# Add Spaces to every dash in a file name **URL:** \ **Category:** Rename Presets\ **Tags:** script, regex, vbscript\ **Created:** [April 13, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/add-spaces-to-every-dash-in-a-file-name/7741 "2009-04-13T06:00:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KingOfDaClick](https://resource.dopus.com/user_avatar/resource.dopus.com/kingofdaclick/32/25964_2.png) [@KingOfDaClick](https://resource.dopus.com/u/KingOfDaClick)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/add-spaces-to-every-dash-in-a-file-name/7741/1 "2009-04-13T06:00:31Z")
Hi All I've modified Leo's [Dot's to spaces](https://resource.dopus.com/t/dots-to-spaces-except-in-numbers-for-files-and-folders/6599) vbscript slightly to make it add a space before and after every dash in a file name. For example, say you have a music album that has: 01-Michael Jackson-Billie Jean.mp3 02-Michael Jackson-Beat It.mp3 It will rename it to: 01 - Michael Jackson - Billie Jean.mp3 02 - Michael Jackson - Beat It.mp3 making it easier to read and neater.!!! **Warnings/limitations** Might not be useful when: 1. Renaming files/folders that have numbers eg. 02-06-1982. 2. Renaming music artist who use dashes in their names eg. Jay-z, Ja-Rule. 3. Files/folders that have multiple dashes e.g --, --- (solution for this is to use Scred alternative button instead(see below post)) [/b] 99% Credit goes to Leo 😃 Cheers All **Download the rename preset:** - [Add spaces to -.orp](https://resource.dopus.com/uploads/default/original/3X/d/b/db87d0a527ac092d02910d0ecb88a41e5252c814.orp) (1.33 KB) - See [How to use Rename Presets from this forum](https://resource.dopus.com/t/how-to-use-rename-presets-from-this-forum/26726/3). ---
**Author:** ![David](https://resource.dopus.com/user_avatar/resource.dopus.com/david/32/51561_2.png) [@David](https://resource.dopus.com/u/David)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/add-spaces-to-every-dash-in-a-file-name/7741/2 "2009-04-14T00:17:38Z")
Hello KingOfDaClick, I'm guessing that you hacked Leo's VB script and then modified it to add a space before and after every dash in a file name. Your solution, probably unknown to you, if I understand your post correctly, actually is better than you may think. You ALMOST got a more advanced solution ! What regexp would add spaces around '-' characters, but keep an ellipsis such as -- or --- intact ? As a button I use ```nohighlight @NoDeselect Rename REGEXP PATTERN="(.*)(([^ -])(-)|(-)([^ -])| )(.*\..*)#" TO="\1\3\5 \4\6\7" type=files Rename REGEXP PATTERN="(.*)(([^ -])(-)|(-)([^ -])| )(.*)#" TO="\1\3\5 \4\6\7" type=dirs ``` This also collapses multiple space characters. The regexp part of your vb script then becomes: ```vbscript ' Apply our regular expression to the filename. re.Pattern = "([^ -])(-)|(-)([^ -])" strNameOnly = re.Replace(strNameOnly, "$1$3 $2$4") ``` I think that's correct vb expession. I haven't checked it yet though. And your solution was ```vbscript ' Apply our regular expression to the filename. re.Pattern = "([^ -])\-|\-([^ -])" strNameOnly = re.Replace(strNameOnly, "$1 - $2") ``` Kind Regards, Scred ---
**Author:** ![KingOfDaClick](https://resource.dopus.com/user_avatar/resource.dopus.com/kingofdaclick/32/25964_2.png) [@KingOfDaClick](https://resource.dopus.com/u/KingOfDaClick)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/add-spaces-to-every-dash-in-a-file-name/7741/3 "2009-04-15T10:43:54Z")
Hey Scred thanks for sharing ur script/button, it worked like a charm, slightly better alternative. Please share any other scripts u may have under your belt.... Cheers, KingOfDaClick