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amys9798
Participant
May 26, 2026
Answered

bates numbering multiple documents

  • May 26, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 33 views

I am bates numbering several files and want each file to start at 001. how can I do this and does Adobe acrobat pro provide this function

 

    Correct answer Anand Sri Bhattacharya

    Hello @amys9798,


    I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out.


    In Adobe Acrobat Pro, Bates numbering is designed to create a single continuous sequence across all selected documents (i.e., page 1 to page N across the entire set). There is:

    • A Start Number setting for the sequence

    • But no built-in option to restart numbering for each file when processing multiple files together.

    • To learn more, please check this article: Guide to Bates Numbering in PDF files.


    Suggestion:

    If you need each file to start at 001, the supported approach is to process each file individually:

    1. Open the PDF in Acrobat Pro

    2. Go to Edit > More > Bates Numbering > Add.

    3. In the dialog, select your file (single file only)

    4. Click OK

    5. In Add Header and Footer:

      • Select Insert Bates Number

      • Set:

        • Number of Digits (e.g., 3 > 001, 002…)

        • Start Number = 1

    6. Click OK

    Repeat for each document.


    Please note that when you add multiple files using: Add Files / Add Folders. Acrobat treats them as one combined document set, so numbering continues across all files in order.


    I hope this helps, and let us know if you need any assistance.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

    2 replies

    PDF Automation Station
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2026

    There’s no way to automate resetting the numbering for each document.  Instead of bates numbering you could execute a JavaScript in the Action Wizard that adds a watermark from text, or creates form fields, adds numbered values, then flattens the fields.

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Community Manager
    May 26, 2026

    Hello @amys9798,


    I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out.


    In Adobe Acrobat Pro, Bates numbering is designed to create a single continuous sequence across all selected documents (i.e., page 1 to page N across the entire set). There is:

    • A Start Number setting for the sequence

    • But no built-in option to restart numbering for each file when processing multiple files together.

    • To learn more, please check this article: Guide to Bates Numbering in PDF files.


    Suggestion:

    If you need each file to start at 001, the supported approach is to process each file individually:

    1. Open the PDF in Acrobat Pro

    2. Go to Edit > More > Bates Numbering > Add.

    3. In the dialog, select your file (single file only)

    4. Click OK

    5. In Add Header and Footer:

      • Select Insert Bates Number

      • Set:

        • Number of Digits (e.g., 3 > 001, 002…)

        • Start Number = 1

    6. Click OK

    Repeat for each document.


    Please note that when you add multiple files using: Add Files / Add Folders. Acrobat treats them as one combined document set, so numbering continues across all files in order.


    I hope this helps, and let us know if you need any assistance.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.