Define the numbering scheme
Record the prefix, number width, first available number and placement required for the document set. Check that the proposed range has not already been used.
Agree confidentiality designations separatelyA practical document reference
Give every page a reliable reference. Plan your Bates numbering.
Understand prefixes, continuous ranges and page identifiers before numbering a document set. Plan the production with the reference below, then apply the identifiers in BatesFast.
Browser-based Bates numberingPlan it here. Number it in BatesFast.FROM FILE TO PRODUCTION01 / STUDIO
DOCUMENT1
DOCUMENT2
DOCUMENT3
One continuous sequence. Every page carries its own identifier.
THE QUICK ANSWER↗
A Bates identifier belongs to one specific page.
Bates numbering assigns visible identifiers across a document collection so individual pages can be cited consistently. A label may combine a matter or party prefix with a padded sequence. Ordinary page numbering is useful for reading a PDF, but does not by itself provide unique identifiers across separate files or productions.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORKFLOW
Should you use page numbers, Bates identifiers or file names?
Use a Bates identifier when a reference must distinguish one page across a document collection. Agree the prefix, digit width, starting number and file order for the particular set, then verify that each visible identifier matches the range ledger.
| Reference method | What it identifies | Constraint to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary page number | A reading position inside one document. | Different files can each contain a page 12; include the document reference when citing it. |
| Bates prefix and padded sequence | An individual page within a planned collection-wide range. | Reserve unused ranges and reconcile each file's first and last identifier with its page count. |
| File name or document ID | A whole file or document record. | A file-level name does not visibly distinguish every page in a multi-page PDF. |
| Confidentiality designation | A separate handling label defined for the document set. | A repeated designation does not supply a unique page sequence; agree its wording and placement separately. |
Documentation: Adobe Acrobat Pro: Bates numbering, file order and number options · Adobe Acrobat Pro: searching Bates-numbered PDFs
Workflow guidance updated .
A CLEAR PATH TO PRODUCTIONGood productions start
Good productions start
with the right scheme.
Agree the scheme, lock the file order, then number the set in BatesFast.
Lock the document order
Prepare the final pages and list the files in their intended sequence. Record the page counts and calculate the first and last identifier for each file.
Apply the identifiers
Open BatesFast, set the prefix, digit width, first number and placement, then stamp the set in one pass so the sequence continues across every file.
THINK BEYOND THE PAGENumbered once.
Numbered once.
Cited for years.
One identifier, one page
A planned prefix and sequence distinguish a page from the many other documents that also contain a “page 12.”
Ranges you can reconcile
A simple beginning-and-ending ledger makes overlaps, gaps and unexpected page counts visible before delivery.
Built for productions
Custom prefixes, padded sequences and ranges that continue across files are the job itself here, not a setting bolted onto an ordinary page-number tool.
THE DETAILS, MADE TANGIBLE
A three-document range plan.
Illustrative scheme: prefix CASE-, six numeric digits, starting at 1. Plan the ranges here, then apply them in BatesFast.
WORKED EXAMPLE| Document | Pages | First identifier | Last identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agreement.pdf | 12 | CASE-000001 | CASE-000012 |
| Email-record.pdf | 7 | CASE-000013 | CASE-000019 |
| Schedule.pdf | 5 | CASE-000020 | CASE-000024 |
12 + 7 + 5 = 24 pages. For each document, last = first + page count − 1. The next unused identifier is CASE-000025. Keep this ledger with the final delivered files.
BEFORE YOU PRODUCESmall checks.
Small checks.
Fewer disputes.
Work through the essentials for this workflow.
Your checklist stays on this page.
0 of 6 checks complete
Start Bates numberingTHE FIELD NOTESA little know-how
Explore all guides A little know-how
goes a long way.
FIELD NOTE / 01
What Is Bates Numbering? Definition, History, and Modern Use
Bates numbering explained: its origin at the Bates Manufacturing Company, how the stamp works, and why courts and firms still use it for legal documents.
Read the guide FIELD NOTE / 02Bates Numbering Format: Prefixes, Padding, and Best Practices
A practical reference for Bates numbering format: prefix conventions, digit padding, confidentiality suffixes, and placement rules, with worked examples.
Read the guide FIELD NOTE / 03Confidentiality Designations Alongside Bates Identifiers
Distinguish stable Bates identifiers from confidentiality designations. Plan placement and later designation changes against the agreed production protocol.
Read the guideGOOD QUESTIONSBefore you
Before you
get started.
The practical details, explained plainly.
How is a Bates number different from a page number?+
A page number usually locates a page inside one document. A Bates identifier is planned to locate one page across a collection. If every file restarts at 1, the visible page number alone is not a unique collection-wide reference.
Does a Bates number have to contain six digits?+
No. Six digits is a common format, not a universal requirement. Choose the width and prefix required for the particular production and leave enough numeric capacity for the planned series.
Does the linked tool apply real Bates identifiers?+
Yes. BatesFast is built for Bates numbering: custom prefixes, zero-padded sequences and numbering that continues across a multi-file set. Confirm any load file, endorsement or review-platform requirement separately against the agreed production specification.
Can I change the page order after applying identifiers?+
Changes can make a range ledger or existing citation misleading. Keep the final production set stable and record any replacement or revised version through the process agreed for that matter.
Does Bates numbering perform redaction?+
No. Numbering adds a page reference; it does not remove sensitive content. Complete and verify any required redaction with a suitable redaction workflow before finalizing the production.
For the underlying legal and PDF conventions:
Does BatesFast fit this job?
Apply a defined prefix and continuous sequence after the production specification and document order are agreed.
What to verify
Complete redaction separately. Reconcile the first and last identifier of each file with the index; stamping does not validate the legal production.
Account and export terms
Google sign-in is required. One complete production is free, with downloads available for seven days. Further productions require a paid per-device license. Check the current BatesFast price, offer and refund terms before purchase.
View current BatesFast plans →
This is a product-operated field guide in the PDFImpose network. Confirm the exported result and current terms before paying.
TAKE IT FROM HERE
Ready to number the production?
Take the range plan above into BatesFast, set the prefix and digit width, and stamp the whole set in one pass.
Start Bates numbering