Organize a Folder of Files

Use this workflow for downloads, project material, meeting files, images, PDFs, or a set of Markdown documents. The result should be a clear structure and a reviewable record of every change.

Prepare before you start

• Name the exact directory instead of granting access to your entire home folder.
• State which files are read-only and which may be moved, renamed, or edited.
• Back up important files or work on a copy.
• Provide classification rules. If you do not have rules yet, ask for a proposal before making changes.

First prompt: inventory only

Scan this directory and read only file names, types, sizes, and the minimum content needed for a summary. Do not move, rename, edit, or delete anything. Propose a structure and create a Markdown plan with each original path, suggested path, and reason.

Review the plan and confirm the rules before allowing changes.

Second prompt: apply the approved plan

Apply the plan we approved. Do not delete files. If a destination name already exists, skip it and record the conflict. Report completed changes, skipped items, and failures.

Recommended workflow

1. Inventory the directory.
2. Spot-check content classification.
3. Confirm the directory and naming rules.
4. Move, rename, convert, or extract content.
5. Compare file counts and paths before and after.
6. Keep the change list for review or manual recovery.

Common tasks

• Organize downloads by year, project, or file type.
• Rename scans and images in batches.
• Extract titles and summaries from PDF, Word, or Markdown files.
• Merge CSV files or convert a group of files to one format.
• Build an index and missing-item list for a collection of documents.

Result checklist

• The file count is expected and nothing was deleted accidentally.
• Conflicting names were skipped instead of overwritten.
• Renamed files retain valid extensions and still open.
• Failures include the reason and original path.
• Changes are limited to the directory you authorized.

Related: Quickstart · Secrets and Permissions · Troubleshooting