Step 2. Production
Format conversion and Bates/document numbering.
Once the documents to be produced have been accumulated in a briefcase, all or some of the documents in the briefcase can be “produced” in native or PDF format.
Native document production or PDF format production is managed by MasterFile’s Evidence Cruncher. The Evidence Cruncher wizard also controls stamping exhibit and Bates numbers, dates and watermarks, etc. as needed, on each of the document’s pages. It’s all managed simply from one screen.

Native briefcases retain the native format documents without alteration.
PDF briefcases can be produced as PDF or as “TIF image in PDF”. A “TIF image in PDF” production rasterizes document pages. Redactions can be applied to a PDF or burned into TIF images. You can specify which version to use in the final production.
PDF briefcases are assigned and stamped both document and Bates numbers, while native format briefcases are assigned just a document number. These are recorded in the document’s production history. You can track a matter’s production sets and their documents from the production history view of the source MasterFile database. That eliminates tedious manual organization that’s typically required, such as dealing with multiple copies of original documents in specific new folders for each production, etc., which is error prone.
Source documents (native or PDF) always remain unaltered in the source MasterFile database.
When all documents in the briefcase have been produced, you can either lock it to prevent further additions, or leave it open if the disclosure set is incomplete and more documents are still to be added.
Production in both native and PDF format is easy too. Once the selection is determined, adding it to the briefcase takes one click. MasterFile will track the history of all produced documents, even if produced several times in either or both formats.