the id tag (is that the right word, hopefully you understand what I mean), and it would be nice to put it in the tag. If you could show me THAT, I would be eternailly greatful! 😲
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/14 "2011-11-08T00:06:58Z")
> [@Kimosavi](#):
>
> ... How do I trim the filename to make it show only the first artist from a list of contributing artists ?
> Example: ...
> Actual filename: alfa, beta, gamma \_ My Song
> I want to trim the filename field after the first ( , ) to obtain this:
> Expected filename: alfa \_ My Song
**Convert** | **Filename - Filename** | **ALT+3**
_Select format string_
Old filename pattern:
**%1, %2 \_ %3**
New filename pattern:
**%1 \_ %3**
Preview
**alfa \_ My Song.mp3**
... or ...
Action: Format value
Field: \_FILENAME
Formatstring: **$regexp(%\_filename%,'^(.+?)(, .+?)+( \_ .+)$','$1$3')**
From:
alfa, beta, gamma \_ My Song
To:
alfa \_ My Song
... or ...
Action: Format value
Field: \_FILENAME
Formatstring: **$regexp(%\_filename%,'^(.+?), .+ \_ (.+)$','$1 \_ $2')**
From:
alfa, beta, gamma \_ My Song
To:
alfa \_ My Song
DD.20111108.0220.CET
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/trim-some-contributing-artist-from-filename/9660/15 "2026-02-09T12:22:04Z")