In our daily work and study, document management is usually a difficult problem that we cannot get around. When the computer is full of hundreds of thousands of files, manual sorting one by one is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also error-prone. At this time, the classification of the first Chinese character according to the file name has become an efficient solution. This classification method plays a key role in sorting out customer data, filing photos, or managing project documents. By extracting the first word of the file name and automatically classifying, scattered files can be quickly classified into corresponding folders, thus doubling the retrieval efficiency.
This classification method is especially suitable for Chinese scenes. For example, customer files are classified by the first name, photos are filed by the first name of the place where they were taken, and academic papers are organized by the author's last name... It not only makes the file structure clearer, but also avoids repeated naming and storage confusion. Of course, this method of language conversion, by analogy, we also apply to the English initials, Korean, the first character of the Japanese name and so on. This article will analyze five typical operating tools in detail, covering operating steps, advantages and disadvantages, and we can always find the most suitable solution according to our operating habits and needs. Whether you are new to document management or the pursuit of efficiency in the workplace, I hope you can find practical skills!
Why do you need to classify files by the first word of the file name?
Explosive growth in the number of documents is a common phenomenon in daily work and study. In some scenarios, manual classification is extremely inefficient, but the first Chinese character classification by file name can quickly solve the following problems, such as the following scenarios:
- when managing customer data, the file names of hundreds of customer contracts contain customer names, such as "Zhang San Contract" and "Li Si Agreement", which are automatically classified into corresponding folders according to the first word of surname for subsequent retrieval.
 - Photo archives, such as photos of Beijing and Shanghai, can be classified according to the first words "north" and "upper" of place names.
 - In the mixed storage of multi-language files, the Chinese by the first word classification, English by the first letter classification, can achieve rapid automatic separation, to avoid language mixing.
 
Preview the effect of sorting by the first text of the file name.
Deal with a bunch of messy filenames before:

after treatment:


method 1: Use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool To classify
recommended Index:★★★★★
Advantages:
- full-featured, support by the first word, the first letter, numbers and other rules classification.
 - Simple operation, intuitive interface, 3 steps to complete the classification.
 - Localization processing, data is not uploaded to the server, privacy security.
 - No code, not complicated, suitable for small white newcomers.
 
Disadvantages:
- the interface design is older, intuitive but not aesthetically pleasing.
 - Only after downloading, the software can be installed and used on the computer. Mobile devices are not supported when occupying memory.
 
Operation steps:
1. Open 【 HeSoft Doc Batch Tool ], select the [file sorting] function-click [classify files by file name]].

2. There are three ways to add files, specifically as follows: [Add Files] Add single or multiple files that need to be classified according to the first Chinese character of the file name; [Import Files from Folder] Import a large number of file folders that need to be classified according to the first Chinese character of the file name; You can also drag files directly into the bottom in batches. Then click Next.

3. After entering the next step, select [Classification Method] to classify by the first Chinese character, and then enter the next step to select the saving location.

4. It only takes a few seconds. After waiting for the processing to be completed, click the save location to view the folder where the classification is completed.

Method 2: Use WebRename to carry out the first word classification operation
recommended Index:★★★☆ ☆
advantages:
- no need to install, browser direct operation, support Chrome, Edge and other mainstream browsers.
 - Feature-rich, support for replacement, insertion, interception and more than 10 modes, can be used in combination.
 - Large file support, a single can handle thousands of files, unlimited file size.
 
Disadvantages:
- browser compatibility, lower version browsers may not work properly.
 - The trial period is currently a free trial period and may be charged in the future.
 
Specific operation steps:
1. Open the web address first and then add the files needed for uploading. Click on the page upload area to select files or folders. Drag and drop is also supported. 
2. Select the classification mode, switch to the Classification tab, and select Classification by First Word. 
3. Preview Effect-Click Preview to display the classified folder structure in the file list. 
4. Perform classification and click Apply after confirming that it is correct. 
5. The final download file can be downloaded separately, packaged and downloaded ZIP or downloaded one by one.

Method 3: Use the Online File Renamer to classify
recommended Index:★★★☆ ☆
advantages:
- drag sort, support file order adjustment, suitable for sequential renaming.
 - Custom output, you can specify the output folder.
 
Disadvantages:
- advertising interference, page advertising more.
 - File size limit, maximum support 200MB files.
 
Specific operation steps:
1. Open the correct web page link and drag the file to the upload area. 
2. Set classification rules, select the first word in the classification column, and enter Chinese or English mode. 
3. Then check Overwrite and select Overwrite Existing Files to avoid duplication. 
4. Perform classification, click Rename, download the file after a while, and click Download All.

Method 4: Use iRenamer operating tools to classify documents by first word.
Recommended Index:★★★☆ ☆
advantages:
- multi-language support, including Chinese interface, suitable for international users.
 - Backup function: can automatically backup the original file.
 
Disadvantages:
- the free version is limited to 10 files/times.
 - Server speed, overseas servers, slow response.
 
Specific operation steps:
1. First enter the website and then switch languages. For example, Chinese users select Chinese at the top of official website. 
2. Add a file, click Select File Upload, then set the classification rules, select the first word in the classification column, and enter the Chinese or English mode. 
3. Check the backup operation, select the backup original file, and click Preview Check to preview the effect. 
4. Then execute it. Click Start Rename and wait for a while. The download file will be completed.

Method 5: Use the simplified version of the Advanced Renamer web page to operate
recommended Index:★★★☆ ☆
advantages:
- metadata support, renaming based on file date, EXIF information, etc.
 - Multiple naming methods are supported, including seven naming methods, such as adding, deleting, and replacing.
 
Disadvantages:
- the free version is limited to 50 operations per day.
 - The stability of the server is not good, and occasionally there is Caton.
 
Specific operation steps:
1. First open the webpage and click Start Online, then click Choose Files to upload the file. 
2. Set classification rules, select the first word in the New Name column, and enter Chinese or English mode. 
3. Click the Simulate for preview check, and finally click Rename for classification. 
4. Then click Download to download the file.

Summary
file management is a necessary skill for modern people, and classification by file name initials is an efficient tool to solve the confusion. Whether it's selling customer data, photographers filing photos, or student management papers, this classification method can make the file structure clearer and faster to retrieve. The five tools I recommend above have their own characteristics. Some of them have comprehensive, fast, good and stable functions, such as the first one. Some do not need to install, and the operation is simple... Users can choose free version or paid version, personal version or enterprise version according to their needs, and balance their functions and costs.
In the future, as the number of documents continues to grow, it is believed that automated classification of documents will become mainstream. Mastering these tools can not only improve work efficiency, but also avoid mistakes caused by document confusion. You might as well open the tool now and try to turn these difficult-to-search files in your computer into organized categories!