What Harness does with documents
In the chat app, working on a document means copying text in, copying the answer out and pasting it back into Word. DeepSeek Harness skips all of that. It opens the files in your folder, reads them in full, and writes new or updated documents straight back to your computer, with headings, lists and tables in place.
It's equally useful for one important document, such as a proposal, a policy or a CV, and for many routine ones: 40 meeting notes to summarise, 25 offer letters to personalise, or a folder of PDFs to turn into one briefing.
Word, PDF, text
Plus Markdown and notes exported from other apps. Check the app for other formats.
Real files
New documents or updated copies that open in Word, Google Docs or any editor.
One file or hundreds
The same instructions applied consistently across a whole folder.
Document tasks you can hand over
| Task | What Harness does | Example request |
|---|---|---|
| Draft from notes | Turns rough notes, bullet points or a transcript into a structured document | "Turn these notes into a two-page project update." |
| Rewrite for a reader | Changes tone, length and vocabulary for a different audience | "Rewrite this proposal for a non-technical board." |
| Summarise | Condenses long reports, PDFs or many files into key points, decisions and deadlines | "Summarise every PDF in /Research in one page." |
| Proofread - edit | Fixes grammar, spelling and clarity while keeping your voice, and lists what changed | "Proofread my thesis chapter. Don't change the meaning." |
| Restructure - format | Adds headings, numbered sections, tables and a table of contents, and applies a consistent style | "Reformat this into our policy template." |
| Compare versions | Lists what was added, removed or changed between two drafts | "What changed between contract_v2 and contract_v3?" |
| Extract information | Pulls names, dates, amounts or clauses out into a list or spreadsheet | "List every deadline in these contracts in a table." |
| Translate | Translates whole documents while keeping the layout | "Translate this guide into Sinhala and Tamil." |
| Fill templates | Creates many personalised documents from one template and a list of details | "Make an offer letter for each person in hires.xlsx." |
How a document session works
- Open the folder with your source files in Harness. First time? Follow the setup steps.
- Brief it like you'd brief a colleague: what the document is for, who will read it, how long it should be and which files to use.
- Approve an outline before the full draft. This catches structural problems early, when they're easy to fix.
- Revise in plain language: "make section 2 shorter", "add a risks table", "less formal".
- Save. Harness writes a new file, or an updated copy, so your original stays as it was.
Worked examples
Example 1 - Meeting notes into a clear summary
Read the five files in /Meetings/March. Write march_summary.docx with three headings: Decisions, Action items (as a table: task, owner, due date) and Open questions. Keep it to one page.
A one-page Word document: 6 decisions, an action-item table with 11 rows (owners and dates taken from the notes), and 3 open questions. Two actions had no due date and are marked "TBC" so nothing is invented.
Example 2 - Rewrite for a different reader
Rewrite proposal.docx for our board, who aren't technical. Keep every number, cut jargon, put the benefits first, and keep it under one page. Save as proposal_board.docx.Harness keeps the facts and figures, removes jargon, restructures the document around what the reader cares about, and shortens it. Asking it to keep every number makes sure nothing important is lost or changed.
Example 3 - Compare two versions of a contract
Compare contract_v2.docx and contract_v3.pdf. List every change as a table (clause, old wording, new wording, why it might matter). Flag anything about payment, liability or termination.
A table of 9 changes. Three are flagged: payment terms moved from 30 to 45 days, a new liability cap, and a shorter termination notice period. Each row quotes both versions so you can check them yourself, which matters for anything legal.
Batch documents and templates
Some of the biggest time savings come from applying the same instructions to many files at once, or creating many documents from one template.
| Batch job | What you provide | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Personalised letters | A template and a spreadsheet of names and details (see Harness for spreadsheets) | One finished letter per row, each named after the person |
| Summarise a folder | A folder of reports or PDFs | One summary per file, or one combined briefing |
| Standardise formatting | Files with inconsistent styles, plus an example of the right style | Every file restyled to match |
| Translate a set | A folder of guides or notices | Translated copies in each language |
| Extract to a table | Invoices, contracts or CVs | A spreadsheet with one row per document |
Getting the tone and style right
Give an example
"Write it like last_quarter.docx" works better than a list of style rules.
Say who it's for
"For new customers", "for a judge" or "for a 10-year-old" changes word choice, depth and length.
Say what to keep
"Keep my wording where possible and only fix errors" stops a rewrite you didn't ask for.
Automate recurring documents
If you write the same document regularly, set it up as a scheduled task and Harness will produce it for you each time.
Status report
Every Friday, summarise the week's notes and updated files into a one-page report.
Board pack
On the 1st, combine the latest figures from your spreadsheets into a written summary.
News digest
Each morning, gather articles on your topics and write a short briefing. Uses web access through plugins.
Which model to use for documents
| Task | Recommended model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Drafts, summaries, proofreading, batches | V4.1 Flash | Fast and cheap enough for many files. Improved in the 1017 update. |
| Important long documents, final versions | V4 Pro | Best structure, tone and consistency over many pages. |
| Contract comparison, careful analysis | R1 | Reasons step by step about what each change means. |
Prompting tips for documents
| Do this | Why it helps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name the source files | Harness uses the right material and nothing else. | "Use only the files in /Research." |
| Set the length | Stops it running too long or too short. | "One page" · "about 500 words" · "five bullets". |
| Ask for an outline first | Structure is easier to fix before the draft exists. | "Show me the outline, then wait." |
| Say what must not change | Protects facts, figures and quotes. | "Keep every number and name exactly." |
| Ask it to flag gaps | Missing information is marked instead of made up. | "Write TBC where the notes don't say." |
| Give the output file name | Keeps the original safe and files organised. | "Save as report_v2.docx." |
| Revise in small steps | Targeted edits are more reliable than "make it better". | "Shorten section 3 by half." |
Accuracy and safety
| Risk | What can go wrong | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Invented details | A name, date or figure appears that isn't in the sources. | Say "use only the provided files" and "mark anything missing as TBC". |
| Lost meaning | A rewrite drops a caveat or changes emphasis. | Ask for a list of changes, and compare important sections yourself. |
| Overwritten originals | The source file is replaced. | Always give a new output file name, and keep backups. |
| Legal, medical or financial documents | Subtle wording changes alter obligations. | Treat output as a draft, and have a qualified person review it. |
| Confidential content | Document text is sent to the model to be processed. | Keep sensitive files out of the working folder, or remove personal details first. |
| Hidden instructions in files | A downloaded document contains text meant to steer the AI. | Review the plan before approving. See prompt injection. |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can't read a PDF | It's a scanned image with no text layer, or it's password-protected. | Use a clearer copy, or remove the password. Quality depends on the scan. |
| Formatting lost | Complex layouts such as columns, text boxes or tracked changes. | Ask for a simpler layout, or point to a template file to copy. |
| Too long or too generic | No length or reader given. | Set the length, name the reader, and give an example. |
| Very long document is cut off | The source is bigger than the model can read at once. | Work section by section, or summarise in stages. |
| Wrong language or spelling | The language or regional spelling wasn't specified. | Say "British English" or "formal Sinhala", for example. |
| Can't sign in or "server busy" | An account issue or peak demand. | See the login guide and updates. |
Harness for documents - frequently asked questions
Which document formats does Harness work with?
Word documents, PDFs, Markdown and plain text are the main ones. Check the Harness app for other formats.
Will it change my original files?
Only if you ask it to and approve the change. Give it a new file name for the output to keep originals safe.
Can it keep my writing style?
Yes. Give it an example of your writing and tell it to keep your wording, fixing only errors or clarity.
Can it create many documents at once?
Yes. Give it a template and a list of details, such as a spreadsheet, and it creates one finished document per row. See batch documents.
Can it work with Google Docs?
Harness works on files on your computer. Download the document as Word or PDF, or connect cloud storage through a plugin if one is available.
Is it free?
Harness is free during the public preview. If you use an API key, normal token rates apply.
How is this different from DeepSeek chat?
Chat gives you text to copy. Harness reads and writes the actual files, handles many at once, and can repeat jobs on a schedule. For how DeepSeek compares with other assistants, see DeepSeek vs ChatGPT.
Is this an official DeepSeek page?
No. DeepSeekR1.com is an independent guide. See about us, our disclaimer, privacy policy and terms.