SUMMARY *** When removing a picture from file, the file size will not change. *** STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. Make a copy of mp3 or m4a file with file manager 1. Open this directory with Kid3 2. Select picture tag "Picture: Cover (front)" from copied file and press delete button 3. Save file 4. Compare file size with terminal or file manager OBSERVED RESULT File size still remains the same. EXPECTED RESULT File size should be smaller when removing picture from file. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Windows: macOS: Linux/KDE Plasma: Kid3 3.9.2 / MX Linux MX-19.4_ahs_x64, Xfce 4.14.2 (available in About System) KDE Plasma Version: KDE Frameworks Version: Qt Version: 5.11.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Tagging libraries usually do not shrink the file when the size of the tag is reduced, because - as is the case with ID3v2 tags which are at the beginning of the file - this would mean rewriting the whole file, which takes time and is not wanted by all users. Kid3 offers always the possibility to shrink the file as much as possible (when possible by the 3rd party tagging library), but in order to to this, you have to remove the tag, save the file without a "Tag 2" and then add a new tag. You can do this manually by copying the tag of a single file, removing the tag, saving and finally pasting the copied tag and saving again. For multiple tags without picture, you could export the tags, remove them and then import them again. As this is all tedious (and I also want my files with pictures removed and tags shrinked) there is a user action "Rewrite Tags", which does this in an automated way, you just have to select the files, right click to get the context menu and select "Rewrite Tags".
Thanks for your fast response. OK, I understand now the behavior and will use user action "Rewrite Tags". Thanks again for this gem of software.