Normally, when you rip CDs with Windows Media Player 10, the filenames are in the following format:

track_number-song_name.media_type

For example, if you are ripping to Windows Media Audio:

10 Symphony.wma

Or for example, if you are ripping to MP3:

11 Fanfare.mp3

If you'd like to change the file format to display different information, such as the artist name, do the following:

1. Right click on the Windows Media Player title bar, choosing "Tools" then "Options". If you are in Skin mode, just select "Options".

2. When the "Options" multi-tabbed dialog box appears, select the "Rip Music" tab.

3. Click the "File Name" button.

4. The "File Name Options" dialog box will appear.

5. Place checks next to the information you want placed in the filenames, such as track number, song title, artist, album, genre, and bit rate.

6. If you want one type of detail placed before another, click on the detail you want moved and click the "Move Up" button. Likewise, to move a detail down, click "Move Down". As you make changes, look underneath the text "Preview" to see a sample ripped song filename.

7. Click the "Separator" pull-down to choose how you want the details separated in the filename, either with a space, dash, dot, underline, or no separation. Again, as you make changes, look underneath the text "Preview" to see a sample ripped song filename.

8. Click "OK" when you are done with your changes.

9. Click "OK" to close the "Options" dialog box.

Print This Tip

Get E-Mail When New Tips are Online

Return to the Windows Media Player 10 CD Ripping page.