How do I add Bates numbering to a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro?

Open your PDF in Acrobat Pro. Go to Edit > More > Bates numbering > Add. Choose your files and set the header or footer. Insert the Bates Number and pick the digit count. Apply the settings to stamp numbers on every page.

What is the purpose of Bates numbering in legal documents?

Bates numbering is used in legal documents to give every page a unique number. This helps lawyers, judges, and others find and talk about specific pages easily. It is important for organizing large sets of documents and making sure everyone refers to the same page.

If my scanned PDF is blurry, will Bates numbering still work?

Yes, Bates numbering will still stamp a number on each page, even if the scan is blurry. But the number may be hard to read if the page is very unclear.

Why is Bates numbering not the same as changing page labels in Acrobat?

Bates numbering Page labels. Stamps a number on the page Changes the number you see in the viewer Used for legal indexing Used for navigation Visible on printed pages Not printed on the page

Why do I need Acrobat Pro for Bates numbering?

Bates numbering is a special feature for legal work, so Adobe only includes it in Acrobat Pro. You cannot use it in the free or standard versions.

Apply Bates numbering as part of a document workflow integra in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Show me how to set up Bates numbering with [system]…+

Show me how to set up Bates numbering for PDFs using Adobe Acrobat and [system] integration.

when the reply comes backWould you like tips for tracking numbered documents?

BImprove — “do it better”Suggest ways to improve Bates numbering in my [system] workflow…+

Suggest ways to make applying Bates numbering faster and more reliable in my Adobe Acrobat and [system] workflow.

when the reply comes backNeed help setting up notifications for completed numbering?

CDecide — “help me choose”Help me choose the best way to connect Acrobat and [system]…+

Help me choose the best way to connect Adobe Acrobat with [system] for applying Bates numbering automatically.

when the reply comes backWant to learn how to batch number files from different sources?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Configure your automated workflow in Power Automate or SharePoint to save incoming PDF documents to a designated SharePoint library or local folder.
2
Install Adobe Acrobat on a Windows machine that will act as the automation host for Bates numbering.
3
Set up a monitored folder using Acrobat's Action Wizard or a third-party automation tool so that new PDFs are automatically processed.
Best practiceUsing a monitored folder allows seamless integration with document management systems like SharePoint for hands-free Bates numbering.
4
Create a custom Action in Acrobat using the Action Wizard to apply Bates numbering with your required format and output location.
5
Configure the Action to save processed files to a specified output folder accessible to your workflow.
6
In your Power Automate or SharePoint workflow, add a step to retrieve the Bates-numbered PDF from the output folder for further processing or storage.

In the appWith the API

You can use Acrobat's Action Wizard to automate Bates numbering on batches of PDFs as part of an integrated workflow.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

Bates numberingA way to add unique numbers to each page in a set of documents.ExampleUsing Bates numbering, each page in a collection of court exhibits gets a sequential number.

IntegrationConnecting two different apps so they work together automatically.ExampleThe integration between the calendar and email apps sends meeting invites automatically.

WorkflowA series of steps followed to complete a task, often using different apps.ExampleThe workflow for approving an expense report involves submitting it, then manager review, then finance processing.

The real tasks

all 2, listed here

Add bates numbering to a package of title documents so each page is uniquely referenced in reports.

Add bates numbering to a closing packet so legal and compliance can reference pages during audits.

FAQ

about this task

You can use Power Automate to create a flow that sends PDFs to Adobe Acrobat, where Bates numbering is applied automatically. This lets you number documents as part of a larger process, like when files are uploaded or moved.

Bates numbering helps keep documents organized and easy to reference, especially in legal or business settings where you need to track every page across many files.

Yes, you can connect Adobe Acrobat with Teams using a workflow tool like Power Automate. This way, any PDF shared or uploaded to Teams can get Bates numbers automatically.

Integrating Acrobat with other systems lets you add Bates numbers to documents automatically, saving time and reducing mistakes compared to adding numbers by hand each time.

Automating Bates numbering saves time, keeps numbering consistent, and makes it easier to handle lots of documents without missing any pages.

Apply Bates numbering as part of a document workflow integra

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help