# Want to Replace - But Am LOST
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [August 7, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591 "2018-08-07T04:08:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@AlonzoMosley](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/AlonzoMosley)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/1 "2018-08-07T04:08:48Z")
I have a bunch of MP3's with a " -- " in the title, and I'd like to change that to ":".
The easy-peasy solution would be to bulk rename the files, and then tag the songs after the filename... BUT you can't use ":" in a filename.
So I got MP3Tag to do an ACTION=\>Replace. All of the forums and online help make it look super-easy, but...
Trouble is, I can't figure out how to get the "Replace" action to work! When I select "Actions", my only options are: "Case Conversion", "CD-R", and "Standard". I tried to create a New Action, but that went nowhere.
What am I missing? Am I supposed to download other actions? Is this a feature that was turned off in 2005 and I'm just catching up?!?
Thanks,
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/2 "2018-08-07T05:14:14Z")
see the help on actions:
> **[Actions – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/actions/)**
>
> Documentation on Quick Actions and Action Groups that covers replace text, case conversion, tag to tag conversion, duplicate field handling, batch cover import/export, and more. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor.
See the FAQs and HowTos on how to create a new action:
> [@Actions and batch-operations](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/actions-and-batch-operations/967/2):
>
> How to create a new action? First, create a new action group via Actions \> [Actions] Actions or Alt + 6. Then, click on the button [New] New and give your action group an expressive name, e.g., "All tag fields Upper Case". This action group can be applied to the selected files after you have added one or more actions to it. Now, you can create a new action in your action group via the button [New] New and choose the desired action type from the list. At the moment the following action types …
Also see the help on the function "Actions (Quick)" which is also accessible in the toolbar.
---
### Author:  [@AlonzoMosley](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/AlonzoMosley)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/3 "2018-08-07T05:36:53Z")
Thanks. I'd read all of that before posting.
When I click "New", and then name an action, and then click "New" again, what am I supposed to see? Whatever it is, I don't see it.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2018, 5:55am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/4 "2018-08-07T05:55:18Z")
You should see a dialogue with a dropdown list where you can select the type of the new action.
In your case it would be "Replace" (and not "Replace with regular expression").
If all this is a one-off, you can also use "Action (quick)".
> [@AlonzoMosley](#):
>
> Thanks. I'd read all of that before posting.
Why should I write down things that have been explained many times before?
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### Author:  [@AlonzoMosley](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/AlonzoMosley)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/5 "2018-09-05T23:43:52Z")
My point was.... I'd already tried what you'd written down, but it wasn't working for me. So I still needed help.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2018, 5:31am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/6 "2018-09-06T05:31:55Z")
Select the files that should be treated.
Create an action of the type "Replace" for the field TITLE
Search string: `--`
Replace string: `:`
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### Author:  [@AlonzoMosley](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/AlonzoMosley)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/7 "2018-09-06T22:33:40Z")
And my point is... "Replace" is NOT an option. Am uninstalling.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2018, 5:57am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/8 "2018-09-07T05:57:00Z")
> [@AlonzoMosley](#):
>
> "Replace" is NOT an option.
You have to create a NEW action (group) or use Actions (Quick).
The shipped list of action groups does not contain an action to replace.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/want-to-replace-but-am-lost/42591/9 "2026-02-09T12:27:35Z")