Auto-numbering¶
Use Auto-numbering to assign track and optional disc numbers in the current file-list order. Preview the sequence, stage it as pending edits, then save. The wizard does not infer an album's intended order from audio.
Number one album¶
- Keep copies, save pending edits and arrange the files in their intended playing order. Select only the tracks to number.
- Choose Convert → Auto-numbering… (Cmd+K / Ctrl+K).
- Set Begin at track to
1and Minimum digits to2. - For this trial, leave total count, disc numbers and counter changes off.
- Choose Preview. Expect
01,02,03and so on in file-list order. - Choose Stage numbers. Inspect the pending values in the main window.
- Choose File → Save tags (Cmd+S / Ctrl+S) to write them.
Until the last step, the staged numbers are pending edits. Discard them if the sequence is wrong rather than saving and trying to reconstruct the original numbers.
Track and disc settings¶
| Setting | Effect | Initial value |
|---|---|---|
| Begin at track | First track number and restart value | 1 |
| Minimum digits under Track numbers | Pad track numbers to this width | 2 |
| Save total track count | Add /total to every track value |
Off |
| Total tracks | The total to store when enabled | Number of selected files |
| Disc numbers | Also write DISCNUMBER |
Off |
| Begin at disc | First disc number and disc reset value | 1 |
| Minimum digits under Disc numbers | Pad disc numbers | 1 |
| Save total disc count | Add /total to every disc value |
Off |
| Total discs | The total to store when enabled | 1 |
These are initial defaults. Most options are remembered after a staged run, so check them when reopening the wizard. Total tracks starts with the current selection count each time.
| Begin at track | Minimum digits | Total enabled/value | First three results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Off | 01, 02, 03 |
| 5 | 3 | Off | 005, 006, 007 |
| 1 | 2 | On, 8 | 01/8, 02/8, 03/8 |
In the regular wizard, totals are the numbers entered, not an automatic
count of each group. For different per-disc totals, number each disc
separately or use the per-folder shortcut described below. A minimum
width does not truncate larger numbers: width 2 still allows track 100.
Some tag formats store track/disc components as integers and may not
retain leading zeros after saving. For consistently padded filenames,
use $num(%track%,2) in a filename format.
Restart tracks in each folder¶
For local files, Cmd+Shift+K / Ctrl+Shift+K opens a per-folder run.
It enables directory changes and track resets, while leaving disc-number
writing off. Arrange the selection so each folder's tracks are together.
When Save total track count is enabled in this shortcut mode, each run
uses its own final assigned track number. Starting at 1, a 12-track folder
and an 8-track folder receive totals 12 and 8, rather than both 20.
Starting at 5 with three tracks instead ends at 7, so its total is 7.
A selected subset or another configured reset can shorten a run; select
all intended tracks and check every boundary in the preview.
For the same track resets in the regular wizard, enable Next disc on change of directory and Reset track counter on next disc while leaving Disc numbers off. That regular mode keeps the entered total; it does not enable the shortcut’s per-run totals. An internal disc boundary can restart tracks without writing a disc field.
These small examples use the per-folder shortcut with total count enabled:
| Begin at track | Folder | Selected tracks | First result | Last result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Harbour |
3 |
01/3 |
03/3 |
1 |
Low Tide |
2 |
01/2 |
02/2 |
5 |
Bonus |
3 |
05/7 |
07/7 |
The first two folders can share one run starting at 1; the Bonus example
is a separate run starting at 5. The entered Total tracks box is
disabled in this shortcut mode because the run determines it.
Directory grouping requires known local folders. For provider documents without those paths, the directory control is unavailable; use a reliable tag-field grouping or process each album separately.
Number a multi-disc collection¶
The wizard compares each file with the previous file in list order:
| Counter-change setting | When it acts |
|---|---|
| Next disc on change of directory | Parent folder changes |
| Next disc on change of field | The chosen field's values change |
| Reset track counter on next disc | A next-disc boundary restarts tracks at Begin at track |
| Reset disc counter on change of field | Reset discs to Begin at disc and tracks to Begin at track |
For two album folders, each with two disc subfolders:
- Sort by album, disc and intended track order.
- Enable Disc numbers and begin both counters at
1. - Set Next disc on change of field to
DISCNUMBER, using the existing disc tags to identify the boundaries. - Enable Reset track counter on next disc.
- Set Reset disc counter on change of field to
ALBUM. - Preview the first and last rows of every disc before staging.
A disc reset takes priority if both a next-disc and reset condition occur at the same boundary. A field's missing value also participates in these comparisons; clean inconsistent album/disc tags first.
Gotchas¶
- Grouping detects transitions, not all equal values across the selection. Interleaved albums cause repeated resets; keep groups together.
- Disc settings do not change tracks unless their configured boundary or reset rule acts. Preview instead of assuming enabling discs groups files.
- Preview shows at most 100 rows, although the plan covers the selection. Use smaller selections when the unshown boundaries need inspection.
- Start and total values must be positive whole numbers. Minimum digits must be 1–10; counter overflow reports an error.
- Keep original copies and inspect Edit → Undo for recorded changes after saving. Staging alone is not proof that tags were written.