# V/a action
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [September 1, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145 "2008-09-01T15:58:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@iangraves](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iangraves)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145/1 "2008-09-01T15:58:45Z")
I'm just wondering if anyone can help me out with a problem i have.
I've just started using itunes and I want to use the coverflow view. Generally it works as intended but I get problems with a few compliations.
EG:
I have a compilation of 500 songs which are named as:
_000\_Artist Name - Song title.mp3_
The tags are currently okay but I'm having issues with itunes showing 500 seperate songs rather than as 1 "album".
So I had thought of changing the 'Artist' tag to _Various_ and the 'title' tag to _Artist Name-Song Title_
I tried to make an action using 'Replace' in the TITLE field and i entered
Original: %title%
Replace with %artist%-%title%
Which did nothing.
Would this be thebest way to solve my issue? and if so how would i do it?
---
### Author:  [@dano](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dano)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145/2 "2008-09-01T17:18:09Z")
You don't have to change your tags in that way, you can make itunes recognize the files as album:
In iTunes, select all files of the album, right click \> "Get Info", set Compilation to Yes
---
### Author:  [@iangraves](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iangraves)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145/3 "2008-09-01T17:28:09Z")
yeah i tried that and it doesnt make any difference. As soon as i view by artist i get 500 seperate (but identical) artwork covers.
I seem to have fixed it though by setting "album artist" to "Various"
Edit: actually that hasnt worked either ☹
---
### Author:  [@Harakiri](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Harakiri)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145/4 "2008-09-01T18:35:05Z")
You are in luck my friend! 🙂
STEP 1
**Action: Format Value**
Field: %title%
Format String: %artist% - %title%
STEP 2:
(Right click on file selection)
**Convert -\> Tag - Filename**
Format String:
VA - %title%
Now, as a fair reward, i need the MSN contact of your cutest cousins... 😛
Take care! 🙂
---
### Author:  [@iangraves](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/iangraves)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145/5 "2008-09-02T20:17:02Z")
> [@Harakiri](#):
>
> You are in luck my friend! 🙂
> STEP 1
>
> **Action: Format Value**
>
> Field: %title%
>
> **Format String: %artist% - %title%**
>
> STEP 2:
>
> (Right click on file selection)
>
> **Convert -\> Tag - Filename**
>
>
>
> Format String:
>
> **VA - %title%**
>
> Now, as a fair reward, i need the MSN contact of your cutest cousins... 😛
> Take care! 🙂
Thats worked a treat! many thanks 😃
here is me and my cute cousins just for you:
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQOwdupsXUo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQOwdupsXUo)🙂
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/v-a-action/7145/6 "2026-02-09T12:21:04Z")