Bates numbering is not page numbering with a prefix. Three things make it different, and all three matter when someone later cites a single page: the sequence runs across every file in the production rather than restarting, the width is fixed so the numbers sort correctly as text, and the prefix identifies which production the page belongs to. Load the files in the order they should be produced, set the prefix and the width, and every page is stamped in one continuous run. The index that comes out maps each stamp back to the file and page it came from.
Features
One sequence runs across every file, in the order you arrange them
Fixed-width zero padding so the numbers sort as strings
Prefix and suffix, with a warning if the sequence outgrows the width
Adjustable increment, so gaps can be left for later insertions
Five stamp positions, with the text size and margin under your control
Skip the first page of each file for cover sheets
CSV index mapping every stamp back to its source file and page
How to use the Bates Numbering
Drop in every PDF in the production, and drag them into order
Set the prefix, the digit width and the starting number
ABC000001 – ABC000168 across 2 files, plus bates-index.csv
The index records that ABC000121 is page 1 of exhibits.pdf.
Common errors & troubleshooting
The later numbers are wider than the earlier ones. — The sequence outgrew the digit width, which breaks string sorting. The warning tells you how many digits the run needs — raise the width and stamp again.
The stamp overlaps content at the foot of the page. — Increase the margin, reduce the text size, or move the stamp to a different corner. Documents with deep footers usually need a larger margin.
One file numbered out of order. — The sequence follows the order in the list, not the filenames. Use the arrows to arrange the files before stamping.
I need to insert a document into an existing production. — Set the increment above one when first stamping so there are unused numbers between pages. Retro-fitting a gap into a stamped production is not possible.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the files come back merged into one PDF?
Because the sequence is continuous across them, and a single numbered document is what a production is usually delivered as. The CSV index records which source file each stamp came from, so nothing is lost.
What digit width should I use?
Six is the common convention and covers a million pages. The important thing is that the width is never exceeded, because a mix of ABC1234 and ABC001234 sorts wrongly in every system that reads them.
Can I number only some of the pages?
You can skip the first page of each file, which handles cover sheets. Beyond that, a production number that skips pages defeats its own purpose, so every remaining page is stamped.
Is the stamp part of the page or an annotation?
It is drawn into the page content, so it prints and survives flattening, copying and conversion. An annotation could be hidden or stripped by a reader.
What is the index CSV for?
It is the production log. When opposing counsel cites ABC000417, the index tells you that it is page 23 of the third file you produced.
Related tools
Add Page Numbers — Stamp page numbers onto a PDF (position, format, start).