# x/xx track format in 2.35b
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [February 12, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889 "2006-02-12T19:47:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/1 "2006-02-12T19:47:56Z")
Florian -
How are you intending the x/xx format to work in 2.35b? In iTunes I see the track and total number of tracks in two fields, MP3Tag obviously now shows them in one.
Also - when I edit the track & total track in iTunes, I'm not seeing the changes in MP3Tag.
Disc and total discs also shows in two fields in iTunes as well yet they are still seperate in MP3Tag.
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/2 "2006-02-14T18:23:46Z")
Logan,
> [@](#):
>
> How are you intending the x/xx format to work in 2.35b? In iTunes I see the track and total number of tracks in two fields, MP3Tag obviously now shows them in one.
Yes, this is exactly my intention. So the format of the tracknumbers is also compatible with the Auto-numbering wizard. It's still saved in these two seperate fields, but this is done transparent to the user.
> [@](#):
>
> Also - when I edit the track & total track in iTunes, I'm not seeing the changes in MP3Tag.
Yes, this is because Mp3tag prefers another tag format which is written to the files over Apple's hack.
> [@](#):
>
> Disc and total discs also shows in two fields in iTunes as well yet they are still seperate in MP3Tag.
Yes, I think that's okay.
Best regards,
~ Florian
---
### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/3 "2006-02-14T18:46:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> QUOTE (Logan)
>
> How are you intending the x/xx format to work in 2.35b? In iTunes I see the track and total number of tracks in two fields, MP3Tag obviously now shows them in one.
Yes, this is exactly my intention. So the format of the tracknumbers is also compatible with the Auto-numbering wizard. It's still saved in these two seperate fields, but this is done transparent to the user.
It would be nice to have visility to the actual fields, with the new functionality I need to modify all my Actions that touch the Track Number & Total Tracks fields to first check the tag type and then perform on of two actions. Example: updating the total tracks fields.
> [@](#):
>
> QUOTE (Logan)
>
> Also - when I edit the track & total track in iTunes, I'm not seeing the changes in MP3Tag.
Yes, this is because Mp3tag prefers another tag format which is written to the files over Apple's hack.
Bummer - It's unfortunate that they implemented it that way, shouldn't have to work around their hack.
> [@](#):
>
> QUOTE (Logan)
>
> Disc and total discs also shows in two fields in iTunes as well yet they are still seperate in MP3Tag.
Yes, I think that's okay.
That surprises me somewhat, in iTunes they are displayed the same way and they both represent "parent\child" relationships. Is this point open for discussion?
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/4 "2006-02-14T18:59:45Z")
> [@](#):
>
> QUOTE (Florian @ Feb 14 2006, 20:23)
>
> So the format of the tracknumbers is also compatible with the Auto-numbering wizard. It's still saved in these two seperate fields, but this is done transparent to the user.
It would be nice to have visility to the actual fields, with the new functionality I need to modify all my Actions that touch the Track Number & Total Tracks fields to first check the tag type and then perform on of two actions. Example: updating the total tracks fields.
Good point. Maybe it would be better if Mp3tag would support _entering_ #/## format, but would display track and total tracks in seperate fields.
> [@](#):
>
> QUOTE (Florian @ Feb 14 2006, 20:23)
>
> Yes, this is because Mp3tag prefers another tag format which is written to the files over Apple's hack.
Bummer - It's unfortunate that they implemented it that way, shouldn't have to work around their hack.
I'll disable writing of this other format on single chapter MP4s to the next release.
> [@](#):
>
> QUOTE (Florian @ Feb 14 2006, 20:23)
>
> Yes, I think that's okay.
That surprises me somewhat, in iTunes they are displayed the same way and they both represent "parent\child" relationships. Is this point open for discussion?
Yeah, feel free to give suggestions on how to solve this.
Best regards,
~ Florian
---
### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/5 "2006-02-14T19:15:15Z")
Thanks for the replies Florian.
On the Tracks & Total Tracks\Discs & Total Discs topic, my point of view is that they should behave in the same way since (to me) they are the same construct. I don't think we should have to different formats for the same concept.
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### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/6 "2006-02-25T21:56:08Z")
I know you been very busy with updates, I was just curious to see if this was on your internal list.
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### Author:  [@dano](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dano)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/7 "2006-02-25T22:10:56Z")
Track and Discnumber should now both be in #/# Format (but #/# for discnumber at mp4 still needs to be fixed)
---
### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/8 "2006-02-26T00:47:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Track and Discnumber should now both be in #/# Format (but #/# for discnumber at mp4 still needs to be fixed)
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
I'm still seeing very inconsistant actions between MP3 & M4A files.
This is example is via the Tags dialog.
MP3 -
Add: TRACK = 1 & TOTALTRACKS = 10
Result: Track = 1 & TotalTracks = 10
M4A -
Add: TRACK = 1 & TOTALTRACKS = 10
Result: Track = 1/10 & TotalTracks =
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/9 "2006-02-26T19:47:59Z")
I finally came to a conclusion: I'll make display and write both TRACK and DISCNUMBER fields in #/## for MP3 and MP4.
If you add sth like TOTALTRACKS or TOTALDISCS it depends on the tag format if the field is added or not.
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 11:39am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/10 "2006-02-27T11:39:51Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I finally came to a conclusion: I'll make display and write both TRACK and DISCNUMBER fields in #/## for MP3 and MP4.
>
> If you add sth like TOTALTRACKS or TOTALDISCS it depends on the tag format if the field is added or not.
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
This was implemented with the latest [Development Build](http://developer.mp3tag.de).
---
### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/11 "2006-02-28T03:10:38Z")
Here is what I'm seeing, would like to confirm that this is the expected action:
This is example is via the Tags dialog.
**MP3 -**
Add: TRACK = 1 & TOTALTRACKS = 10
Result: Track = 1 & TotalTracks = 10
**M4A -**
Add: TRACK = 1 & TOTALTRACKS = 10
Result: Track = 1/10 & TotalTracks =
Update: TOTALTRACKS = 11
Result: Track = 1/10 & TotalTracks = .
In effect, there is no change when the update is saved.
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2006, 8:38am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/12 "2006-02-28T08:38:17Z")
I see the problem but I have _really_ no idea how to circumvent that.
You won't have any problems if you wouldn't use the TOTALTRACKS field but the #/## format for TRACK. Same behaviour for MP3 and MP4
The problem with adding/updating the TOTALTRACKS field is, that if the TRACK field is in #/## format, I have to split it in
- TRACK = #
- TOTALTRACKS = ##
because MP4 can't have the TRACK field in #/## format.
I really have no idea to make both alternatives work with Mp3tag.
---
### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/13 "2006-02-28T13:53:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I really have no idea to make both alternatives work with Mp3tag.
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
Not sure if this helps, but here is how iTunes has it implemented (not that it's better, just a different perspective). This behaves the same for MP3 & M4A alike.
**Browser Window**
- You can only select _Track #_ or _Disc #_, you cannot select the totals
- Both are displayed as # if no 'total' is present or #/## if one is
**Get Info dialog**
- You can see and set all 4 fields independently via 4 text boxes. Two are for _Track Number_ & two are for _Disc Number_, both sets of boxes are seperated by 'of'.
**COM interface** (only reason I like iTunes)
- You can get or set all 4 fields independently via the _TrackCount_ & _Track Number_ or _DiscCount_ & _DiscNumber_ properties
Now, with that said, here's what I'm seeing:
**Test A**
MP3:
iTunes: Update _Track Number_ (two fields) to 1 of 10 & _Disc Number_ (two fields) to 1 of 1
MP3Tag: _%track%_ = 1/10 & _%discnumber%_ = 1/1, both _%totaltracks%_ & _%totaldiscs%_ are blank
M4A:
same result as MP3
**Test B**
MP3:
MP3Tag: Update _%track%_ = 1, _%totaltracks%_ = 10 & _%discnumber%_ = 1, _%totaldiscs%_ = 10
iTunes: _Track Number_ = 1 of & _Disc Number_ = 1 of
M4A:
MP3Tag: same as MP3
iTunes: _Track Number_ = 1 of 10 & _Disc Number_ = 1 of 1
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2006, 8:44am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/14 "2006-03-04T08:44:08Z")
> [@](#):
>
> **Test A**
> MP3:
> iTunes: Update _Track Number_ (two fields) to 1 of 10 & _Disc Number_ (two fields) to 1 of 1
> MP3Tag: _%track%_ = 1/10 & _%discnumber%_ = 1/1, both _%totaltracks%_ & _%totaldiscs%_ are blank
This is because ID3v2 doesn't have an extra TOTALTRACKS or TOTALDISCS field specified. If you create these fields, Mp3tag stores them as user defined TXXX frames. Both values are stored in TRACK and DISCNUMBER (separated by a slash).
> [@](#):
>
> M4A:
> same result as MP3
This is because the current version hides the TOTALTRACKS and TOTALDISCS fields from the user to display the same as for MP3.
> [@](#):
>
> **Test B**
> MP3:
> MP3Tag: Update _%track%_ = 1, _%totaltracks%_ = 10 & _%discnumber%_ = 1, _%totaldiscs%_ = 10
> iTunes: _Track Number_ = 1 of & _Disc Number_ = 1 of
This is because you've created extra TXXX frames for TOTALTRACKS and TOTALDISCS. If you want these values automatically mapped to x/xx format in TRACK or DISCNUMBER, the fields won't be available to users who use these fields in other programs (like foobar2000).
I still have no idea how to solve this. These tests are not very new to me.
---
### Author:  [@Logan](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Logan)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/15 "2006-03-07T18:54:19Z")
Looks like there was a change made with the latest developement build.
Did you revert back to old code or have you implemented a new solution?
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/16 "2006-03-07T19:11:56Z")
Yes, I've changed MP4 track/discnumber field to accept input in #/## format, but I'm displaying them as seperate track/totaltracks and discnumber/totaldiscs fields (because they're stored as seperate fields in the tag).
MP3 track/discnumber handling has not been changed.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-xx-track-format-in-2-35b/2889/17 "2026-02-09T12:19:38Z")