How to sort hundreds of PDFs into folders with Claude Cowork

Team operationsClaude Cowork

The problem

A folder of hundreds of unsorted PDFs is useless until someone opens each file and files it.

Tools needed

• Claude Cowork
• A local folder of text-based PDFs
• Excel (for the index)

Step-by-step recipe

1. Put all the PDFs in one local folder and select it in Cowork.
2. Write an explicit instruction: how many files there are, what text to look for, and which subfolder matching files go into.
3. Let Cowork read and move the files.
4. Optionally have it group related PDFs for merging.
5. Ask for an XLSX index showing where each file went.

Copyable prompt

This folder contains [NUMBER] PDF files. Sort them into subfolders:
- [SUBFOLDER A]: files that mention [TEXT / CRITERIA]
- [SUBFOLDER B]: files that mention [TEXT / CRITERIA]
- _unsure: anything that doesn't clearly match
Don't rename or delete files. When done, create index.xlsx with columns: original filename, destination folder, reason (the text you matched). Tell me how many went into each folder.

What the builder reported

The user reports Cowork sorted 400 PDFs (382 in a detailed follow-up) without trouble. No measured accuracy or speed; it worked on text-based PDFs, not image-only ones.

These are the source author's own claims. AgentRecipes has not tested or verified them.

Watch out for

• Be very explicit in the prompt, as if briefing a smart new colleague.
• Work on a copy of the folder the first time, and only turn it into a reusable skill if you'll repeat it.

Source

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