Minimum Software Version8.18.10
Solution(s)Cases International ✓ Cases US ✓ Institutions ⨉ Counsel ✓
Explains how to bulk replace documents in Opus 2 to update document versions while preserving existing work, such as notes, links, and annotations.


Opus 2 supports bulk document replacement, allowing users to efficiently update multiple documents at once while retaining prior work, including notes, links, and other document-level relationships.


Bulk replacement is recommended when the replacement documents are almost identical to the originals, with only minor changes such as:

  • Redactions
  • Highlights
  • Trial exhibit numbers


Using bulk replacement ensures that existing work is accurately transferred to the corresponding locations in the new document versions, reducing the risk of misalignment or formatting issues.

Step 1: Choose a unique identifier

Bulk replacement relies on matching each replacement document to an existing document using a unique identifier.

Common options include:

  • Exact filename matching, or
  • A custom document metadata field specifically created for matching

For guidance on creating metadata fields, refer to the document metadata configuration article.

Step 2: Open the Files page

Bulk replacement is performed from the Files page.

  1. Click the Project button.
  2. Select Files.

Step 3: Upload the replacement documents

Replacement documents must be uploaded without being published.

  1. Click Upload.
  2. In the upload dialog, toggle Publish off. 
  3. Drag and drop the replacement files.
  4. Click Upload.

This ensures the files are available for matching but not yet visible as documents. 

Step 4: Select the documents to be replaced

Use the checkboxes to select the uploaded replacement files that should be used in the bulk replacement process.

Step 5: Publish using auto‑update 

  1. Click Publish.
  2. Select Auto‑update existing documents.

This opens the document‑matching dialog.

Step 6: Match the documents

  1. Choose how documents should be matched:
    • Exact filename, or
    • Metadata, if a custom matching field was created 
  2. Click Find matches to identify corresponding documents. 

Step 7: Update the documents

  1. Review the matched documents carefully.
  2. Deselect any incorrect matches using the checkboxes.
  3. Click Update documents to complete the replacement.



After completing bulk replacement, review a sample of the updated documents to confirm that notes, links, and annotations have transferred correctly. Always ensure that matching identifiers are accurate before running the update to avoid incorrect replacements.