NAME
lltag - tag and rename mp3/ogg/flac music files automagically
SYNOPSIS
lltag [-C] [-E] [-F <format>] [-G] [-p] [-a <artist>] [-t <title>] [-A
<album>] [-n <number>] [-g <genre>] [-d <date>] [-c <comment>] [--tag
<TAG=value>] [--spaces] [--maj] [--sep <s1|s2|...>] [--regexp <regexp>]
[--mp3/--ogg/--flac] [--type <type>] [--clear] [--append] [--no-
tagging] [--preserve-time] [--rename <format>] [--rename-ext]
[--rename-min] [--rename-sep <sep>] [--rename-slash <char>] [--rename-
regexp <regexp>] [--dry-run] [--yes] [--ask] [--cddb-query <query>]
[--cddb-server <server[:port]>] [-R] [-v] [-q] [--config <file>]
[--gencfg <file>] [-S] [--show-tags <tags>] [-L] [-V] [-h] files...
DESCRIPTION
lltag is a command-line tool to automagically set tags of MP3, OGG or
FLAC files. There are several ways to obtains the tags that will be
set:
Parsing the filename
lltag may either parse the filename using its own internal
database of commonly-used formats (default behavior, or when -G
is passed), or some user-provided formats (when -F is passed).
Requesting from CDDB
lltag may access an online CDDB database to extract tags from a
track of a CD (when -C is passed).
Explicitly setting values
lltag provides a set of command-line option to manually set
various tags.
Manually editing values
lltag provides an interactive interface to edit existing values
or any value provided by the above strategies.
Each time, a new audio file is processed, lltag starts by trying to
obtain new tags depending on the behavior options given by the user.
First, if a preferred parser has been selected before, it is used to
try to parse the new filename. Then, if editing is enabled (-E), the
user will be able to modify existing tag values. Then, if CDDB is
enabled (-C), the user will be asked to request tags from the online
CDDB database. Then, if the user provided any parsing format (-F), or
if guessing is enabled (-G), lltag will attempt to parse the filename.
Note that if no behavior is chosen at all on command-line, including no
renaming option, then parsing with the internal format database will be
used by default (as if -G had been passed).
As soon as one of the above strategies succeeds, lltag jumps to the
main menu where the user may either accept new tags or select another
behavior (see MAIN MENU in INTERACTIVE MENUS below for details). If
--yes has been passed, or if automatic mode has been previously enabled
in the menu, it will proceed with tagging (and renaming if requested)
and go on with the next file.
The new tags that the selected strategy returns will be appended with
the explicit values given with -a , -t , -A , -g , -n , -d , -c or
--tag . They will then either replace (default), clear and replace
(--clear) or append to (--append) the existing tags in the target file.
Once the tags are known, a backend program or library is used to apply
them to the audio file (unless --no-tagging is passed). The MP3::Tag
Perl module or mp3info is used to tag MP3 files while vorbiscomment is
used for OGG files, and metaflac is used for FLAC files.
In the end, when called with --rename, the target file will also be
renamed according to a user-provided format filled with the tag values.
OPTIONS
-A, --ALBUM <album>
Add a value for the ALBUM tag.
-a, --ARTIST <artist>
Add a value for the ARTIST tag.
--append
Force appending of ogg/flac tags (instead of replacing existing
tags). The corresponding configuration file option is
append_tags.
Since mp3 files may only get one tag of each type, appending
does nothing, the first occurence only is stored.
--ask Always ask confirmation to the user before using a user-
specified parser. By default, all actions require confirmation,
except when a matching user-specified format is found. The
corresponding configuration file option is ask. See PARSING
MENU in INTERACTIVE MENUS below for details.
-C, --cddb
Try to find tags in the CDDB online database before trying to
parse filenames. The queries are sent using the HTTP interface,
which means a HTTP proxy might be used when required. The
corresponding configuration file option is cddb.
--cddb-query <keywords>
--cddb-query <cat>/<id>
Automatically search for CD matching <keywords> or matching
category <cat> and id <id> as if the user passed --cddb and
entered the query interactively in the module.
--cddb-server <server[:port]>
Change the CDDB server, and eventually its port. The default is
www.freedb.org:80. The corresponding configuration file options
are cddb_server_name and cddb_server_port. If a HTTP proxy is
required to access the internet, the environment variable
HTTP_PROXY may be used (set to something like
"http://my.proxy.com").
-c, --COMMENT <comment>
Add a value for the COMMENT tag.
--clear
Force clearing of all tags before tagging (instead of replacing
existing tags). The corresponding configuration file option is
clear_tags.
--config <file>
Parse additional configuration file. See CONFIGURATION FILES
below for details.
-d, --DATE <date>
Add a value for the DATE tag. Note that the ID3 date tag may
only store 4 characters (for a year).
--dry-run
Do not really tag files, just show what would have been done.
The corresponding configuration file option is dry_run.
-E, --edit
Edit tags immediately.
-F, --format <format>
Add the specified format string to the list of user-supplied
formats. The corresponding configuration file option is format.
Might be used several times to try different formats. See
FORMAT below for details.
--flac Tag all files as FLAC files, using the FLAC backend (based on
metaflac). The corresponding configuration file option is type.
-G, --guess
Guess format using the internal database if no user-specified
format worked (default behavior). The corresponding
configuration file option is guess.
-g, --GENRE <genre>
Add a value for the GENRE tag. While some file types accept any
string as a genre, some others (especially ID3v1 tags in MP3
files) require the string to match within a list of specified
genres.
--gencfg <file>
Generate configuration file. See CONFIGURATION FILES below for
details.
-h, --help
Print a usage message and exit.
-L, --list
List internal formats.
--maj Upcase the first letter of each word in tags. The corresponding
configuration file option is maj.
--mp3 Tag all files as MP3 files, using the MP3 backend (based on
either mp3info or MP3::Tag). The corresponding configuration
file option is type.
--mp3v2, --id3v2
Enable the experimental MP3 ID3v2-aware backend (based on
MP3::Tag) instead of the old ID3v1-only backend.
--mp3read=[1][2]
Configure how the MP3v2 backend reads and merges ID3v1 and v2
tags. By default, v1 are appended to v2 (21). If set to 1,
only v1 are read. If set to 2, only v2 are read. If set to 12,
v2 are appended to v1. Note that merging/appending takes care
of removing duplicates.
-n, --NUMBER <number>
Add a value for the NUMBER tag.
--no-tagging
Do not actually tag files. This might be used to rename files
without tagging. The corresponding configuration file option is
no_tagging.
-T, --preserve-time
Preserve file modification time during tagging. The
corresponding configuration file option is preserve_time.
--ogg Tag all files as OGG files, using the OGG backend (based on
vorbiscomment). The corresponding configuration file option is
type.
-p, --no-path
Do not consider the path of files when matching. The
corresponding configuration file option is no_path.
-q, --quiet
Decrease message verbosity. The corresponding configuration
file option is verbose which indicates the verbose level. See
-v for details about the existing verbosity levels.
-R, --recursive
Recursively search for files in subdirectories that are given on
the command line. The corresponding configuration file option
is recursive.
--regexp <[tag,tag:]s/from/to/>
Replace from with to in tags before tagging. The corresponding
configuration file option is regexp. If several tags (comma-
separated) prefix the regexp, replacement is only applied to the
corresponding fields. This option might be used multiple times
to specify multiple replacing.
--rename <format>
After tagging, rename the file according to the format. The
corresponding configuration file option is rename_format. The
format is filled using the first occurence of each tag that was
used to tag the file right before. It means that an old
existing tag may be used if no new one replaced it and --clear
was not passed.
By default, confirmation is asked before tagging. See RENAMING
MENU in INTERACTIVE MENUS below for details.
--rename-ext
Assume that the file extension is provided by the rename format
instead of automatically adding the extension corresponding to
the file type. The corresponding configuration file option is
rename_ext.
--rename-min
Lowcase all tags before renaming. The corresponding
configuration file option is rename_min.
--rename-regexp <[tag,tag:]s/from/to/>
Replace from with to in tags before renaming. If several tags
(comma-separated) prefix the regexp, replacement is only applied
to the corresponding fields. This option might be used multiple
times to specify multiple replacing. The corresponding
configuration file option is rename_regexp.
--rename-sep <sep>
Replace spaces with sep when renaming. The corresponding
configuration file option is rename_sep. See --rename-regexp
for a more general replace feature.
--rename-slash <char>
Replace slashes with char when renaming. The corresponding
configuration file option is rename_slash. See --rename-regexp
for a more general replace feature.
-S Instead of tagging, lltag shows the tags that are currently set
in files. See --show-tags to show only some tags.
--sep <string|string>
Replace the specified characters or strings with space in tags.
The corresponding configuration file option is sep. They have
to be |-separated. See --regexp for a more general replace
feature.
--show-tags <tag1,tag2,...>
Instead of tagging, lltag shows tags that are currently set in
files. The argument is a comma separated list of tag types
(artist, title, album, number, genre, date, comment or all).
See also -S to show all tags.
--spaces
Allow multiple or no space instead of only one when matching.
Also allow spaces limiting path elements. The corresponding
configuration file option is spaces. See also INTERNAL FORMATS
to get the detailled impact of this option.
-t, --TITLE <title>
Add a value for the TITLE tag.
--tag <TAG=value>
Add an explicit tag value. The corresponding configuration file
option is tag. Might be used several times, even for the same
tag. When setting a common tag, it is similar to using -a, -A,
-t, -n, -g, -d or -c. Note that mp3 tags do not support
whatever TAG.
--type <type>
Tag all files as <type> files. The corresponding configuration
file option is type.
-v, --verbose
Increase message verbosity. The corresponding configuration
file option is verbose which indicates the verbose level.
The default verbosity level is 0 to show only important
messages. Other possible values are 1 to show usage information
when a menu is displayed for the first time, and 2 to always
show usage information before a menu appears.
See also -q.
-V, --version
Show the version.
--yes Always accept tagging without asking the user. The
corresponding configuration file option is yes. By default
user-specified format matching is accepted while guess format
matching is asked for confirmation.
Also always accept renaming without asking the user.
INTERACTIVE MENUS
When not running with --yes, the user has to tells lltag what to do.
Files are processed one after the other, with the following steps:
* If the preferred parser exists, try to apply it.
* If failed, if --cddb was passed, trying a CDDB query.
* If failed, try the user-provided formats, if any.
* If failed, if no user-format were passed, or if -G was passed,
try the internal formats.
* Then we have a list of tags to apply, we may apply them, edit
them, or go back to a CDDB query or trying to parse the filename
again.
* Then, if --rename was passed, the file is renamed.
When hitting Ctrl-d at the beginning of an empty line (EOF), the
general behavior is to cancel the current operation without
leaving.
We now describe all interactive menus in detail.
MAIN MENU
Once some tags have been obtained by either CDDB, parsing or the
explicit values given on the command line, the main menu opens to
either change the tags or apply them:
y Yes, use these tags (default)
a Always yes, stop asking for a confirmation
P Try to parse the file, see PARSING MENU
C Query CDDB, see CDDB MENUS
E Edit values, see EDITING MENU
D Only use explicit values, forget about CDDB or parsed tags
Z Reset to no tag values at all
R Revert to existing tag values from the current file
O Display existing tag values in the current file
n Do not tag this file, jump to renaming (or to the next file if
renaming is disabled)
q (or EOF)
Skip this file
Q Quit without tagging anything anymore
CDDB MENUS
When the CDDB opens for the first time, the user must enter a query to
choose a CD in the online database.
<space-separated keywords>
CDDB query for CD matching the keywords. Search in all CD
categories within fields artist OR album.
q (or EOF)
Quit CDDB query, see MAIN MENU
Once keywords have been passed as a query to CDDB, a list of matching
CD titles will be displayed. The user then needs to choose one:
<index>
Choose a CD in the current keywords query results list
V View the list of CD matching the keywords
k Start again CDDB query with different keywords
q (or EOF)
Quit CDDB query, see MAIN MENU
Once a CD have been chosen, the user needs to choose a track
<index>
Choose a track of the current CD
<index> a
Choose a track and do not ask for confirmation anymore
a Use default track and do not ask for confirmation anymore
E Edit current CD common tags, see EDITING MENU
v View the list of CD matching the keywords
c Change the CD chosen in keywords query results list
k Start again CDDB query with different keywords
q (or EOF)
Quit CDDB query, see MAIN MENU
Note that entering the CDDB menus again will go back to the previous CD
instead of asking the user to query again, so that an entire CD may be
tagged easily.
PARSING MENU
When --ask is passed or when guessing, each matching will lead to a
confirmation message before tagging. Available behaviors are:
y Tag current file with current format. This is the default.
u Tag current file with current format. Then use current format
for all remaining matching files. When a non-matching file is
reached, stop using this preferred format.
a Tag current file with current format. Then, never asking for a
confirmation anymore.
n Don’t tag current file with this format. Try the next matching
format on the current file.
p When matching is done through combination of a path parser and a
basename parser, keep the basename parser and try the next path
parser on the current file.
q (or EOF)
Stop trying to parse this file.
EDITING MENU
It is possible to edit tags, either before tagging or file, or before
choosing a track in a CD obtained by CDDB. The current value of all
regular fields is shown and may be modified by entering another value,
deleted by entering <DELETE>, or cleared.
The behavior depends on the installed readline library. If it is
smart, the current value may be edited inline and an history is
available. If not, pressing <enter> will keep the current value while
CLEAR will empty it. EOF while cancel the editing of this single
value.
Each field may be selected for edition by pressing its corresponding
letter in the format (see FORMAT). Since there might be some non-
standard tag names, it is also possible to enter tag FOO to modify tag
FOO.
Editing ends by tagging (if E is pressed) or canceling and return to
confirmation menu (if C is pressed).
The other options are:
V View the current values of tags
y End edition, save changes, and return to previous menu
q (or EOF)
Cancel edition, forget about changes, and return to previous
menu
RENAMING MENU
By default, before renaming, a confirmation is asked to the user. You
may bypass it by passing --yes on the command line.
If the rename format uses a field that is not defined, a warning is
shown and confirmation is always asked.
Available behaviors when renaming are:
y Rename current file with current new filename. This is the
default.
a Rename current file with current new filename. Then, never
asking for a renaming confirmation anymore.
e Edit current new filename before renaming. The behavior depends
on the installed readline library. If it is smart, the current
value may be edited inline and an history is available.
q (or EOF)
Don’t rename current file.
h Show help about confirmation.
FORMAT
User-specified formats must be a string composed of any characters and
the following special codes:
%a to match the author.
%A to match the album.
%g to match the genre.
%n to match the track number.
%t to match the title.
%d to match the date.
%c to match the comment.
%i to match anything and ignore it.
%% to match %.
Additionaly, while renaming, the following codes are available:
%F is replaced by the original basename of the file.
%E is replaced by the original extension of the file.
%P is replaced by the original path of the file.
INTERNAL FORMATS
The internal format database is usually stored in /etc/lltag/formats.
The user may override this file by defining a $HOME/.lltag/formats. If
this file exists, the system-wide one is ignored.
See the manpage of lltag_formats or /etc/lltag/formats for details.
CONFIGURATION FILES
lltag reads some configuration files before parsing command line
options. The system-wide configuration file is defined in
/etc/lltag/config if it exists.
It also reads $HOME/.lltag/config if it exists.
The user may also add another configurable file with --config.
lltag may also generate a configuration with --gencfg.
See the manpage of lltag_config or the example of config file provided
in the documentation for details.
FILES
/etc/lltag/formats
System-wide internal format database. See INTERNAL FORMATS for
details.
$HOME/.lltag/formats
User internal format database. If it exists, the system-wide one
is ignored.
$HOME/.lltag/edit_history
History of last entered values in the edition mode if the
Readline library supports this feature.
/etc/lltag/config
System-wide configuration file, if it exists. See CONFIGURATION
FILES for details.
$HOME/.lltag/config
User configuration file.
EXAMPLES
Show all tags for each OGG files in the current directory:
lltag -S *.ogg
Show only a selected list of tags for all files in all subdirectories:
lltag --show-tags artist,album,title,number -R .
Set an arbitrary tag in a file (only works with OGG vorbis or FLAC
files):
lltag --tag foo=nil foo.ogg
Delete the foo tag from a file:
lltag --tag foo= bar.ogg
Set the ALBUM, ARTIST and GENRE tag values of the MP3 files in the
current directory:
lltag --ARTIST "Queen" --ALBUM "Innunendo" --GENRE "rock"
--COMMENT="very cool" *.mp3
Rename a file by assembling its current NUMBER, ARTIST and TITLE tag
values:
lltag --no-tagging --rename "%n - %a - %t" foobar.ogg
Clear all tags in all FLAC files:
lltag --clear *.flac
SEE ALSO
lltag_config(5), lltag_formats(5)
The howto.html file provided within the documentation.
AUTHOR
Brice Goglin
NOVEMBER 2006