Bates numbering
Stamp sequential Bates numbers across a set of PDFs, with a CSV numbering report.
Drag and drop PDF files here, or click to select
One or more PDFs, numbered in the order you set
A practical guide to Bates numbering
Bates Numbering stamps a sequential identifier such as ABC-000123 on every page of a production set. Prefix, suffix, start number, step, and digit width define the label, and one continuous run can span several files in an order you set.
Example: number a discovery production
Drag the exhibits into their produced order, skip each cover sheet with a page range, set a six digit width, check the predicted first and last number of every file, then export the set with its CSV report.
Task-specific steps
- 1
Add every PDF in the production set and drag the files into the exact order they will be produced.
- 2
Set the prefix, start number, step, and digit width, then confirm the example label reads the way the citation should.
- 3
Read the predicted first and last number of each file, export the set, and keep the CSV report as the index of the production.
Options that affect the result
- Numbering can run continuously across the whole set or restart inside each file.
- Nine placement anchors, a millimetre margin, a solid background box, and odd or even mirroring keep the label readable and clear of existing content.
Limitations to know first
- Encrypted files must be unlocked before they can be stamped, because the pages cannot be opened for writing.
- The label is drawn over the page rather than registered as a document page label, so a viewer's own page counter is unchanged.
Questions specific to this task
Does the count continue from one file to the next?
It does when continuous numbering is chosen, which is the usual expectation for a produced set. Restarting per file is offered for jobs that are numbered separately.
What happens if the digit width is too small for the set?
The number is written in full rather than cut short, and a warning names the width the run actually needs so the labels can be made a consistent length.
Are the documents uploaded for stamping?
No. Every page is read, stamped, and written inside the browser, which matters because discovery material is confidential.
How is this different from adding page numbers?
The Page Numbers tool writes a plain count for reading and navigation. Bates numbering adds a prefix, a fixed digit width, a step, and one count carried across a whole set of files, which is what makes each page citable.