As project files grow, if folder names lack a consistent identifier, subsequent searching, handover, and archiving can become chaotic. This article explains how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch insert specified text at the beginning of multiple folder names, for example, uniformly renaming folders like 001-CourseProjects to ABC001-CourseProjects. It covers applicable scenarios, before-and-after effects, detailed steps, and notes, suitable for office users needing to organize large numbers of folders.
In project management, teaching material organization, client file archiving, and team shared file maintenance, folder naming conventions are often not fully determined from the start. Frequently, folders are created based on content first, and it is only during later consolidation that the need to prepend a uniform identifier to folder names is discovered. For example, you might have names like "001-CourseProjects" and "002-ExamPreparation," and later need to mark this batch of materials as belonging to a specific project, wishing them to uniformly become "ABC001-CourseProjects" and "ABC002-ExamPreparation."
This requirement seems simple, but if there are many folders, manual renaming is very inefficient. You must enter the rename state for each folder, move the cursor to the very beginning, and type the same text. After many operations, it not only consumes time but can also lead to issues like missed prefixes, inconsistent capitalization, or incorrect delimiters. For users who value file standardization and office efficiency, it is more suitable to complete this through batch processing.
HeSoft Doc Batch Tool is a batch processing software designed for office scenarios, offering multiple categories such as file names, folder names, Word tools, Excel tools, and PDF tools. This article focuses on the "Folder Name" function within it, explaining how to use "Insert Text in Folder Name" to batch-insert specified text at the beginning of folder names.
Applicable Scenarios: Why You Would Uniformly Insert Text at the Beginning of Folder Names
Adding fixed text to the start of folder names is usually not about changing the folder content, but about making the materials easier to identify, sort, and manage. Especially in multi-person collaboration environments, a uniform folder prefix allows materials from different batches, projects, and sources to be distinguished at a glance.
For example, a directory contains multiple learning or office folders with original names starting with numbers for easy sorting. However, when these folders are copied into a larger repository, the numbers alone might not be clear enough. After adding a project code like "ABC" to the beginning of all names, this batch of folders can be quickly identified by source even when mixed with other materials.
This type of batch text insertion operation is suitable for the following office scenarios:
- Project folders need a uniform project code added for easy identification during cross-departmental sharing.
- Client material folders need a client abbreviation or contract number prepended to the name.
- Training, course, and exam materials need supplementary class, batch, or year identifiers.
- Multiple folders in a team shared drive need a uniform department name to avoid material confusion.
- After migrating materials from cloud drives, portable hard drives, or old computers, folder names need to be reorganized.
Compared to renaming one by one, the advantage of batch processing is that rules only need to be set once. As long as you know "what text to insert" and "where to insert it," the software can apply the same rule to multiple folders in the list, thereby reducing repetitive work.
Effect Preview: From Ordinary Numbered Folders to Uniformly Prefixed Folders
Before processing, the names in the folder list primarily consist of digit numbers and English descriptions, such as "001-CourseProjects," "002-ExamPreparation," "003-KnowledgeBase," and "004-LanguageLearning." Such naming maintains order within a single directory but lacks a uniform identifier to represent the batch or project.
After processing, you can see that the same text "ABC" has been added to the very beginning of each folder name. The original numbers and descriptions are not damaged; only an identifier is prepended. For instance, "001-CourseProjects" becomes "ABC001-CourseProjects," and "010-WritingPractice" becomes "ABC010-WritingPractice".
This result is very suitable for scenarios where the original naming structure needs to be preserved. The original numbers can still be used for sorting, the original English names can still describe the content, and the newly added prefix is used to indicate the project, source, or category. In other words, it's not a complete rename but a standardized supplement to the original name.
Operation Steps: Batch Inserting Specified Text at the Beginning of Folder Names
The specific workflow is explained below based on operation screenshots. The office software used in the example is HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , and the goal is to uniformly add "ABC" to the beginning of multiple folder names. If you actually need to add "Project A-", "2026", "Client Abbreviation", etc., you can use the same method.
Step 1: Find the Folder Name Processing Function on the Main Interface
After opening the software, multiple tool categories can be seen in the left navigation bar. As the processing targets are folder names this time, first click "Folder Name" on the left. After entering this category, the main area will display multiple folder name processing functions.
In the screenshot, the "Insert Text in Folder Name" function card is highlighted. Its description reads, "Batch insert text at a certain position in folder names." This description perfectly matches the requirement of this article: we are not looking to delete text, nor to find and replace, but to insert a new segment of text at the start of the name.
After clicking "Insert Text in Folder Name," the software enters the corresponding task page. Choosing the correct function is the first step of the entire process, as different functions correspond to different naming rules. If you just want to add content to the beginning, it can also be understood as a special "insert text" operation where the insertion position is the start.
Step 2: Add Folders to Be Processed and Verify the List
After entering the task page, you can see the top workflow is divided into four steps: Select records to process, Set processing options, Set save location, Start processing. The core task of the current first step is to add all folders that need renaming to the processing list.
The top right of the interface provides an "Add Folder" button. Click it to add the folders you need to batch process. Once added, the table displays detailed information for these folders, including sequence number, name, path, creation time, modification time, and an operation column.
From the screenshot, a total of 10 folders were added in the example, with the bottom summary showing "Record Count: 10." These folder names range from "001-CourseProjects" to "010-WritingPractice," all located under D:\test\. This list is the processing scope for this batch task; whatever is in the list is what the subsequent rules will apply to.
Before clicking "Next," it is recommended to carefully check three types of information: first, whether the record count is correct; second, whether the names column lists all folders that need a prefix; third, whether the paths point to the correct directories. If you find a folder that should not be processed, you can remove it via the operation column or click "Clear" on the interface to re-add. After confirming there are no errors, click "Next" at the bottom.
Step 3: Set the Insertion Position to Place Text at the Very Beginning of Folder Names
After entering "Set processing options," two main setting items appear on the page: "Position" and "Text to Insert." These two options determine how the final names will change.
To add text at the very beginning of a folder name, fill in 0 for the "Position." This 0 can be understood as the position before the first character. Using "001-CourseProjects" as an example, its first character is "0"; after inserting "ABC" at position 0, the new name becomes "ABC001-CourseProjects."
Next, enter the content you want to add in "Text to Insert." The example goal is to uniformly add "ABC," so simply fill in "ABC". If your actual rules require a delimiter between the prefix and the original name, you must include the delimiter in the input box, for example, "ABC-". The software executes the insertion exactly as entered, so pay special attention here to extra spaces, hyphens, and text case.
Once set, double-check: Is the position 0? Does the text match your expectation exactly? Because this is a batch process, execution will affect all folder names in the list. Checking beforehand can prevent rework. Click "Next" after confirming.
Step 4: Complete Save Location Settings According to the Workflow and Execute the Task
Within the process bar, after setting processing options, there are still "Set save location" and "Start processing." As the screenshot does not show specific details of the save location page, this article will not make extra assumptions about unshown options. During actual use, simply follow the software interface to complete the next step's settings, then proceed to the start processing phase.
Before officially starting, it's recommended to reconfirm the rule for this session: the processing targets are the 10 folders just added; the operation method is to insert text in folder names; the insertion position is 0; and the text to insert is "ABC" or your actual input. Executing only after confirmation reduces the risk of misoperation associated with batch renaming.
After execution is complete, check the folder names in File Explorer. If you see the specified text added to the beginning of each target folder, while the original numbers and descriptions are still preserved, it means the batch insertion is complete.
Common Questions and Considerations
1. What is the difference between "Add Prefix" and "Insert Text"?
From the screenshot, the Folder Name category includes both "Insert Text in Folder Name" and "Add Prefix and Suffix to Folder Name." This article uses the insert text function because it allows you to decide the insertion point by setting the position. When the position is set to 0, the effect is to add text at the beginning. Users who only need to add a prefix can choose the appropriate function based on their needs; this article demonstrates the "Insert Text in Folder Name" function specifically highlighted in the screenshot.
2. What will happen if I write "ABC-" as the text to insert?
The software will insert the content of the input box exactly. If you input "ABC-" and the original folder name is "001-CourseProjects," then theoretically the name will take a form that includes that input content, such as prepending "ABC-" to the original name. If you want the result to be just "ABC001-CourseProjects," do not include a hyphen in the inserted text. Whether or not a name requires a delimiter should be decided according to your material management standards.
3. How many folders can be processed at one time?
The screenshot example added 10 folders at once, and the bottom of the table also shows a record count of 10. In actual work, the value of batch processing lies in being able to add multiple folders to the same task list and then set unified rules. To ensure accuracy, it is recommended to first verify the effect with a small number of folders before processing a large amount of data, and then expand the processing scope after confirming it is correct.
4. Will batch renaming affect the files inside the folders?
This article demonstrates a modification of folder names, where the primary change occurs in the name of the folder itself. Judging from the before-and-after effects, text is added to the beginning of the folder names. It's important to note that if other documents, shortcuts, scripts, or programs depend on the original folder path, the path will change after the folder is renamed, and related references might need to be updated synchronously.
5. Why check the path before processing?
The table shows the path for each folder, such as D:\test\001-CourseProjects\. Checking the path confirms you are processing folders in the correct location, not folders with the same name in other directories. This step is very important for enterprise shared drives, backup drives, and multi-project directories.
Summary: Unifying Folder Prefixes for More Efficient Material Organization
Batch inserting text at the beginning of folder names is a simple yet common office organization requirement. It helps users quickly add project codes, client abbreviations, department identifiers, or batch information to a large number of folders, making folder naming more standardized and future searching and archiving clearer.
With HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can complete the task following the flow of "select function — add folders — set position and text — continue workflow and start processing." In the example, just set the position to 0 and fill in the text you need to insert to batch-transform multiple folders from ordinary numbered names to names with a uniform prefix.
If you are organizing a large amount of project materials, course folders, or client files, it's not recommended to continue manual one-by-one renaming. You can first prepare a small batch of folders to test the rule, confirm the processing results meet expectations, and then apply the batch processing method to the full directory. This saves time and reduces human error from repetitive operations.