# Use contents of an output variable as current input

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/use-contents-of-an-output-variable-as-current-input/70122
**Category:** Web Sources Discussion
**Created:** [November 11, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/use-contents-of-an-output-variable-as-current-input/70122 "2025-11-11T16:04:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 13

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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: [November 12, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/use-contents-of-an-output-variable-as-current-input/70122/13 "2025-11-12T21:09:20Z")

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Maybe I wasn't clear in my initial description of the two proposed functions, let's try again.

* * *

The initial motivation was to use the contents of an output variable as the current input. This would make the current workaround using `RegexpReplace "^.*" "%output%"` obsolete.

The new function would **replace the current input buffer** , and would not emit anything to the current output.

I'd still go with two separate functions, one that serves as a counterpart to `Say`, and another that serves as a counterpart to `SayFormat`.

1. Function **Use S**  
Example: `Use "some text and %output%"`  
(this is equivalent to what the current workaround with `RegexpReplace "^.*"` does, except for the need to escape)

2. Function **UseFormat S**  
Example: `UseFormat "some text and $sort(%_current%,-)"`  
(this is something that isn't possible at the moment, only via `SayFormat` to a temporary output and then applying the `RegexpReplace "^.*"` workaround)

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_[View the full topic](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/use-contents-of-an-output-variable-as-current-input/70122)._
