Apply Bates numbers to the batch of new accession PDFs so filenames and embedded numbers follow the scheme '[scheme=20…
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Go to the Tools pane and select Edit PDF.
In the secondary toolbar, select More and then choose Bates Numbering, then click Add.
In the Add Bates Numbering dialog, click Output Options if you wish to set file naming or save options, then click OK to return.
Click OK to proceed to the Add Header and Footer dialog.
In the Add Header and Footer dialog, click Insert Bates Number.
In the Bates Numbering dialog, set your desired Prefix, Start Number, Number of Digits, and Suffix.
Click OK to insert the Bates number placeholder into the header or footer field.
To change the font, font size, or font color, click Font and select your desired options.
To change the position, click inside the header or footer section (Left, Center, or Right) where you want the Bates number to appear, and ensure the placeholder is in the correct box.
Preview your changes in the sample area, then click OK to apply Bates numbering with your custom format and appearance.
Best practiceIf you need to apply different Bates formats to different sections, save each as a header/footer template for reuse (source: legal tech blogs).
You can preview how your customized Bates numbers will look before applying them to your document.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
Bates numbering is a way to stamp a unique, sequential number on every page of a document. It is very important for legal documents because it creates a clear, unchangeable record of each page. This helps lawyers and courts easily find, refer to, and organize large sets of evidence or filings, ensuring no page is lost or misplaced during a case.
Yes, Bates Numbering is perfect for organizing many scanned legal documents. It will stamp a unique, sequential number on each page, even across different files. This creates a clear reference system, making it much easier to index, track, and refer to specific pages when dealing with large volumes of scanned material for legal cases.
| Feature | Bates Numbering | Page Renumbering |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Adds a permanent, visible stamp for legal indexing. | Changes the displayed page number in thumbnails/navigation. |
| Visibility | Printed onto the page, like ink. | Only visible in the page thumbnail or navigation pane. |
| Availability | Acrobat Pro only. | Available in standard Acrobat versions. |
Bates Numbering applies to all pages across a set of documents to ensure a continuous, unique sequence. This is crucial for legal and professional uses where documents might be combined or separated. It guarantees that every single page, no matter its original file, has a distinct and traceable ID, preventing confusion and ensuring proper referencing throughout a large collection.