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Author Topic: Bulk Update - Prefix Name with Text  (Read 639 times)

Nicholas T

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Bulk Update - Prefix Name with Text
« on: November 29, 2021, 10:16:53 pm »

Hi,

Is it possible to bulk update the Name of a collection of files by prefixing them with some text? 

Replacing text with Find and Replace is great but inserting text at the start is eluding me.

E.g. I want to insert the text "Beethoven - " at the start of each currently selected file. 

Even better - would it be possible to use the [Composer] field data to update the [Name] field?

The reason I'm prefixing all my tracks with the composer name is for track identification and search on my mobile apps (PowerAmp and USB Audio Player PRO).

Thanks,
Nicholas

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EnglishTiger

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Re: Bulk Update - Prefix Name with Text
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2021, 03:01:31 am »

If you set up a view/smartlist that only contains the tracks you want to Modify - i.e. All the tracks where Beethoven is the Composer
Then select all of those tracks and in the Tag Window scroll down to the Name tag and enter =[Composer] - [Name]
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zybex

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Re: Bulk Update - Prefix Name with Text
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2021, 06:46:39 am »

No need to create a smartlist, just select the files you want and enter the formula given by EnglishTiger in the 'Name' field of the Tag Editor. This should also push the updated value to the file's metadata, so it should become visible in other apps (assuming you have the file tag updating enabled in MC).

Note that this will not rename your files, it will only change the Name tag value. If you want to rename your files you can use the Rename/Move/Copy tool (press F6 to open it):
- set the mode to "Rename"
- uncheck the "Directories" checkbox
- check the "Filename" checkbox and enter the rule "[composer] - filename([filename],0)"
- check the Preview before applying!
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Nicholas T

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Re: Bulk Update - Prefix Name with Text
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2021, 07:40:49 am »

Brilliant!
Thanks to you both.
I love the simplicity and power of MC search and bulk updating.   :)
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