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Split Field by Separator

Use Split Field by Separator to turn text containing several names into separate field values. For example, one ARTIST value containing Juniper Vale; Mira Solberg becomes two artist values.

Split a field

  1. Save pending edits and select a few copied files.
  2. Choose Actions → Actions (Quick)…, then Split Field by Separator.
  3. Set Field to ARTIST and Separator to ;.
  4. Choose Apply action, then open Extended tags… (Alt+T) to inspect the separate values.

For repeated use, keep these settings in an action group.

Setting Meaning
Field A tag field, or _TAG for every tag field
Separator A nonempty literal string; it can contain several characters

Understand the result

Each existing value is split, with surrounding whitespace trimmed from each piece. The pieces keep their original order. The separator itself is not kept and is not interpreted as a regular expression.

Before Separator Values after splitting
Juniper Vale; Mira Solberg ; Juniper Vale, Mira Solberg
Juniper Vale / Mira Solberg / Juniper Vale, Mira Solberg
Low Tide ; Low Tide

If a field already has two values, both are processed and their resulting pieces are collected in order. A separator at the start or end, or two separators together, can produce empty pieces. Clean the input first when those empty values are unwanted.

OpenTag's display may join values with \\. That is a display convention; do not use it as a separator unless those characters actually occur inside one value. Whether another player displays multiple values separately depends on the tag format and the player.

Gotchas

  • Splitting AC/DC on / would divide a single artist name. Select only the files that follow the intended convention.
  • _TAG applies the same separator to every tag field, including comments or lyrics. Use a named field whenever that is the actual goal.
  • _FILENAME, _DIRECTORY and _FIELDNAME are not split targets.
  • The action writes immediately. Use practice copies and check the recorded Edit → Undo operation before relying on it.