Will Bates numbers and agency-assigned filenames be preserved inside the ZIP?

Yes. Files are stored inside the ZIP using their exact original filenames. No renaming occurs, so Bates numbers and document identifiers are maintained.

Can I include scanned FOIA PDFs and typed transcript DOCXs in the same ZIP?

Yes. Deliteful accepts PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, and image formats in a single batch, so mixed document types from a records production are handled in one job.

What is the file size limit for a document set ZIP?

Up to 50 files or 2GB per batch. Large FOIA productions with many scanned PDFs may require splitting into multiple batches by document category or date range.

Are files stored or logged on Deliteful's servers after the ZIP is created?

No. Files are processed server-side and not retained after the ZIP is downloaded. This is relevant for source protection — originals are not stored.

Bundle FOIA Responses and Source Documents Into a Single ZIP Archive

A FOIA response arrives as dozens of individual PDFs. Interview transcripts, source documents, and reference files accumulate across a months-long investigation. Deliteful bundles the full document set into one organized ZIP for editorial handoff, legal review, or archival — without touching a local compression tool.

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Investigative journalists and researchers routinely hand off document sets to editors, legal counsel, or archive systems. Sending thirty PDFs as individual email attachments is impractical and makes it easy for a recipient to miss a document. A single ZIP named by investigation and date — 'CityContracts_FOIA_2024-03.zip' — keeps the record set intact and creates a defensible chain of custody for the source material.

Deliteful accepts PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, XLSX, and image formats in a single batch, covering the full range of document types that emerge from records requests, court filings, and field research. Up to 50 files or 2GB per batch is supported. Original filenames are preserved, which matters when document Bates numbers or agency-assigned file identifiers need to be maintained.

How it works

1
Collect the document set
Upload FOIA response PDFs, interview transcripts, court documents, and any supporting source files for the investigation.
2
Name the archive by investigation and date
Use a descriptive name like 'Investigation_SourceDocs_2024-03.zip' that ties the archive to a specific records request or story.
3
Hand off to editorial or archive
Download the ZIP and send it to your editor, legal team, or upload it to your newsroom's document management or archival system.

Frequently asked questions

Will Bates numbers and agency-assigned filenames be preserved inside the ZIP?: Yes. Files are stored inside the ZIP using their exact original filenames. No renaming occurs, so Bates numbers and document identifiers are maintained.
Can I include scanned FOIA PDFs and typed transcript DOCXs in the same ZIP?: Yes. Deliteful accepts PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, and image formats in a single batch, so mixed document types from a records production are handled in one job.
What is the file size limit for a document set ZIP?: Up to 50 files or 2GB per batch. Large FOIA productions with many scanned PDFs may require splitting into multiple batches by document category or date range.
Are files stored or logged on Deliteful's servers after the ZIP is created?: No. Files are processed server-side and not retained after the ZIP is downloaded. This is relevant for source protection — originals are not stored.

Sign up for a free Deliteful account with Google and package your next document production into a single, organized archive.