Claude CoworkLesson 3

Core Capabilities

Cowork handles jobs that span multiple files and steps — sorting folders, turning images into spreadsheets, and pulling scattered notes into a report. You grant a folder; Claude plans the job and carries it through.

Key use cases

Three common Cowork jobs: file work on your machine, instead of text-only chat replies.

Reorganizing files
Sort everything in my Downloads folder into subfolders by type — images, PDFs, spreadsheets — and add today's date to each filename.
C
1.Listed 89 files in Downloads
2.Created Images/, PDFs/, Spreadsheets/ subfolders
3.Moved and renamed each file with a 2026-06-06 prefix
✓ Downloads organized — summary.txt saved to the folder
Spreadsheet from screenshots
I dropped 6 expense screenshots in this folder. Build an Excel file with columns for Date, Vendor, Amount, and Category.
C
1.Read each PNG screenshot in the folder
2.Extracted vendor names and amounts
3.Created expenses.xlsx with a total row formula
✓ expenses.xlsx saved with 6 rows and a SUM formula
Report from scattered notes
Combine my three meeting notes files and the bullet list in ideas.txt into one formatted project brief.
C
1.Read meeting-1.md, meeting-2.md, meeting-3.md, ideas.txt
2.Merged overlapping points and removed duplicates
3.Drafted a structured brief with sections and action items
✓ project-brief.docx saved to the granted folder
Tip: Name the output you want — "create an .xlsx file" or "save a one-page .docx summary" — so Cowork knows when the task is complete.

File permissions

In a granted folder, Claude can read, edit, and create files. It cannot reach other locations on your computer unless you grant them separately.

📖
Read

Open existing files — PDFs, docs, images, spreadsheets, text files.

✏️
Edit

Rename files, update cell values, rewrite paragraphs, move items between subfolders.

📄
Create

Write new outputs — .xlsx, .docx, .csv, .md, or other files the task needs.

Granted folder: Documents/Q3-Reports
ActionAllowed?Example
ReadYesOpen notes.md and scan all PDFs in the folder
EditYesRename files, update spreadsheet cells, fix typos in a doc
CreateYesWrite a new summary.xlsx or draft-report.docx
Access outside folderNoCannot open Desktop or other paths you did not grant
📖
Read
meeting-notes.txt
✏️
Edit
budget.xlsx
📄
Create
Q3-summary.docx
Cowork can read, edit, and create files — but only inside folders you grant for that task
Example: You grant Documents/Invoices. Cowork can read old invoices, edit filenames, and create a new totals spreadsheet there — but it cannot open files on your Desktop unless you grant that folder too.

Multi-step task execution

You describe the goal once. Cowork builds a plan, works through each step, and saves the results to disk.

1
You state the goal
One prompt in the Cowork tab — what you want done and where the files live.
2
Claude drafts a plan
Cowork lists the subtasks: what to read, what to build, what to save.
3
Steps run in sequence
Each step completes before the next starts. You can approve actions if "Ask before acting" is on.
4
Outputs are written to disk
Finished spreadsheets, reports, and renamed folders land in your granted folder.
5
You review the result
Open the files locally, ask for changes, or start a follow-up task in the same thread.
Claude Desktop — Cowork
Your request
Turn my expense screenshots and receipt notes into a spreadsheet and a one-page summary report.
Execution plan
✓Scan folder for source files
✓Extract data from screenshots
…Build spreadsheet with formulasrunning
○Write executive summary doc
○Save outputs to granted folder
Cowork breaks your goal into steps, runs them in order, and writes finished files when done

Chat vs Cowork for the same goal

Claude ChatClaude Cowork
File accessYou upload files manuallyReads and writes in granted folders
Multi-step workYou run each step yourselfPlans and runs steps end-to-end
OutputText in the chat (you copy out)Real files saved to your folder
Best forQuick answers and draftsFolder jobs, spreadsheets, multi-file reports
Summary:
  • Use cases: reorganize files, build spreadsheets from screenshots, draft reports from scattered notes.
  • File permissions: read, edit, and create inside folders you specify.
  • Multi-step execution: describe the goal once — Cowork plans the steps, runs them, and writes files to your granted folders.

What's Next

Computer Use Feature — desktop click and type, Claude in Chrome, and the connectors vs mouse safety model.