# Import Metadata from Audio File (Deprecated)

This statement has been deprecated. You should use the Transfer Metadata statement as an alternative.

This function is used to import a track's tagging information directly from a different audio file.

A folder path and a base filename are specified or constructed. A base filename is required as more than one file may have been written when the data was exported. The folder and filename together specify the source of the audio file being whose metadata is being imported.

You can specify a path for the source folder or that the source folder is relative to the folder containing the audio file. Relative paths are specified by the number of levels up from the file's containing folder. Zero levels implies that the new folder structure should be in the files's containing folder. One level implies that the new folder structure should be in the parent of the file's containing folder, etc.

A specified path may contain any of the escape sequences described in Escape Sequences. At runtime the path must resolve to be:

- An absolute path starting with /
- A path relative to the user home folder starting with ~/
- A path beneath the track's containing folder, starting with ./

Choose up to three fields to be used as folders to be appended to the absolute or relative base path. When the path is constructed if you specified Album Artist and the field is empty, Artist will be used. If the value associated with a chosen field is empty an error will be issued unless a placeholder is specified.

Transformations can be applied to each of the three fields to be optionally appended. To configure the transformations press the Transformations... button. A panel will be displayed containing the transformation settings.. Close the panel by clicking off the panel or by pressing the Escape key. For more information see Statement Transformations.

To summarize the source folder location is calculated as follows:

- an absolute or relative base path.
- optionally up to three path components based on field contents.

You can enter a specific filename or leave the field empty to use the audio file's name for the name of the file to be imported. If a filename is specified it must include the filename extension. A supplied name may contain any of the escape sequences described in Escape Sequences.

The function sets the Retained Path 1 property to the file which served as the metadata source. The Retained Path 2 property is cleared. On failure, both properties are emptied.

Note that this function always loads the audio file which serves as the source of the metadata. If the file is currently open and has unsaved changes they will not be imported.

Note that the function will not modify Unhandled metadata or track variables.