User Experience

Last updated: 2026-03-23

Discovery users see a simplified interface. Their dashboard shows only case titles. Inside a case, they see a two-panel layout with permitted tags and files on the left and the document viewer on the right. Context menus offer only View and Download.

Discovery folders panel

Tags and files as seen by a discovery user, with version badges

    Production Set 1
  • Contract_MSA_2024.pdf

    Bates
  • Plaintiff_Medical_Records.pdf

    Redacted
  • Correspondence
  • Email_Thread_Discovery_Request.eml

  • Expert Reports
  • Expert_Report_Damages.pdf

    Redacted

Discovery Dashboard

When a discovery user signs in, they land on their Discovery Dashboard. This is a simplified version of the standard Hintyr dashboard that shows only the cases they've been invited to. Each case displays its title only. Discovery users can't create new cases, view case metadata, or access organization-level settings.

Discovery portal case view layout

When a discovery user opens a case, they see a two-panel layout. The left panel shows the tags they have permission to view, each displayed as an expandable folder. Clicking a folder reveals the files within it. The right panel is the document viewer, which displays the selected file.

The left panel loads with the first folder expanded by default if it contains files. You can expand or collapse any folder by clicking its header. Selecting a file highlights it in the list and opens it in the viewer.

Discovery portal file version priority

When a file has multiple versions (original, Bates-stamped, redacted), the Discovery Portal automatically serves the most processed version. The priority order is:

  • Redacted - If a redacted version exists, the discovery user sees and downloads it. A red Redacted badge appears next to the file name.
  • Bates-stamped - If no redacted version exists but a Bates-stamped version does, that version is served. A blue Bates badge appears next to the file name.
  • Original - If neither a redacted nor Bates-stamped version exists, the original file is served with no badge.

This priority system ensures discovery users always receive the appropriate version of each document. No manual selection is needed.

Version badges

Each file in the folder panel may display a colored badge indicating which version is being served. The Redacted badge appears in red to clearly indicate that sensitive content has been removed. The Bates badge appears in blue to indicate that the file carries Bates numbering. Files served as originals show no badge.

Context menu

Right-clicking a file or clicking the three-dot menu icon opens a simplified context menu with only two options: View and Download. Unlike the full case interface, there are no options for tagging, assigning custodians, redacting, or any other document management actions.

Frequently asked questions

Can discovery users search within documents?
Discovery users can use the document viewer to read files. Full-text search across the case is not available in the discovery interface.
Can discovery users see who uploaded a file?
No. The discovery interface shows only the file name, version badge, and the tag it belongs to. Uploader information and other metadata are not visible.
What happens if a tag has no files?
If a tag that the discovery user has access to contains no files, the folder appears in the panel but displays a "No documents in this folder" message when expanded.
Can discovery users download all files at once?
Files are downloaded individually from the context menu. Bulk download is not available in the discovery interface.

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