To use Claude for a document or data task, provide the source material, state the question and the output you need, then check the answer against the original. Upload a supported file or paste text for a one-off task; use a Project when shared documents or instructions should be available across recurring chats; use an Artifact when you want a substantial result you can edit or download.
Summarize a document
- Start a Claude chat and upload a supported document, or paste the relevant text.
- Specify the audience and the form of the summary. For example, ask for a short overview for a busy manager, a list of key claims and decisions, open questions, or an outline organized by section.
- Ask Claude to separate statements the document makes from its interpretation. When useful, request page numbers, headings, or short quotations so you can locate the supporting material.
- Check important points against the source. For a long or complex document, summarize it section by section, then ask for a synthesis across those sections.
Anthropic lists summarizing text, documents, conversations, and books among Claude’s uses. That capability description does not guarantee that a response will cover every point or interpret the source correctly.
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Analyze a spreadsheet or other data
- Upload the data in a supported format and explain what each row and column represents. XLSX uploads require Claude’s analysis tool to be enabled.
- State the decision or question first. Name the measures to compare, groups, date range, and output you want—for example, a findings table followed by a plain-language explanation.
- Ask Claude to show its assumptions and calculation steps, identify missing or unusual values, and distinguish observed patterns from possible explanations.
- Verify consequential calculations against the original data or with an independent method before acting on them.
Anthropic describes analyzing chart data and gives examples of research work involving datasets and hypotheses. Those examples support using Claude as an analysis aid, not treating it as a verified statistical package or an authority whose calculations need no checking.
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Draft and revise text
- Describe the purpose, audience, tone, length, and format. Include required facts and any claims or phrases to avoid.
- If the draft must be grounded in specific documents, provide them and ask Claude to flag missing evidence rather than fill gaps with assumptions.
- Revise in focused passes: first structure, then accuracy and completeness, then voice and copyediting.
- Before using the draft, verify names, dates, quotations, and claims that depend on source material.
Anthropic says Claude can write in formats ranging from short messages to longer creative work. That is a description of capability, not a guarantee that a draft is factually accurate or ready to publish without review.
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Check file and PDF limits before uploading
Anthropic’s file-upload guide lists PDF, DOCX, CSV, TXT, HTML, ODT, RTF, EPUB, JSON, and XLSX. The guide says chat uploads allow up to 20 files, with a 30 MB limit per file. Project knowledge can contain an unlimited number of files, provided the total content fits within the context window; extracted-text token limits may also apply. XLSX requires the analysis tool to be enabled.
PDF visual analysis has additional conditions in that guide: Claude 4 models, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet can analyze text and visual elements in PDFs under 100 pages uploaded to chats or projects. For PDFs over 100 pages, or when using other models, the guide says Claude processes text only. For non-PDF files, images embedded in the file are not interpreted as images. These are product details that can change, so check the live guide and your account’s available features before relying on them.
Choose a chat, Project, or Artifact
| Use | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | A one-off summary, question, analysis, or draft. | Chat uploads allow up to 20 files and 30 MB per file, according to Anthropic’s upload guide. |
| Project | Recurring work where shared documents or instructions should inform multiple chats. | Project knowledge provides context across chats in that project. Context is not automatically shared between chats unless material is added to project knowledge. Anthropic’s help page describes Projects as available on paid plans; check current account eligibility and behavior. |
| Artifact | A substantial, self-contained document, tool, diagram, or other result you expect to reuse. | Anthropic documents editing, versioning, copying, and downloading artifacts. A brief one-off answer can stay in chat. |
Set up a Project for recurring work
- Create a Project for the subject or ongoing task, then add the reference files and instructions you want available across its chats.
- Start a chat inside that Project and state the current task, including which sources matter and what output you need.
- When a useful new source or instruction should inform later chats, add it to project knowledge rather than assuming one chat’s context carries over.
Anthropic says retrieval-augmented generation activates as project knowledge nears context limits. The precise behavior and eligibility can change, so consult the current Projects help page.
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Ask for an Artifact when the output is a substantial, self-contained result you expect to refine or reuse—such as a report, draft, code, diagram, or interactive component. Artifacts support versioning, editing, copying, and downloading, according to Anthropic’s Artifacts help page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use prompts that make the task checkable
A useful request specifies the source, audience, purpose, format, and what Claude should do when evidence is missing. Adapt this pattern to the task:
“Using the attached [document or dataset], produce [specific output] for [audience]. Focus on [question or criteria]. Separate what the source explicitly says from your interpretation, show assumptions for calculations, and flag anything the material does not establish. Organize the result as [format].”
For summaries, add a requested length or sections to cover. For data, define the columns and comparison. For drafts, state the tone, required facts, and any claims to avoid. Treat the wording as a practical starting point, not an official prompt or a guarantee of complete results.
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