Batches

You can create batches in Relativity by splitting a static set of documents into multiple document sets based on criteria set by a system admin. With the appropriate permissions, users can then check out these batches and assign themselves documents.

Batching can bring structure to managing a large-scale document review with multiple reviewers. You can generate batches automatically or manually. Automatic document assignment reduces the chances of accidental redundancy in the review process.

Note: You may want to consider using Review Center as a streamlined alternative. For more information, see Review Center.

Also see the following pages:

Batch fields in Relativity

The fields in Relativity that store batch-related values are:

  • Batch Set—the batch set to which the batch belongs.
  • Batch—the name of the batch.
  • Batch Status—the status of the batch. A batch may be:
    • Blank—the batch is not checked out.
    • In progress—the batch is checked out.
    • Completed—the batch is checked in as completed.
  • Batch Unit—the optional grouping condition on the batch.
  • Assigned To—the reviewer to whom the batch is checked out.
  • Reviewed—specifies whether the batch is reviewed.
  • Batch Size—the number of records in the batch.

Creating and editing batch sets

Documents are pre-converted for viewing upon the checkout of a batch set based on the NumberOfDocumentsToAutoPreconvert instance setting. This setting is set to 1000 by default and can be adjusted to suit your needs.

Note: If the value is set to 0, pre-conversion will be disabled.

To create or edit a batch set, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Batch Sets sub-tab from the Case Admin tab.
  2. Click New Batch Set to create a new batch set, or click Edit next to the batch you want to edit.

    Note: If you select a value in the Family Field, then the batch set will include family documents from that related group that are also included in the data source.

    The Batch Set Information form appears with required fields in orange.
    Complete the fields to create or edit the batch set. See Fields.

  3. Click Save.

Batch Sets for Reviewers

Once you have created the batches, navigate to the Batch Sets tab using the quick search, CTRL + /, function. Here you will see a reviewer's view of the newly created batches.

The Batch Sets tab with a few sample sets in the list.

Fields

The following fields display on the New Batch Set information form:

  • Name—the name of the batch set.

    • Note: If you are performing a multi-stage review with multiple batch sets per phase, be sure to include the phase name in the batch set name. This helps you search for information within a specific phase.

  • Maximum Batch Size—the maximum number of documents in one batch.

    Note: Your batch may contain fewer documents than this value if there are no more documents to batch or no more documents with the current Batch Unit value.

  • Batch Prefix—sets the prefix for the batch numbering.
  • Batch Data Source—the saved search containing documents that you want to batch. If the saved search references a dtSearch or an Analytics index, that index must be active. The sort order of the data source carries over to the batch.
  • Batch Unit Field—an optional grouping mechanism, enabling you to group similar documents in the same batch. Documents with different values in a batch unit field are not included in the same batch unless the Family Field would override this.

    Note: A common batch unit field is custodian. However, you can use any single choice, multi-choice, single object or non-relational and non-system fixed length text field.

    When using multiple choice fields for the Batch Unit Field, the choice values must be the same in order for them to be grouped in a batch. If the combination of choices is unique enough for the choice values, Relativity batches the documents into separate batch groups.

  • Family Field—you can select your workspace group identifier. Documents in a family group are not split across batches, even if their batch unit field differs.

    • Note: When you select a value for Family Field, the resulting number of documents within each batch may be larger than the value for the Maximum Batch Size field. For example, if you set the maximum batch size to 100, the first 100 documents that the batch source returns puts into the first batch. After this is done, any family members to the documents in the first batch are then included in that batch. This may result in the batch being larger than 100. Depending on the size of your family groupings, the size of your batches may vary significantly.

  • Reviewed Field—an optional field that you can select from any yes/no, single-choice, or multi-choice field from the drop-down menu. Based on your selection, a tally is kept of how many documents in the batch have been reviewed. The batch set monitors the field you specify as the Reviewed field. It also increments a count for each document in the batch that has been coded with a value for that field.
  • Auto Batch—enables the system to automatically generate batches.
    • Disabled—the default, which enables standard manual batch processing. 
    • Enabled—automatically generates batches according to the settings below.
  • Minimum Batch Size—only available if Auto Batch is enabled. This is the smallest possible number of documents in a batch.
  • Auto Create Rate—only available if Auto Batch is enabled. This represents how often, in minutes, the system attempts to create batches.

    Newly created batches appear on the Review Batches tab. Any users with access to the Review Batches tab will be able to see any batches that they have permissions for.

    Note: With auto batching enabled, the Relativity service account runs the saved search specified as your batch data source. The Relativity Service account is a system admin account.

Batch Set console

Once you save your batch set, the Batch Set console displays the following options:

  • Create Batches—creates the batches based on the entered settings. Created batches display on the bottom half of the batch set details page.
  • Purge Batches—deletes any batches associated with the entire batch set.
  • View Batch Summary Report—displays the Batch Summary report. This field is only enabled after you have created batches.
  • Refresh Page—refreshes the page.

Note: Previously created batches do not update to include new properties. For example, if you create batches with a batch size of 500 and then need to lower the size, you should purge the existing batches. You can then make any changes and recreate the batches. You will lose any existing data in the original batch set when you purge those batches.

 Auto Batching Status

This section displays on a batch after it has been created to help you track the status of auto batching. The following options display:

  • Status—displays the current status of the batch: Pending, Processing, Error or Finished
  • Documents to be Batched—displays the remaining documents that do not meet the minimum batch size. You must manually create a batch for these remaining documents.
  • Last Successful Run—the date and time stamp of the last successful batch run.
  • Last Error Reported—the date and time stamp of the last error that occurred.

Deleting an individual batch

To delete an individual batch using the Delete mass operation, do the following:

  1. Navigate to the Review Batches tab.

  2. Select the individual batch you would like to delete.
  3. Select Delete from the mass operations drop-down menu in the bottom-left.

    A pop-up window displays.
  4. Click Delete in the pop-up.

    The selected batch is removed.

Deleting a batch set

Use the following procedure to delete a batch set.

  1. Navigate to the Batch Set tab.
  2. Select the checkbox next to the batch you want to delete.
  3. Select Delete in the mass operations drop-down menu, and click Go.

    4. A confirmation message appears.

  1. Click OK.

For more information, see Mass delete.

Searching for documents not in existing batch sets

In some cases, you may need to search for all documents not included in a batch set. To properly search for documents not included in a batch set, use the following search criteria:

  • Field: Batch
  • Operator: not these conditions
  • Value:
    • Field: Batch::Batch Set
    • Operator: any of these
    • Value: select all existing batch sets

Documents included in the batch sets you select for the Batch::Batch Set field value are excluded from your search results.

Note: If you want to run a search that excludes only certain batch sets select these conditions as the first operator. Select none of these as the second operator. Documents belonging to more than one batch set may return in your search results. Using this combination of search operators returns documents that belong to any batch set you don't specify in the Batch::Batch Set value.