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File Organizer — Claude Code skill: sort and rename files

This skill sorts files into folders and renames them based on content and metadata. Handy when your downloads folder has turned into a mess.

Install into Claude Code · Skills CLI (Vercel) All methods and platforms ↓
npx skills add claude-office-skills/skills --skill file-organizer -a claude-code
Open on GitHub

What File Organizer does

The skill reads file contents, suggests a folder structure and generates names from a single template. Inside are naming rules for documents, images, invoices and meeting notes, plus ready-made folder trees for personal documents, projects and clients. Invoices follow a date-vendor-amount-number pattern. Screenshots get a date and time.

You get an organization plan in markdown: the folder tree, a table mapping old names to new ones, and a list of actions. A separate report covers duplicates and shows how much space they take up. Automation rules spell out triggers like a PDF containing the word Invoice and what should happen to it.

There are limits. Protected and encrypted files stay unread, and bulk moves are done by hand. Content analysis depends on format support, and categorization is not guaranteed — important files get flagged for a manual look. The skill needs the office-mcp MCP server with the analyze_document_structure tool.

What it helps with

  • sort a downloads folder into categories
  • settle on one naming template for invoices
  • find duplicate files and see how much space they take
  • build a folder structure for a new project
  • group invoices by vendor and date

Example prompts for the agent

  • Analyze these files and suggest how to organize them
  • Create a folder structure for my project files
  • Organize my downloads folder

How to install File Organizer

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add claude-office-skills/skills --skill file-organizer -a claude-code

2Manually: put the files in place

~/.claude/skills/file-organizer/SKILL.md

Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/file-organizer/

Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways

Questions about File Organizer

How do I install File Organizer in Claude?

Run npx skills add claude-office-skills/skills --skill file-organizer -a claude-code. The skill lands at ~/.claude/skills/file-organizer/SKILL.md.

What does File Organizer do?

It reads file contents and metadata, proposes a folder structure, renames files by one template and finds duplicates. Output is an organization plan in markdown.

What does the skill need to work?

The office-mcp MCP server with the analyze_document_structure tool. Protected and encrypted files are not read.

Source text

SKILL.md · MIT
---
# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
# CLAUDE OFFICE SKILL - Enhanced Metadata v2.0
# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

# Basic Information
name: File Organizer
description: "Organize and rename files based on content analysis"
version: "1.0"
author: claude-office-skills
license: MIT

# Categorization
category: productivity
tags:
  - file
  - organization
  - naming
  - structure
department: All

# AI Model Compatibility
models:
  recommended:
    - claude-sonnet-4
    - claude-opus-4
  compatible:
    - claude-3-5-sonnet
    - gpt-4
    - gpt-4o

# MCP Tools Integration
mcp:
  server: office-mcp
  tools:
    - analyze_document_structure

# Skill Capabilities
capabilities:
  - file_categorization
  - naming_convention
  - organization

# Language Support
languages:
  - en
  - zh
---

# File Organizer

Intelligently organize and rename files based on their content and metadata.

## Overview

This skill helps you:
- Analyze file contents to determine categorization
- Suggest folder structures
- Generate consistent naming conventions
- Identify and handle duplicates
- Create organization systems

## How to Use

### Analyze Files
```
"Analyze these files and suggest how to organize them"
"What category does this file belong to?"
"Suggest a better filename for this document"
```

### Organize
```
"Create a folder structure for my project files"
"Organize my downloads folder"
"Sort these invoices by vendor and date"
```

## Naming Conventions

### Recommended Formats

**Documents**
```
YYYY-MM-DD_Category_Description_v1.ext
Example: 2026-01-29_Contract_ClientName_NDA_v1.pdf
```

**Images**
```
YYYY-MM-DD_Event/Project_Description_NNN.ext
Example: 2026-01-29_ProductLaunch_HeroImage_001.png
```

**Invoices/Receipts**
```
YYYY-MM-DD_Vendor_Amount_InvoiceNumber.ext
Example: 2026-01-29_Adobe_149.99_INV-12345.pdf
```

**Meeting Notes**
```
YYYY-MM-DD_MeetingType_Topic.ext
Example: 2026-01-29_TeamSync_Q1Planning.md
```

### Naming Rules
- Use underscores or hyphens, not spaces
- Start with date for chronological sorting
- Include key identifiers (client, project, type)
- Add version numbers for iterations
- Keep names concise but descriptive

## Folder Structures

### Personal Documents
```
📁 Documents
├── 📁 Admin
│   ├── 📁 Finance
│   │   ├── 📁 Invoices
│   │   ├── 📁 Receipts
│   │   └── 📁 Tax
│   ├── 📁 Insurance
│   └── 📁 Legal
├── 📁 Work
│   ├── 📁 Projects
│   ├── 📁 Reports
│   └── 📁 Meetings
├── 📁 Personal
│   ├── 📁 Health
│   ├── 📁 Education
│   └── 📁 Travel
└── 📁 Archive
    └── 📁 [Year]
```

### Project-Based
```
📁 ProjectName
├── 📁 01_Planning
│   ├── 📁 Requirements
│   ├── 📁 Proposals
│   └── 📁 Research
├── 📁 02_Design
│   ├── 📁 Mockups
│   ├── 📁 Assets
│   └── 📁 Specs
├── 📁 03_Development
│   ├── 📁 Source
│   ├── 📁 Tests
│   └── 📁 Documentation
├── 📁 04_Deliverables
│   └── 📁 [Version]
├── 📁 05_Admin
│   ├── 📁 Contracts
│   ├── 📁 Invoices
│   └── 📁 Communications
└── 📁 Archive
```

### Client/Vendor
```
📁 Clients
└── 📁 [ClientName]
    ├── 📁 Contracts
    ├── 📁 Projects
    │   └── 📁 [ProjectName]
    ├── 📁 Invoices
    ├── 📁 Communications
    └── 📁 Assets
```

## Output Formats

### Organization Plan
```markdown
## File Organization Plan

**Source**: [Folder/Location]
**Total Files**: [Count]
**Total Size**: [Size]

### Proposed Structure
[Folder tree]

### File Mapping
| Original Name | New Name | Destination |
|--------------|----------|-------------|
| IMG_1234.jpg | 2026-01-29_ProductPhoto_001.jpg | /Products/Photos/ |
| doc1.pdf | 2026-01-15_Contract_ClientA_NDA.pdf | /Clients/ClientA/Contracts/ |

### Actions Required
1. Create folders: [list]
2. Rename files: [count]
3. Move files: [count]
4. Review manually: [count with reasons]
```

### Duplicate Report
```markdown
## Duplicate Files Report

**Total Duplicates Found**: [Count]
**Space Recoverable**: [Size]

### Exact Duplicates
| File | Locations | Size | Recommendation |
|------|-----------|------|----------------|
| report.pdf | /Downloads/, /Documents/ | 2.3MB | Keep in /Documents/ |

### Similar Files
| Files | Similarity | Difference |
|-------|------------|------------|
| report_v1.pdf, report_v2.pdf | 95% | v2 has extra page |
```

## Analysis Capabilities

### Content-Based Categorization
- **Documents**: Contracts, reports, letters, forms
- **Financial**: Invoices, receipts, statements, budgets
- **Media**: Photos, videos, audio, graphics
- **Code**: Source files, configs, documentation
- **Data**: Spreadsheets, databases, exports

### Metadata Extraction
- Creation/modification dates
- Author information
- File dimensions (images/video)
- Duration (audio/video)
- Page count (documents)

## Automation Rules

### Example Rules
```markdown
## Auto-Organization Rules

### Rule 1: Invoices
- Trigger: PDF with "Invoice" or "INV-" in content
- Action: Move to /Finance/Invoices/[Year]/[Month]/
- Rename: YYYY-MM-DD_Vendor_Amount.pdf

### Rule 2: Screenshots
- Trigger: File matches "Screenshot*.png"
- Action: Move to /Screenshots/[Year-Month]/
- Rename: YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM_Screenshot.png

### Rule 3: Downloads Cleanup
- Trigger: File in Downloads older than 30 days
- Action: 
  - If document → Archive
  - If installer → Delete
  - If media → Sort to appropriate folder
```

## Best Practices

### Organization Principles
1. **PARA Method**: Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive
2. **Date-First**: Enables chronological sorting
3. **Descriptive Names**: Future you will thank you
4. **Flat is Better**: Avoid deep nesting (max 3-4 levels)
5. **Regular Maintenance**: Schedule monthly reviews

### File Hygiene
- Delete duplicates and temp files
- Archive completed projects
- Use cloud sync for important files
- Maintain consistent naming
- Document your system

## Limitations

- Cannot access protected/encrypted files
- Large file moves require manual execution
- Content analysis depends on file format support
- Cannot guarantee perfect categorization
- Manual review recommended for important files

© claude-office-skills · MIT · claude-office-skills/skills

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