Or possibly you prefer a different default font style or size, typically use the comma number format or you often change the layout of column widths when you create a new worksheet.
But what if you don’t like that workbook? Maybe you have a standard header that you always (or almost always) use on pages of your workbook.
That said, it is critical to assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of a native production on a case by case basis before committing to a production format.When you create a new Excel workbook, you get a standard default Excel workbook. The main benefit of a native production is that the electronic evidence can be produced without degradation. There are numerous arguments for and against native file productions.
xls that requires redaction in a PDF format. Quite the undertaking! Consequently, a common compromise is to produce an. Therefore, counsel would need to track the redacted version alongside the clean version of the native file. Moreover, redacting the native file would, by definition, cause the file data and metadata of that file to be changed. Thus it can become a very complex process as each change can trigger a number of unforeseen additional changes in different parts of the worksheet. For example, a native file Excel spreadsheet may have multiple worksheets, formulas, pivot tables and macros. xls spreadsheet needs to be redacted? Redacting the native file can be quite difficult. If the document is converted prior to production, the receiving party may be at a disadvantage should they have desired to “slice and dice” the data in the spreadsheet, for example.
These features are lost when the document is converted to another electronic format prior to production. Additionally, an Excel document can often have embedded formulas (or at least allow the end user to embed formulas to make the document more user-friendly). Thus, production in a native file format can be more cost efficient. Similarly, the producing party does not need to expend the money (albeit minimal) in branding the native file with confidentiality legends or bates stamps. First, producing the document in Excel format is less costly in that one does not need to convert the document to a. Finally, the format in which a document is produced can affect one’s ability to redact the document (or inadvertently modify the document).Ĭonsider a Microsoft Excel document. Second, the format in which a document is produced can affect the utility of the document itself. First, the format in which a document is produced can affect the costs of production. The format (i.e., native or something other) is something that should be carefully considered for a number or reasons. xls) or to convert the document to another electronic format (i.e., PDF). Insofar as litigation is concerned, when producing documents, the producing party has to consider whether to produce a responsive document in its native format (the. So, for example, if a spreadsheet was created using Microsoft Excel, then that document’s native format is its original Excel format (.xls). Native format is the file structure of an electronic document as defined by the application that created that electronic document. But, what exactly is a native file? And why should I care about it? Production of documents in their “native file format” is gaining traction in litigation. What is a Native File and Why Does it Matter?