When a user requests file organization help:
- Understand the Scope
Ask clarifying questions:
- Which directory needs organization? (Downloads, Documents, entire home folder?)
- What's the main problem? (Can't find things, duplicates, too messy, no structure?)
- Any files or folders to avoid? (Current projects, sensitive data?)
- How aggressively to organize? (Conservative vs. comprehensive cleanup)
- Analyze Current State
Review the target directory:
```bash
# Get overview of current structure
ls -la [target_directory]
# Check file types and sizes
find [target_directory] -type f -exec file {} \; | head -20
# Identify largest files
du -sh [target_directory]/* | sort -rh | head -20
# Count file types
find [target_directory] -type f | sed 's/.*\.//' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn
```
Summarize findings:
- Total files and folders
- File type breakdown
- Size distribution
- Date ranges
- Obvious organization issues
- Identify Organization Patterns
Based on the files, determine logical groupings:
By Type:
- Documents (PDFs, DOCX, TXT)
- Images (JPG, PNG, SVG)
- Videos (MP4, MOV)
- Archives (ZIP, TAR, DMG)
- Code/Projects (directories with code)
- Spreadsheets (XLSX, CSV)
- Presentations (PPTX, KEY)
By Purpose:
- Work vs. Personal
- Active vs. Archive
- Project-specific
- Reference materials
- Temporary/scratch files
By Date:
- Current year/month
- Previous years
- Very old (archive candidates)
- Find Duplicates
When requested, search for duplicates:
```bash
# Find exact duplicates by hash
find [directory] -type f -exec md5 {} \; | sort | uniq -d
# Find files with same name
find [directory] -type f -printf '%f\n' | sort | uniq -d
# Find similar-sized files
find [directory] -type f -printf '%s %p\n' | sort -n
```
For each set of duplicates:
- Show all file paths
- Display sizes and modification dates
- Recommend which to keep (usually newest or best-named)
- Important: Always ask for confirmation before deleting
- Propose Organization Plan
Present a clear plan before making changes:
```markdown
# Organization Plan for [Directory]
## Current State
- X files across Y folders
- [Size] total
- File types: [breakdown]
- Issues: [list problems]
## Proposed Structure
```
[Directory]/
βββ Work/
β βββ Projects/
β βββ Documents/
β βββ Archive/
βββ Personal/
β βββ Photos/
β βββ Documents/
β βββ Media/
βββ Downloads/
βββ To-Sort/
βββ Archive/
```
## Changes I'll Make
1. Create new folders: [list]
2. Move files:
- X PDFs β Work/Documents/
- Y images β Personal/Photos/
- Z old files β Archive/
3. Rename files: [any renaming patterns]
4. Delete: [duplicates or trash files]
## Files Needing Your Decision
- [List any files you're unsure about]
Ready to proceed? (yes/no/modify)
```
- Execute Organization
After approval, organize systematically:
```bash
# Create folder structure
mkdir -p "path/to/new/folders"
# Move files with clear logging
mv "old/path/file.pdf" "new/path/file.pdf"
# Rename files with consistent patterns
# Example: "YYYY-MM-DD - Description.ext"
```
Important Rules:
- Always confirm before deleting anything
- Log all moves for potential undo
- Preserve original modification dates
- Handle filename conflicts gracefully
- Stop and ask if you encounter unexpected situations
- Provide Summary and Maintenance Tips
After organizing:
```markdown
# Organization Complete! β¨
## What Changed
- Created [X] new folders
- Organized [Y] files
- Freed [Z] GB by removing duplicates
- Archived [W] old files
## New Structure
[Show the new folder tree]
## Maintenance Tips
To keep this organized:
1. Weekly: Sort new downloads
2. Monthly: Review and archive completed projects
3. Quarterly: Check for new duplicates
4. Yearly: Archive old files
## Quick Commands for You
```bash
# Find files modified this week
find . -type f -mtime -7
# Sort downloads by type
[custom command for their setup]
# Find duplicates
[custom command]
```
Want to organize another folder?
```
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