Using Review Tables
Learn how to create review tables to compare agreements, extract key information, or summarize trends at scale.
Last updated: Sep 2, 2026
Overview
Review tables allow you to analyze many documents at once and output that analysis into a consistent, structured table view.
This guide walks you through creating and organizing a review table, assigning reviews, and and asking follow-up questions using Assistant.
Video Overview
Creating and Editing a Review Table (May 2026)

Creating a Review Table
You can create a review table from the Create button, from Assistant, from directly within a vault, from an existing Vault review table, or from an existing template.
- Select Create in the sidebar menu.
- Select Review table.
Create From Assistant
- From Assistant, click the Create Review Table above the text box.
Create From a Vault
- Open a vault or create a new one.
- Click Create Review Table above the query text box.
- Select the files you want to include.
- Click Create table.
Tip: You can add up to 10,000 Vault files to a review table. If you're working with a high volume of files, adding them to a Vault first is the best approach, since direct uploads from your computer are limited to 50 files.
Create From an Existing Vault Review Table
Start a new review table with files from an existing Vault table. Your selected files will be copied into a new table so you can run a different set of columns against them.
- Open a review table and select the rows you want to carry over.
- Hover over Query in the black toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
- Select New review. A new review table opens containing the selected files.
Note: Only the files will be copied into your new review table. Columns and table instructions will not carry over.
Create From an Existing Template
If you or a colleague has already saved a review table as a template, you can start a new review table from that saved template to apply a predefined set of columns and table instructions.
- Select Create in the sidebar menu, then select Review table.
- Select Use a template.
- Choose the template you want to apply. The new table opens with the template's columns and table instructions already in place.
- Add your files and run the columns.
Building Your Review Table
Add columns to begin analyzing your files. Each column contains a prompt that will run across all files, and you can create these yourself or use the Column Builder to generate suggestions.
Build Columns with the Column Builder
- Select Column builder.
- In the text box, describe each piece of information you want Harvey to extract, and from which types of documents.
- Select Generate columns.
- Review the suggested columns and edit or remove any you don’t need.
- Type — how the output displays in the table.
- Label — the column name.
- Query — the prompt each column runs across your files.
- Select Add columns to apply them to the table.
- After results populate, open Manage Columns to make further adjustments.
Tip: When adding or editing a column, press the expand arrow in the top-right of the column popover to open a bigger prompt window with more room to write.
Text Formatting in Review Table Cells
Free Response columns support the following text formatting:
- Bold text
- Bulleted lists
- Numbered lists
You can format the text output in Free Response cells in two ways:
- Ask the Column Builder or a column query to format its response (for example, "list the key obligations as a bulleted list").
- Edit a cell and manually apply markdown formatting, such bolding a term by adding two asterisks before it (e.g.
**term**).
Note: Markdown formatting only applies to Free Response columns. Other column types (such as Date or Classify) do not support it.
Add a Manual Input Column For Notes
Manual Input Columns let you add your own notes and context directly to a review table alongside extracted document data, so you can analyze, flag, and query both without exporting to a spreadsheet.
Use them to capture insights that cannot be extracted from documents, such as internal context, reviewer judgment, or deal-specific nuances.
- In a review table, select +Add column in the column header area.
- Select Add manual input column.
- Enter a column name that reflects the type of information you want to capture.
- Select a column type:
- Free Response: Type your notes, comments or open-ended text into each cell.
- Classify: Define a set of classification labels for each document.
- Select Add column.
- Double click into the column’s cells to in-line edit to add text or add classification options.
Note: Since manual inputs are user-generated, they won’t appear in source citations or verification trails.
Set Table Instructions
Table Instructions let you define a single set of rules that automatically apply to every new column you generate in the table. Set them once at creation or update them any time to keep outputs consistent across the entire table without repeating instructions in each column prompt.
Example Use Cases
To add instructions when creating a table:
- Create a new review table.
- Select Table Settings at the top of the review table.
- In the Instructions field, describe how you want every cell response to behave — for example, how to refer to parties, how to handle redactions, or what reasoning framework to apply.
- Select Save. All new columns generated in this table will follow your instructions automatically.
To view or edit instructions after creation:
- Select Table Settings at the top of the table.
- Update the Instructions field as needed.
- Select Save.
Note: Updated instructions apply to all newly generated columns. Previously generated cells are not affected.
Set Default Language and Formatting

Table Settings let you define default language and formatting options that apply automatically to each new column you generate.
- Open a review table.
- Select Table Settings at the top of the table
- In the lower section of the settings, select the default language and format (Date, Currency, or Number) for each applicable column.
- Select Save. These formatting options will become the defaults for new columns.
Attach a File as Column Context
If your column needs to reference a fixed document, like a playbook, regulatory framework, or standard form, attach a file as column context. Harvey automatically applies the file as context for every row.

To attach a file to a column:
- In your review table, select + Add Column to add a new column. To edit an existing column, select that column’s header.
- Select Attach file. Note that the file must come from the same source as your rows, either from Vault or from your computer.
- [Optional] In the column prompt, @ mention the file by name to direct how Harvey should use it. For example, "Compare against the relevant clause in @Privacy Policy" or "Identify deviations from @Standard Offer Letter."
- Select Continue to run the column.
- Review the results. You can click on a cell’s sources or open the document previewer to see how the column’s reference file contributed to a cell’s answer.
Note: Using a file as column context requires access to that file's source. For example, if a column references a file from Vault A, anyone using the agent needs at least view access to Vault A.
Sample Use Cases
Organize Your Table
When information is spread across documents that need simultaneous review, such as multiple amendments, you can group them into a single row. Each column query will run across the grouped files, then display a single output for the row.
- Select files from your table that you want to group together, up to 25 files per group.
- Select Group from the black toolbar options.
You will now see each file group in its own row on your review table.
Tip: Hover over a group to preview which documents are contained.
Watch the video below to see how files are grouped, analyzed, and reviewed.
Adjust Table Views
Use Display options to control how information appears in the table, assign rows efficiently, and navigate large file sets.
- Wrap text to make long outputs easier to read.
- Adjust row assignment visibility when collaborating.
Folder Views
Switch between two display modes in your review table:
- Grouped by folders — Quickly scan files within their folder structure.
- Flat list — View all files at once without navigating through folders.
Move files into new or existing folders directly from the table, allowing you to reorganize content without switching views.
Save Your Columns as Templates
Once you've built a review table, you can save its columns and table instructions as a reusable template. This lets you apply the review table’s structure to a new matter instead of recreating it.
- Open the review table you’d like to create a template from.
- In the header menu, select Save as template, then fill out all required fields.
- Select Next.
Review and Verify Outputs
Vault's review features help teams ensure data accuracy and streamline collaboration when working with extracted table data.
Bulk Verify or Unverify Rows
Verify or clear verification on multiple rows at once instead of working cell by cell.
- Select the rows you want to update.
- Hover over Table in the black toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
- Select Verify or Unverify.
The verification status updates for every selected row. You can re-run this any time to adjust status as your review progresses.
Learn more: How to Edit, Verify, and Track Activity in Review Table Cells
Lock Cells
You can lock a cell (or multiple cells) to protect it from further edits, re-runs, verification changes, or flags by anyone else with access to the table. Locked cells are skipped when a column is re-run.
Lock a single cell from its popover, or select a column or rows and choose Lock from the black toolbar to lock many at once. Any user with edit or full access can lock or unlock a cell.
Learn more: How to Comment, Edit, Verify, and Track Activity in Review Table Cells
Ask Harvey to Analyze or Edit Your Table
Create a Harvey thread directly inside any review table to ask questions over your extracted data or to make changes to the table itself.
Ask Questions
You can ask Harvey to:
- Identify key dates, parties, or terms across contracts.
- Surface patterns in negotiation histories.
- Summarize insights across agreements (for example, “Summarize the most recent agreements involving cloud service companies.”)
Harvey cites relevant table cells so you can verify the underlying data. You can export results or continue the conversation.
Edit and Manage Your Table
You can also ask Harvey to make changes directly to your review table. Edit cells, add or delete rows and columns, group files, and more.
Learn more: Ask Harvey to Edit and Manage Review Tables
Steps to Start a Thread
- Open a review table.
- Enter your question or request in the Harvey thread.
- Send your query. Harvey answers your question or applies your requested changes.
Use a Review Table as a Source
Reuse data you’ve already pulled into a review table when starting new work in Harvey. Instead of exporting and importing your review table as a spreadsheet, you can select the review table directly in Assistant and use it to answer questions, draft documents, or complete workflows.
If you aren’t sure which table you need, you can also describe it in plain language and Harvey will find and attach the matching table for you.
You can also combine a review table with other sources, like uploaded files or Web search, to stay in one continuous workflow.
Note: The review table source only contains the extracted data from table itself, not the files within. To include those files in your query, please select those files as an additional source.
Select a Review Table in Assistant
To select a review table manually:
- In the prompt text box, select Files.
- Select Add review table.
- Select up to one review table.
- Select Add.
- Write your prompt and add up to two more sources of context.
You can also locate a review table using an open-ended query — for example, "Find my most recent review table" — and Harvey will find and attach the matching table for you.
Note: You can select review tables that you own (private) and review tables that are explicitly shared with you. Review tables that are shared to the entire workspace are not shown.
Add Sources to Your Review Table Query
- Create or open a review table.
- Open Ask Harvey.
- Add files or sources.
- Prompt Harvey. Ask questions referencing the new sources in addition to the review table data.
To share a review table with other users in your organization, select Share in the upper right corner of your screen.
Note: If your firm has ethical walls enabled, sharing is governed by the client matter attached to the review table. If a recipient is restricted from that matter, Harvey blocks the share and shows a message explaining why. Depending on your workspace configuration, you may also be prompted to attach a client matter number before you can share. Learn more in Ethical Walls in Harvey.
Export a Table
You can export your table to a spreadsheet by following the steps below.
- Select Export from your review table
- [Optional] Toggle on Highlight flagged cells to include cells flagged for review. Colored flags will be preserved.
Tips for Success
- Start with a small sample set to refine columns before scaling to a full document set.
- Use consistent column labels so collaborators can navigate the table easily.
- Group related files into folders before creating the table to simplify review workflows.
- Use the Column Builder or Magic Prompt in Assistant when you’re unsure how to phrase extraction queries.
- If one cell's answer looks off-target, you can re-run the individual cell’s answer instead of regenerating the whole column, leaving the rest of your table untouched.
- Lock cells you've finalized before re-running a column. Locked cells are skipped during review table re-runs, so your completed answers stay in place while the rest of the column updates.
FAQs
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