Cut, copy and paste tags¶
Copying tags transfers structured fields, multiple values and available embedded artwork. It is useful when replacing one encoding of a recording with another. Pasting replaces the target's field set, so use copied practice files before transferring an album.
Copy one file to several targets¶
- Select one source file with the desired tags. Inspect Extended tags… and its artwork first.
- Choose Edit → Copy tags (Cmd+C / Ctrl+C with the file list focused).
- Select the destination files. Check the selected count.
- Choose Edit → Paste tags (Cmd+V / Ctrl+V) and confirm when asked.
- Inspect the pending fields and covers. Choose File → Save tags only for the targets that should receive them.
Copying reads the current displayed field values, including pending edits. It does not first save the source. The tag clipboard is held inside OpenTag; a textual version is also offered to the system clipboard when possible. Copying text elsewhere does not import a new structured tag clipboard.
Understand replacement before saving¶
For this example, the source has TITLE=Paper Boats and
ARTIST=Juniper Vale, with no COMMENT. The target has
TITLE=Old title, ARTIST=Another artist and COMMENT=Device copy.
After Paste, expect this pending result:
| Field | Source values | Target values before Paste | Target values after Paste |
|---|---|---|---|
TITLE |
["Paper Boats"] |
["Old title"] |
["Paper Boats"] |
ARTIST |
["Juniper Vale"] |
["Another artist"] |
["Juniper Vale"] |
COMMENT |
[] |
["Device copy"] |
[] |
The missing source comment removes the target comment; Paste is not a merge that keeps target-only fields. Multiple source values stay separate values in OpenTag's editing model. The destination writer still has its own format limits. For copying only selected fields, use the field clipboard in Extended tags, or calculate a chosen field with Tag → Tag.
Transfer several files in order¶
Copy sources in the intended file-list order, then select targets in the matching order. Sorting affects that order; the order in which rows were clicked is not a separate track-matching system.
| Copied source count | Selected target count | Result |
|---|---|---|
1 |
3 |
Same source tags for all targets |
2 |
2 |
First source to first target; second source to second target |
2 |
1 |
Refused: counts do not match |
2 |
3 |
Refused: counts do not match |
There is no automatic title/duration matching here. Sort both sets by a reliable track order and inspect the first and last results before saving. For an unfamiliar album, transfer one file at a time instead.
Include or leave artwork deliberately¶
A successfully copied cover list replaces each target's embedded cover list when pasted tags are saved. A source known to have no embedded covers carries an empty list, so it can remove the target's covers. Cover roles, descriptions and order are copied with the image data when available.
If source artwork could not be copied, the operation reports that limitation and Paste leaves the target's covers alone. That is different from a verified empty cover list. Folder-preview images are not copied as embedded artwork. Inspect the status and cover states instead of assuming every text-tag copy included all pictures.
Pasted artwork stays pending until Save tags. Discard pending changes abandons it with the selected files' other pending edits. Provider-document sources and destinations have additional access/copy limits; Save a copy… currently carries edited tag fields, not pending artwork. Use supported local copies when an artwork transfer must be verified.
Cut without deleting the audio¶
Edit → Cut tags copies the selected tags, then stages removal of their fields and supported covers. The source audio files remain in place. Saving the source selection commits that removal; pasting to a destination does not itself save either set.
If the cut was unintended, use Edit → Discard pending changes on the source before saving. After a recorded save, inspect Edit → Undo instead. If the status says artwork could not be copied, do not save the cut expecting the clipboard to recover that artwork. Keep the original files until the destination's tags and artwork have been saved and checked. Cut is not a move of the audio file, and Paste does not rename it from the copied source filename.
Copy a readable text report¶
For an email, track list or spreadsheet note, use Edit → Copy as Text…:
- Select tracks and choose Copy as Text….
- Enter a format string, such as the example below.
- Inspect the preview, which shows up to 5 files.
- Choose Copy to calculate text for the whole selection.
For TRACK=3/8, ARTIST=Juniper Vale and TITLE=Paper Boats:
| Format string | Copied line |
|---|---|
$num(%track%,2). %artist% — %title% |
03. Juniper Vale — Paper Boats |
Each selected file contributes one evaluated entry, joined with a newline. A field value containing line breaks can itself produce several text lines. The remembered format history keeps the ten most recent distinct expressions. This command changes no tags and supplies text rather than a structured Paste-tags payload. Use Export for encoded files, headers, loops and a report that should be saved to disk.
Gotchas¶
- Copy/Cut/Paste shortcuts inside a text-entry field operate on text. Focus the list or use the named Edit commands to transfer complete tags.
- A one-source paste onto a whole album also copies its title and track; it is unsuitable for setting only a shared album artist.
- Confirmations depend on Options → Messages. Disabling one does not change whether Cut and Paste are pending or whether Paste replaces fields.
- Keep backups. In-session undo history concerns recorded file writes; it is not a permanent clipboard archive or an external-change backup.