CoWork Question: how do you get it to read your folder map?

Hi All!

Looking for people with experience using ICM and Claude CoWork.

CoWork does not load folder-level context files. I tested it: pointed CoWork at my ICM folder, asked it about a rule that lives in CLAUDE.md, and it had no idea. It sees the files, but not the map. No routing rules, no conventions, no "where things go".

The only fix I've found is putting those instructions in the global/project instructions field so they're always in context. That works, but it's a workaround, and it doesn't scale to per-folder context, which is the whole point of an ICM in the first place.

So the question: has anyone gotten CoWork to actually read folder-level context files, any way other than pasting the instructions into the global instructions?

Why this matters to me instead of just using Code:

Yes, the Code tab in the desktop app loads everything correctly.
But I have been working as an "AI mentor", helping people use AI in their jobs, and most of my customers are non-technical. They are visibly more comfortable in CoWork. That is the interface they will actually keep using.
@Jake Van Clief
I have seen you say in some of your videos "if you use CoWork you just point it to the folder", but I have never found the in-depth version. And pointing at a folder whose map never gets read kind of defeats the purpose of having a map.

If anyone has a pattern here (a filename CoWork does auto-read, a project-level setting, a different folder structure that works) I would love to hear it. Happy to test whatever and report back.

@Ry Mac

I have been recently following you, and just saw your SMB video... I also saw you stating you were the messenger between CoWork and Code (lol) ... do you have a workaround to make sure CoWork "sees" the right file?

@Christian Trujillo

you brought me here ... any insight from your customer work?

13 comments

CoWork Question: how do you get it to read your folder map?