Smart Tags

Last updated: 2026-03-23

Smart tags classify documents automatically based on rules you define in the Tag Wizard. Instead of tagging files one by one, you describe the conditions and Hintyr finds every matching document. Re-evaluate anytime to pick up new files as your case evolves.

Tag Wizard dialog

Define criteria to automatically classify documents

Tag Wizard

Mode:

Match files where

of these conditions are true:

John Smith
Jane Doe
12 files match
  • Email_JSmith_2025-03-15.eml

    EML
    Mar 15, 2025
  • RE_Settlement_Discussion.pdf

    PDF
    Mar 12, 2025
  • FW_Contract_Review.eml

    EML
    Mar 10, 2025
  • Meeting_Notes_March.docx

    DOCX
    Mar 8, 2025

How smart tags work

A smart tag stores a set of filter criteria alongside the tag itself. When you create or re-evaluate it, Hintyr checks every file in the case against those criteria and assigns matching files automatically. Criteria can reference document metadata (People, Document Type, Privilege Type), file properties (name, MIME type, size, dates), and relationships (custodian assignment, membership in other tags).

Because the criteria are saved, you can re-evaluate a smart tag at any time to pick up newly uploaded or processed files. Smart tags display a sparkle icon in the Tags tab so you can distinguish them from manual tags at a glance.

Creating a smart tag

Click the Tag Wizard button at the top of the Tags tab. By default, the dropdown is set to "Create new smart tag," which shows a Tag Name text field for your new tag. Define one or more conditions in the criteria builder, preview the matches, and click Create Smart Tag to save. For a complete walkthrough of each step, see the Tag Wizard guide.

Editing an existing smart tag

To modify criteria on an existing smart tag, open the Tag Wizard and select the tag from the dropdown labeled Select or create a smart tag. Existing smart tags appear with a sparkle icon. When you select one, the wizard loads its saved criteria so you can adjust, add, or remove conditions. Click Update Smart Tag to save your changes. You can also right-click any smart tag in the Tags tab and select Edit criteria to jump straight into the wizard with that tag loaded.

Smart tag use cases

Smart tags are especially useful when you need to isolate specific document populations quickly and consistently. Some common examples:

  • All emails from 2024 - Set File Type equals "message/rfc822" AND Dates Mentioned after 2024-01-01.
  • Documents mentioning a key person - Set People "contains any of" with the person's name to gather every file that references them.
  • Opposing counsel correspondence - Combine Email From or Email To conditions with the counsel's email address.
  • Large attachments - Set File Size "greater than" a threshold to surface files that may need special handling.
  • Cross-tag analysis - Use the Has Tag field to match files already in another tag, enabling layered categorization like "Privileged emails from Q3."

Manual overrides on smart tags

You can manually add or remove individual files from a smart tag, just like with a manual tag. Files you add by hand are included regardless of whether they match the criteria. Files you remove by hand are excluded even if the criteria would otherwise match them. These manual overrides take precedence over the automatic results and persist across re-evaluations.

Frequently asked questions

What happens when I upload new files after creating a smart tag?
Re-evaluate the tag to check for newly matching files. Open the Tag Wizard, select the existing smart tag from the dropdown, and save it again to refresh the results.
Can a smart tag reference another tag in its criteria?
Yes. Select "Has Tag" from the Field dropdown when defining conditions. This lets you create layered categorizations like matching all PDF files that already belong to the "Key Documents" tag.
What is the difference between a smart tag and a snapshot tag?
A smart tag stores its criteria and can be re-evaluated as files change. A snapshot tag evaluates criteria once at creation time, captures the matching files, and doesn't update afterward. See the snapshot tags page for details.
Can I manually exclude a file from a smart tag?
Yes. Remove the file from the tag just as you would from a manual tag. The exclusion takes precedence over the criteria, so the file stays excluded even after re-evaluation.

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