# When renaming files, don't include filename extension in initial selection
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-renaming-files-dont-include-filename-extension-in-initial-selection/7942
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [February 16, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-renaming-files-dont-include-filename-extension-in-initial-selection/7942 "2009-02-16T05:20:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mb2007](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mb2007)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-renaming-files-dont-include-filename-extension-in-initial-selection/7942/1 "2009-02-16T05:20:52Z")
When renaming a file (i.e., when you double-click on a filename, or press F2, or press Enter after renaming the previous file), currently the entire filename including its extension is initially selected, much like in the normal Windows Explorer UI.
A Windows Explorer alternative called XYplorer has a UI in which the initial selection does not include the filename extension. For example, rather than _SomeArtist - SomeTitle.flac_ being selected for editing, only _SomeArtist - SomeTitle_ is selected; the _.flac_ is not selected. You're still free to adjust the selection on your own, of course; only the initial selection is affected.
I found this interface was extremely convenient for mass manual renaming. I could press F2 and just start pasting and typing, hitting Enter after each new name, and I wouldn't have to adjust any selections or deal with filename extensions at all. This would make sense in Mp3tag because extensions rarely need to be changed, except perhaps for case conversion.
So, I'd like to suggest that Mp3tag do the same thing as XYplorer, or at least make it available as an option to toggle.
Thanks for your consideration, and thanks for Mp3tag!
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-renaming-files-dont-include-filename-extension-in-initial-selection/7942/2 "2009-02-16T12:28:03Z")
It's a nice suggestion, but have you noticed that Mp3tag will add the file extension automatically even if you omit it during editing?
Kind regards,
Florian
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### Author:  [@mb2007](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mb2007)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-renaming-files-dont-include-filename-extension-in-initial-selection/7942/3 "2009-02-17T04:05:33Z")
No, I didn't notice that! I'm so used to Windows Explorer's interface, I just assumed Mp3tag worked the same. Hmm. Thanks, and ... never mind?
Embarrassed,
m-b
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### Author:  [@mb2007](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mb2007)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-renaming-files-dont-include-filename-extension-in-initial-selection/7942/4 "2009-04-12T23:35:34Z")
Actually, now that I'm playing around with it in v2.43, I'm finding this feature a bit of a pain, because I can't change the extensions. For example, I want to rename a bunch of .mp4 files to .m4a ... the only way to do is it via a custom Action, I guess? (It's a cosmetic change, I know, but like many folks, I prefer to keep my AAC files as .m4a and my videos as .mp4)