guide
How to QC an incoming production
A production you receive has to load, read and reconcile before anyone can review it. These twelve checks run in the order that surfaces the expensive failures first: does the load file import, does every row have an image, does the numbering hold, and is every page searchable. Run them before the review clock starts, not after.
The twelve checks
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1. Row count vs document count
Does the DAT import at all, and how many rows?
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2. Bates ranges parse
Are begin/end fields present and of consistent width?
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3. Image exists per row
Every row must resolve to a file that is actually there.
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4. Image referenced per file
Every image in the folder must appear in the DAT.
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5. Page ranges add up
Does the range length equal the page count of the file?
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6. Document breaks
Does the OPT break flag agree with the page count?
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7. Bates sequence continuous
Gaps, duplicates, out-of-order numbers.
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8. Prefix and padding stable
One numbering run, not two merged.
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9. Families intact
BEGATTACH/ENDATTACH present, ordered and in range.
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10. Text layer present
Which pages are images with no extractable text?
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11. Redactions actually redacted
Is text still extractable under the boxes?
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12. Duplicates
Exact duplicate files, which usually mean a double production.
The three that are usually skipped
Checks 3, 4 and 6 are the ones a manual review skips, because they require opening the load file and the folder together. They are also the ones that stop a review cold: a DAT row pointing at a missing image is a document nobody can open, and an OPT break flag that disagrees with the page count silently attaches the wrong pages to a document.
What to do with the result
Write to the producing party once, with the specific rows and pages, rather than in a series of messages. The findings CSV from an audit is deliberately shaped for that: one row per finding, with file, page, rule and detail, so it can be attached to a deficiency letter without editing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check a received production without the producing party knowing?
Yes. The audit is read-only and runs on files you already hold. Nothing is sent to the producer, and the files are deleted on a two-hour schedule.
Which tier do I need for a received set?
The tier is set by page count: $49 up to 1,000 pages, $149 up to 10,000, $399 up to 50,000. Load-file reconciliation is included from Pro.