When archiving office documents, it is often necessary to standardize naming rules, such as adding department identifiers, project codes, or batch text in front of existing folder names. This article uses inserting ABC- at the beginning of multiple folder names as an example to explain how to complete batch renaming with the help of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . The article includes the effects before and after processing, feature entry points, folder addition, insertion position settings, and precautions before execution. It is suitable for users who need to efficiently organize a large number of folders.
In actual office work, folder naming is often not fully standardized in one go. For example, when creating a directory of materials earlier, you might only write numbered names like 001-CourseProjects, 002-ExamPreparation, 003-KnowledgeBase; later, when archiving, you might need all folders to carry a unified identifier ABC-. Changing one or two folders manually isn't a big problem; but if dozens of course directories, project directories, client directories, or departmental material directories are involved, renaming them one by one becomes a repetitive and error-prone task.
This article introduces a more efficient method: using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch insert fixed text at the beginning of multiple folder names. This software is positioned as a batch document and file processing tool for office scenarios. Its interface includes not only folder name processing but also categories like Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, suitable for handling tasks with docx, doc, xlsx, xls, pptx, pdf, and various folder organization tasks. This article focuses on batch folder name processing to help you complete the requirement of uniformly adding text, identifiers, or prefixes before folder names.
Applicable Scenarios: Why Batch Add Fixed Text Before Folder Names
The beginning of a folder name is usually the most visible position and the easiest to sort and filter by. Therefore, adding unified text at the beginning of the name can make folders easier to identify. For example, adding a regional code before client material folders, adding the project phase before project materials, adding the course batch before study materials, or adding the year or department abbreviation before archived directories.
In the example for this tutorial, ABC- is inserted before the original folder names. Before processing, the names start with numerical numbers; after processing, they become ABC- plus the original names. This naming convention preserves the original numerical order while adding a new classification identifier. For material directories that need to balance sorting and identification, this is a common and practical naming rule.
Similar requirements include: adding 2026- before all contract folders; adding ClassA- before a batch of training materials; adding CRM- before client project directories; adding Archive- before already archived folders. These can all be summarized as batch inserting text at the starting position of folder names.
Effect Preview: From Regular Numbered Folders to Unified Prefix Folders
First, look at the state before processing. The screenshot shows 10 folders named 001-CourseProjects, 002-ExamPreparation, 003-KnowledgeBase, 004-LanguageLearning, 005-MathExercises, 006-ReadingPractice, 007-ResearchMaterials, 008-SkillBuilding, 009-StudyNotes, 010-WritingPractice. Their common characteristic is that they all have numbers but lack the unified ABC- identifier.
Now look at the state after processing. ABC- has been newly added to the front of each folder name, resulting in ABC-001-CourseProjects, ABC-002-ExamPreparation, ABC-003-KnowledgeBase, and so on. The red box highlights the location of the newly added prefix, visually showing that the text is inserted at the beginning of the name, not replacing the original name.
By comparing before and after, we can confirm three characteristics of this batch process: first, all target folders are processed uniformly; second, the inserted text position is consistent, all at the beginning; third, the original numbers and English names are not lost. This is precisely the value of batch processing functions in office software: set up once, execute uniformly across multiple records.
Operation Steps: Batch Insert ABC- at the Beginning of Folder Names
Step 1: Find the Folder Name Related Function on the Main Interface
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first pay attention to the left navigation bar. The interface has entries like Home, Task Flow, All Tools, File Name, Folder Name, File Organization, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, etc. Since the objects for this process are folders, not individual document files, select the Folder Name category.
In the Folder Name functional area, select Insert Text in Folder Name. In the screenshot, this function card is highlighted, with a prompt description: batch insert text at a specific position in the folder name. This description perfectly matches our goal, which is to insert ABC- at the very beginning of each folder name.
The expected result of this step is to enter the correct function module. Note that Folder Name processing might also have functions like add prefix and suffix, delete text, case conversion, etc., but this example, based on the screenshot, selects Insert Text in Folder Name because it allows specifying a position, making it suitable for demonstrating the scenario of inserting text starting from position 0.
Step 2: Add Folders to Be Batch Processed
After entering the function, the page title shows Insert Text in Folder Name. There is a processing flow prompt at the top of the interface, indicating you are currently at Step 1: Select records to process. You can see the Add Folder button in the top right corner; click it to add the directories needing processing to the list.
After adding, the table will display detailed information for each folder. The example list includes columns for Sequence Number, Name, Path, Creation Time, Modification Time, and Operation. The Name column shows 001-CourseProjects through 010-WritingPractice, the Path column shows their paths located under D:\test\, and the bottom summary displays a record count of 10.
This step is very critical because the subsequent batch process will act on the records in the list. It is recommended to check the record count and names for accuracy before clicking Next. If a certain folder does not need processing, it can be removed via the delete icon in the operation column; if the list was added incorrectly, the clear button on the interface can be used to reorganize. Once confirmed correct, click the Next button at the bottom of the page.
Step 3: Set the Insertion Position to the Beginning of the Name
Upon entering Step 2: Set processing options, two fields need to be filled: Position and Text to insert. In the screenshot, the Position is filled with 0, and the Text to insert is filled with ABC-.
Position is the core parameter for this operation. As we want to insert text at the beginning of the folder name, the Position is filled with 0. Think of it as the position before the first character of the original folder name. For example, if the first character of the original name 001-CourseProjects is 0, inserting ABC- before it results in ABC-001-CourseProjects.
The Text to insert determines what the new content will be. In the example, ABC- is entered, comprising three English letters and a hyphen. The hyphen separates the prefix from the original number, making the name easier to read. If your actual requirement is to add a department code, you can change it to HR-, FIN-, OPS-; if it's for yearly archiving, you can change it to 2026-; if it's for a client project, you can also enter the client abbreviation plus a separator.
Step 4: Continue Following the Process to Set Save Location and Start Processing
The process bar in the screenshot shows that after setting the processing options, there are two more stages: Set save location and Start processing. After completing the position and text settings, continue clicking Next, follow the software page prompts to complete the subsequent settings, and enter the processing stage.
Before execution, it is recommended to confirm again: whether all folders in the list are the objects to be processed; whether the Position is 0; whether the inserted text contains the necessary separator; and whether there is a risk of duplicate naming. After confirmation, start the process to achieve the unified prefix effect shown in the post-processing screenshot.
Common Questions or Notes
1. Can text be added before folders that already have numbers?
Yes. The folders in the example already have numbers like 001, 002, 003. After batch inserting ABC-, the numbers are retained, just shifted backward overall. This preserves the original sorting information while adding a new classification identifier.
2. What is the difference between batch inserting text and batch adding a prefix?
Looking at the result, if the position is set to 0, the effect is adding a prefix at the beginning. The advantage of using Insert Text in Folder Name is the ability to specify a position, making it also suitable for inserting content somewhere in the middle of the name. This article only demonstrates insertion at the beginning, so the Position is filled with 0.
3. Why check the folder list before processing?
The efficiency of batch processing comes from operating on multiple records at once, but it also means that if a folder that should not be modified is mixed into the list, it might be processed as well. Therefore, checking the Name column, Path column, and record count after adding folders is an important step to reduce operational errors.
4. How should the inserted text be written more standardly?
It is recommended to establish a naming convention in advance. For example, whether the prefix needs a separator, whether to use a hyphen or an underscore, whether to include the year, and whether to unify the case. A format like ABC-001-CourseProjects has better readability because there is a clear separation between ABC and the original number.
5. What suggestions are there when processing a large number of folders?
For important directories, it is recommended to first select a small number of folders for testing, and then batch process all the content after confirming the results meet expectations. Especially on shared drives, project libraries, or course material repositories, folder names might be referenced by other documents or links, so confirmation should be done before batch renaming.
Summary: Unify Folder Prefixes to Make Material Organization More Efficient
Batch inserting text at the beginning of folder names is a simple but very practical office processing requirement. By using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , the renaming operation that originally needed to be repeated ten, a hundred, or even more times can be compressed into one configuration and one execution. This article's example achieved the batch conversion from 001-CourseProjects to ABC-001-CourseProjects by selecting Insert Text in Folder Name, adding 10 folders, setting the position to 0, and entering ABC-.
If you are organizing a large number of project folders, study material folders, client folders, or archival directories, it is recommended to use a batch processing method to complete the unified naming. This not only saves time but also reduces the probability of missed and incorrect changes, making the folder structure clearer and easier for subsequent retrieval and management.