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Import Cover from File

Use Import Cover from File to embed an existing image in each selected audio file. A filename format lets one action find the right picture in each album folder. This action works with local files; action groups are not available for provider documents yet.

Embed each album's cover

  1. Put the intended image in each album folder as cover.jpg.
  2. Keep copies of the audio files, save pending edits and select a few practice files.
  3. Choose Actions → Actions (Quick)…, then Import Cover from File.
  4. Enter cover.jpg in Image filename format.
  5. Choose Front Cover in Import cover as.
  6. Leave Delete existing covers off for this trial.
  7. Choose Apply action and inspect the embedded pictures.

For a reusable sequence, open Actions → Actions… (Alt+6; ⌥ Option on macOS), create a group and add the same action there. Applying either route writes the audio files immediately.

A relative image path is resolved beside each audio file. Thus files in different folders can use different cover.jpg images with the same action. Browse… can choose one specific image; an absolute path uses that image for every selected file.

Choose the filename and cover type

Setting Meaning
Image filename format A format string evaluated for each file, including the image's extension
Import cover as The picture role to store, initially Front Cover
Delete existing covers Remove all previously embedded pictures before adding the new one; off initially
Image filename format Where it reads
cover.jpg cover.jpg next to each audio file
%_folderpath%folder.jpg folder.jpg in that audio file's folder
%album%.png For ALBUM = Harbour Lights, Harbour Lights.png beside the audio file

Use * for any run of characters or ? for one character in the final filename component. For example, %_folderpath%front*.png finds the first importable matching image, while %_folderpath%cover?.jpg can find cover1.jpg. Candidates are considered in natural name order, ignoring filename case: front2.png comes before front10.png. Folders, non-images and formats the importer refuses are skipped. JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and WebP are accepted. Folder components are used as literal existing paths; matching does not expand a folder pattern or search several folders. On macOS and Linux, * and ? in an actual source-folder name remain literal, including when that folder comes from %_folderpath%. Prefer a specific filename pattern; a broad * can choose unintended artwork.

Use \ to separate literal folders in the format on every platform. %_folderpath%, %_path% and %_workingpath% keep their native path components, including a backslash inside a macOS or Linux folder name. Ordinary tag values have separators and reserved filename characters cleaned: an album value AC/DC does not create an AC folder.

Cover roles include front, back, leaflet, media, artist, band and other standard picture types. Choose the role that describes the image; changing the role does not change the image itself.

Decide whether to keep existing pictures

With Delete existing covers off, importing adds a picture and retains the existing pictures. Repeated runs can add repeated artwork.

With it on, every existing picture is removed, including back covers and booklet images, before the import. The source image is checked before removal, but a later write failure is still a reason to inspect the file and retain a backup. To replace only one particular picture, use the cover-management controls instead of clearing all covers.

Gotchas

  • The audio format must support embedded artwork. A sidecar image existing on disk does not mean every selected tag format can store it.
  • A missing or invalid image reports an error; it does not trigger an online artwork search.
  • The action writes immediately. Inspect the pictures and Edit → Undo for recorded file changes before applying it to the whole album.
  • A missing or invalid match leaves the existing covers in place, even with Delete existing covers enabled. A warning does not stop that file's remaining actions or later groups; inspect earlier successful writes before running the group again.