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Free Code Replacement File Generator
for Sports Photography

340+ leagues. 116,000+ teams. 1.6+ million athletes from high school to pro sports.
Your first code replacement file is on us.

Sport and league

Teams

Away and home, with code prefixes

Options

Caption format, tab codes, phrases
Options 
a11	Michael Penix Jr.
a8	Kyle Pitts
a1	Bijan Robinson
c9	Joe Burrow
c1	Ja'Marr Chase
c85	Tee Higgins
Pick teams to preview your file.

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What is a code replacement file?

A Photo Mechanic code replacement file is a plain-text list that maps short codes — usually a team prefix plus a jersey number — to the full caption text you want stamped into every photo. Type a12 in a caption field and Photo Mechanic expands it to the athlete name, team, and style you chose.

Sports shooters rely on these files because games move too fast for hand-typing names on every frame. One clean file covers both benches, coaches, and common phrases so your captions stay consistent from tip-off to the wire.

New to the format? Read our guide on what Photo Mechanic code replacement files are, then generate one here for free.

Sample code replacement file format

Here is a real excerpt of the file this generator builds — tab-aligned prefix, full caption, and player number columns Photo Mechanic expects.

a1	    Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (1)	
a8	    Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8)
a11	    Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (11)
c1	    Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1)
c9	    Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9)	
c85 	Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85)
ac	    Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris
cc	    Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor

Always up to date with the latest rosters

Out-of-date roster data is almost as bad as not having data in the first place.

That's why our free code replacement generator are built from official sources and rosters are continually updated throughout the season — not just once at the beginning of the season. When you pick teams in the generator, you’ll see a live “updated recently” stamp so you know how current that matchup is.

Coverage built for working sports photographers

This code replacement file generator from Sideline Captions features extensive coverage, with roster data from 340+ leagues, 116,000+ teams, and over 1.6 million athletes from high school through the pros across 16 sports, from football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, racing, and more.

We're always adding more sports and leagues to our database, so if you don't see your favorite sport or league, let us know and we'll look into adding it.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is a code replacement file?

A code replacement file is a tab-separated text file that Photo Mechanic and similar programs uses to expand short codes into full captions. Sideline Captions generates these files from live roster data so you do not have to build them by hand.

How do I use a code replacement file?

In Photo Mechanic, load your code replacement file by going to Edit > Settings > Set Code Replacements. As you write captions, type the short team+number code (like a12) and Photo Mechanic will expand it to the full player name and details automatically. This saves you the hassle of remembering every athlete or retyping captions throughout the game.

Want to save even more time? Sideline Captions can generate captions for every photo automatically using AI – no manual typing or code expansions required. You can get a 14-day free trial of Sideline Captions to have AI generate captions for you and go far beyond what’s possible with Photo Mechanic alone.

How often are rosters updated?

Rosters are updated continuously throughout the season from official sources. The generator shows a "most recently updated" timestamp for the teams you select so you can ensure you have up-to-date data before the game.

What caption formats are supported?

Associated Press, Getty Images, Getty with parentheses, and Imagn Images — plus options for multiple tab codes, common phrases, offense/defense splits, and ALL CAPS names. You can also use Sideline Captions for macOS to automatically generate captions for sports photography in any style – AP, Getty, Imagn, ICON Sportswire, ZUMA Press, and build your own caption styles.

The code replacement file is really free?

Yes, your first file is 100% free – no account required. Enter your email, download on the page, and get a backup copy in your inbox. If you want to generate more files, you can sign up for a free 14-day trial of Sideline Captions and get unlimited code replacement files for the rest of the season.

Do I need a Mac to open a code replacement file?

No, you don't need a Mac. This web-based code replacement file generator works in any modern browser on Mac, Windows, or Chromebook. The Sideline Captions desktop app is Mac-only if you later want the full product.

Can I edit the file after downloading?

Yes, absolutely. A code replacement file is just a plain text file. Open it in any text editor, tweak lines, and re-import into Photo Mechanic or Sideline Captions whenever you need to.

All sports and leagues

Browse all 341 leagues

Open a sport, pick a league, and generate a ready-to-import Photo Mechanic code replacement file.

Auto Racing

 28 leagues

Baseball

 12 leagues

Basketball

 18 leagues

Cricket

 11 leagues

Field Hockey

 4 leagues

Football

 10 leagues

Golf

 9 leagues

Horse Racing

 1 league

Ice Hockey

 31 leagues

Lacrosse

 11 leagues

Rugby

 12 leagues

Soccer

 179 leagues

Softball

 6 leagues

Tennis

 2 leagues

Volleyball

 8 leagues

Water Polo

 1 league

Ready to generate your next file?

Pick a league and teams, download a Photo Mechanic-ready file. First one free — no account needed.Pick a league and teams, download a Photo Mechanic file. First one free.

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First file free · No account required · 340+ leagues