BASALT · JOURNAL
How to Bates-number exhibits without breaking citations
Exhibit labels and Bates numbers answer different questions. “Exhibit 12” identifies the item; ACME000143 identifies one page within the production. Using both consistently lets a reader cite the exhibit and lets the producing party reconcile the exact page.
Finalize pages before numbering
Complete redaction, remove excluded pages, resolve orientation, and set the exhibit order first. A page inserted after numbering creates a collision or forces suffixes that downstream systems may sort badly.
Choose prefix, digit width, starting number, and placement under the governing protocol. Reserve enough digits for the expected range and check whether existing page furniture occupies the stamp area. Do not cover signatures, dates, or content near the margin.
Keep exhibit identity separate
Use a cover page, bookmark, or header for the exhibit designation, according to procedure. Do not reset Bates numbers inside each exhibit unless the protocol requires it; continuous numbers simplify citations across the whole set.
If source pages already carry Bates numbers from an earlier production, decide whether the new number may coexist, must use a different corner, or requires a cross-reference. Never silently obscure the prior identifier.
Produce and reconcile a manifest
For each exhibit record the source filename, exhibit designation, page count, beginning Bates, ending Bates, and output hash. Verify that the arithmetic matches: an inclusive range from 143 through 151 contains nine pages.
Visually sample first and last pages, then test the entire sequence for gaps and duplicates. Continuous Bates numbering across multiple PDFs provides the batch method.
Frequently asked questions
Should Bates numbers restart for each exhibit?
Usually a production uses one continuous sequence, but follow the applicable filing or discovery protocol.
Can I place Bates numbers over blank margins?
Yes if the margin is truly clear and placement meets the protocol. Preview every page because scans often extend farther than expected.
What if an exhibit already has Bates numbers?
Preserve them unless authorized otherwise and plan a distinct location or cross-reference for the new sequence.
Doing it in Basalt
Basalt previews a continuous sequence file by file, detects collisions, moves stamps clear of redactions, and writes a CSV manifest with every range. Numbering runs locally after the page set is final. Download Basalt.
Redaction that proves itself
Basalt destroys the content you mark, then re-opens the file it wrote and proves the content is gone before it saves anything. Your documents never leave your Mac.