Many office documents are named only by numbers or content when created, and it is only during later organization that you realize you need to uniformly add project numbers, department identifiers, or batch prefixes. This article uses a batch folder renaming case to explain how to uniformly insert the ABC- text at the beginning of multiple directory names. When using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , simply enter the folder name category, choose to insert text into the folder name, add the folders that need processing, fill in 0 at the position and enter the text to be inserted, then follow the wizard to complete the processing, and you can quickly obtain uniformly standardized folder names.
The more office folders you have, the more important naming conventions become. When many people first create directories, they simply number folders as 001, 002, 003, or directly name them by course, project, client, or data type. When it comes time to archive, deliver, sync to a shared drive, or import into a data library, they find that these folders lack uniform prefixes, making it difficult to differentiate batches and sources. If you need to reformat each folder name to start with a specific prefix at this point, manual operation is extremely tedious.
This article uses the example of "uniformly inserting ABC- at the beginning of multiple folder names" to demonstrate how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool for batch folder renaming. This software is a batch processing tool tailored for office scenarios, focusing on helping users batch process files, folders, and common office documents to reduce repetitive work. This article will not cover complex scripts or require command lines; it only revolves around the functional process shown in screenshots, explaining what to do at each step, why to set it that way, and how to check the results after processing.
Applicable Scenario: Unifying Directory Prefixes for More Standardized Folder Naming
Inserting fixed text at the beginning of folder names is common in data organization and standardized naming scenarios. For instance, within a company, all material folders for a certain project need a project code added; schools or training institutions need course material directories tagged with class or batch identifiers; design teams need client initials added to asset directories; and finance or administrative departments need archive folders prefixed with year, month, or department name. Whether the prefix is ABC-, 2026-, HR-, Finance-, or ProjectA-, it essentially involves batch inserting the same text string at the start of folder names.
If there are only a few directories, manual modification is manageable. But as the number of folders increases, repetitive renaming presents several obvious problems: first, it is time-consuming, requiring constant clicking and typing; second, it is prone to errors, like omitting the prefix on some folders or inconsistent capitalization; third, verifying the results afterward is inconvenient, especially with multiple directory levels or intermingled batches. The value of using batch processing software lies in completing these repetitive actions in one go and allowing for pre-checking via a list view.
Note that the processing target here is folder names, not specific file names. If you need to process Word documents, docx, doc, Excel spreadsheets, xlsx, xls, PPT, pdf, or image file names, you should select the corresponding file or document tool. If your goal is the directories themselves, such as uniformly adding text to the beginning of multiple folders, the steps in this article are perfectly applicable.
Effect Preview: Transforming Ordinary Numbered Directories into Standardized Prefixed Directories
Before Processing: Directories Numbered Sequentially, but Lacking a Uniform Identifier
In the screenshot before processing, folder names appear as 001-CourseProjects, 002-ExamPreparation, 003-KnowledgeBase, 004-LanguageLearning, 005-MathExercises, and so on. This naming already has a sequence, but if different projects or batches use similar numbering, identification may not be intuitive. For example, seeing 001-CourseProjects alone makes it difficult to know which project, client, or archive batch it belongs to.
In such cases, adding uniform text to the very beginning of the names is a simple and effective standardization method. It does not alter the original number or main name body; it only supplements a recognition identifier at the front, preserving the original structure while enhancing categorization ability.
After Processing: ABC- Added Before Every Folder Name
In the screenshot after processing, ABC- appears at the start of all folder names. For example, 001-CourseProjects becomes ABC-001-CourseProjects, 003-KnowledgeBase becomes ABC-003-KnowledgeBase, and 010-WritingPractice becomes ABC-010-WritingPractice. The red box highlights the newly added ABC- area, clearly showing the result of batch text insertion.
This effect suits many naming conventions: the prefix indicates a category or batch, the subsequent number is for sorting, and the main name describes the content. Combining all three makes the folder list clearer in File Explorer, facilitating later searching, sorting, copying, and transfer.
Operation Steps: Batch Inserting Text at the Beginning of Folder Names Following the Screenshot Process
Step 1: Open the Folder Name Category and Enter the Insert Text Function
After launching HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first inspect the left-hand function navigation. In the screenshot, the "Folder Name" category is on the left and selected. On the right, multiple folder name processing capabilities are displayed in cards, with the second item being "Insert Text in Folder Names," described as batch inserting text at a specific position in folder names.
Do not mistakenly select "Add Prefix and Suffix to Folder Names" or "Find and Replace Keywords in Folder Names." Although these functions are also related to folder renaming, this article follows the screenshot's demonstration of "Insert Text in Folder Names." After selecting this function, you can control the insertion point via a position parameter later. When the position is set to the name's start, this achieves the "batch add text to folder beginnings" goal.
Step 2: Add Folders to Process and Confirm Record Count and Names
Upon entering the function page, the interface title reads "Insert Text in Folder Names." A progress indicator at the top shows step 1 is "Choose records to process." The top right provides an "Add Folder" button to add the directories for renaming into the processing list. Once added, the software displays each record's information in a table.
From the screenshot, 10 folders have been added to the list. The table includes columns for sequence number, name, path, creation time, modification time, and actions. The summary at the bottom shows the record count as 10, meaning 10 folders will be batch processed this time. Before proceeding to the next step, you should check the Name and Path columns to ensure these directories are the ones needing the prefix added.
This step is crucial. Batch processing is fast, provided the target objects are correct. If unrelated folders are added to the list, they might get renamed inadvertently; if some directories are missed, you'll have to repeat the process later. Therefore, it's recommended to complete the check at the record list stage. The list also has an action column on the right, with a delete-style operation shown in the interface for removing records that should not be processed.
Step 3: Set Position to 0, Indicating Insertion at the Very Beginning of Folder Names
Clicking "Next" leads to step 2, "Set processing options." Two required fields appear in the screenshot: Position and the text to insert. In the example, "Position" is set to 0, and "Text to insert" is ABC-. These two values determine the final folder name transformation.
In this case, setting the position to 0 causes the text to be inserted at the start of the folder name. This means the software will place ABC- right before each original name, not after the number or in the middle. Therefore, if your requirement is "insert text at the start of folder names," "add fixed characters to the beginning of directory names," or "uniformly add a prefix to multiple folders," setting Position to 0 is the key action here.
The second input field, "Text to insert," is filled with ABC-. You can replace this with your own rule, such as 2026-, Batch01-, ProjectA-, ClientName-, DepartmentInitials-, etc. It's recommended to consider the separator when typing. If you need a clear distinction between the prefix and the original folder name, use a hyphen or underscore. If your company already has a naming convention, enter it strictly to avoid needing another batch modification later.
Step 4: Continue Following the Wizard to Set Subsequent Options and Start Processing
After setting processing options, click "Next" at the page bottom. Based on the top progress bar, the following steps will involve "Set save location" and "Start processing." Since the screenshots do not detail the save location page or the Start button, simply follow the on-screen prompts in the actual software. It's recommended to double-check two things before final processing: whether the number of records to process is correct and whether the inserted text is your intended prefix.
For important data, especially shared drives, project delivery directories, or folders referenced by other documents, it's advisable to test with a small subset first. Only after confirming the results match expectations should you execute the batch process on the full directory list. This balances efficiency and safety.
Step 5: Check the Processed Folder List
After processing, navigate to the original folder location and check if the names have been batch updated. As shown in the post-processing screenshot, all 10 folders now have ABC- added at the beginning. The original 001, 002, 003 numbering remains, and the subsequent English names are unchanged. This indicates the operation only inserted text at the specified position, without replacing or deleting any original name content.
When reviewing, you can sort by name to see if all directories uniformly carry the same prefix. If the prefix is for project management, you might also spot-check the contents of a few folders to confirm directory correspondences haven't been confused. Once confirmed, these folders can continue to be used for archiving, sharing, or subsequent office tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions and Operational Precautions
1. Does this method work for Chinese folder names?
From the function's logic, it inserts text into a folder name and is not limited to English names. The example uses English course directories, but in actual office work, Chinese folder names are also common, like contract documents, client files, course handouts, project images, etc. As long as the requirement is batch inserting text into folder names, the same approach applies.
2. What if I only want to process some folders?
When adding folders and verifying the record list, only add the directories you need to process. Don't add an entire unrelated directory and then attempt to process it. The list stage shown in the screenshot provides a record display and action column; users should filter and confirm their selection here to avoid batch renaming folders that shouldn't be modified.
3. What happens to folders that already have the prefix?
The screenshots in this article do not show a feature for automatically detecting duplicate prefixes, so do not assume the software will automatically skip folders already containing ABC-. Check your list before processing. If some folders already have the same prefix, inserting again might result in duplicated text at the name's start. The safest approach is to organize your targets beforehand, selecting only folders that haven't had the prefix added yet.
4. Can the text to be inserted be empty?
In the screenshot, "Text to insert" is a required field, with the example input being ABC-. If the goal is to add text to the start of folder names, you should enter a clear text string. Do not leave it empty and proceed, as this will not achieve the effect of batch prefix addition.
5. Does batch renaming affect folder paths?
When a folder name changes, its path usually changes accordingly. For example, if the original path contained 001-CourseProjects, after renaming, the path will include ABC-001-CourseProjects. Therefore, if any software, shortcuts, spreadsheet links, Word document links, or scripts depend on the original path, assess the impact before renaming. For general data organization, this is typically not an issue; for system directories or collaborative folders, it's best to communicate before processing.
6. What's the difference compared to a direct "add prefix" function?
The screenshot indeed shows an "Add Prefix and Suffix to Folder Names" function, but this article demonstrated "Insert Text in Folder Names." A key characteristic of the insert text function is the ability to control the insertion point via position. When position is 0, it achieves the effect of adding text to the beginning. For users who only need to add a prefix at the start, the goals of these two function types might be similar, but the actual interfaces and parameter settings differ; operations should strictly follow the selected function's page.
Summary: Using Office Batch Processing Tools for Easier Directory Naming Standardization
Batch inserting ABC- at the front of multiple folder names is a quintessential repetitive office task. Handling it manually is not only slow but also makes it difficult to ensure perfect consistency across every folder name. Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , this process can be standardized and completed in batch form by selecting the function, adding folders, setting the position and insertion text.
If you are organizing project materials, course directories, client files, or shared drive folders, it is recommended to first define your naming convention, then follow the steps in this article: enter the folder name category, select "Insert Text in Folder Names," add the folders to process, set the position to 0, enter the desired prefix in the text field, and then continue following the wizard. This way, you can rapidly reformat numerous directories into a unified structure, saving significant time for subsequent searching, sorting, archiving, and collaboration.