DATA TREE DISCOVERY
Data production is the process of providing electronically stored information (ESI) to the opposing party in a lawsuit. This information can be in the form of documents, emails, spreadsheets, databases, and other electronic files.
Producing data in different formats and combinations of formats can be a complex process, but it is essential to ensure that the information is easily accessible and usable by the receiving party.
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Load files are a critical component of data production, as they provide essential metadata and linking information between the native files and the production format. The most common types of load files are Concordance (DAT) and Summation (OPT) load files. These files contain information such as the file name, file path, file type, date created, date modified, and other relevant metadata.
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Production formats can vary depending on the specific requirements of the receiving party. Native files, TIFF, and PDF are the most commonly used formats for data production. Native files are the original electronic files in their original format, while TIFF and PDF are image-based formats that are typically used for documents.
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TIFF and PDF production formats can be linked to native files or include Bates numbering to facilitate easy identification and tracking of individual documents. Bates numbering is a unique identifier that is added to each page of a document, allowing for easy identification and tracking of individual documents throughout the discovery process.
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It is essential to ensure that the information is easily accessible and usable by the receiving party. The use of load files and production formats such as native, TIFF, and PDF can facilitate this process and ensure that the discovery process runs smoothly.