Claude Model Selection Prompt Templates

Step 1: is it more than a quick answer? ☑️ No: use Sonnet 4.6. ☑️ Yes: move to Step 2. Step 2: If you pick Sonnet 4.6: → Simple task? Prompt example: "You are a [role]. [Task] this [input]. Keep it under [length]. Tone: [casual/formal]. No preamble. Just the output." → Create files (Excel, docs, slides)? Prompt example: "Create a professional Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) for: [PURPOSE]. Context: [WHO / HOW USED]. It should cover: [LIST]. Rules: Use Excel formulas - never hardcoded calculations. Put editable assumptions in their own labeled cells." → Connect with more connectors. Slack, Google Drive, Notion, Figma and 50+ more. Step 3: If yes, does it require working with files? ☑️ No: use Haiku 4.5 (lightweight, token-saver). ☑️ Yes: use Opus 4.7 (reasoning model). Step 4: If you pick Haiku 4.5: → Chat. No files needed. → Turn on web search. → Plan in Chat, build in Cowork. Prompt example: "I want to [desired results] with [constraints]. Ask me questions using AskUserQuestion before you start." ☑️ Use token-saving habits: - Edit your message, don't send a follow-up - Batch tasks into one message - Say "No commentary. Just the output." - Convert PDFs to .md before uploading - Turn off Search & Extended Thinking - New topic = new chat. Always. - Keep files under 2,000 words Step 5: If you pick Opus 4.7: → Turn on Extended Thinking. Always. → Upload .md files (not PDFs!). → Open Cowork. Select your folder. Prompt example: "I want to [task] so that [success looks like]. Read the uploaded files completely. DO NOT start yet. Ask me clarifying questions (use AskUserQuestion) so we can refine the approach step by step." After Cowork: → Download your file. → Save session-notes .md. → Start a fresh session to save tokens.