Refreshing the MCF
The platform regenerates the MCF automatically when material changes happen, plus on a weekly sweep. Most of the time you don’t need to think about it. Click Refresh manually before:- A lawyer consultation (so the lawyer reads the most-current version)
- A court event
- A negotiation session
- An FDR session
- Any moment where the MCF will leave your hands and reach a third party
How to refresh
1
Open the Master Case File
Go to
app.rytz.com.au/master-case-file. The current MCF loads with a “Last refreshed” timestamp at the top.2
Click Refresh
The Refresh button sits in the top toolbar. Two refresh modes:
- Full refresh — regenerates all six sections. Takes 30–90 seconds.
- Section refresh — regenerates only the section you click. Faster (10–30 seconds per section) when you know specifically what changed.
3
Wait for completion
The screen shows progress per section. The MCF stays readable during refresh — you see the prior version with a “refreshing in background” indicator on each section.When complete, the timestamp updates and any changed content briefly highlights.
4
Review what changed
The platform shows a “What changed” panel at the top of the refreshed MCF. Lists the substantive differences from the prior version. Particularly useful if you haven’t opened the MCF in a few weeks — the diff tells you what’s new.
What triggers automatic refresh
The platform watches for material changes. Auto-refresh fires when:
You can disable automatic refresh in Settings if you prefer manual control. Default is enabled.
Exporting the MCF
Three export formats serve different audiences.Full PDF
The most-common export. Every section, formatted for print or PDF reading.Use for
Archiving · Emailing the full picture to a barrister · Pre-trial preparation · Court-mandated disclosure (rare but happens) · Yourself, when you want to read everything in one place
Format
A4, sentence-case headings, page-numbered, indexed at the front, footer with matter name + export date. Typically 15–35 pages depending on matter activity.
Lawyer brief
A condensed version of the MCF tailored to a first lawyer consultation.Use for
First consultation with a new lawyer · Briefing a barrister · Sharing with a paralegal who will work on the matter · Any moment where the recipient needs to “get up to speed fast”
What's different from full
Drops casual language and personal commentary. Foregrounds the chronology and strategy. Includes the evidence matrix in tabular form. Roughly 60% the length of the full PDF.
Sectional exports
Export individual sections — chronology only, evidence matrix only, etc. — when you need just one part for a specific context.Chronology only
For affidavit drafting, FDR preparation, or sharing the factual spine without the strategic synthesis.
Evidence matrix only
For lawyer-evidence-position reviews, or when the question is specifically “what evidence do I have?”
Strategy only
For strategic conversations with someone who already knows the facts (e.g. a lawyer mid-matter who wants your synthesis of where you are).
Next Actions only
For your own task management or for handing to a paralegal.
How to export
1
Open the Master Case File
app.rytz.com.au/master-case-file2
Refresh first (if not just refreshed)
Stale exports waste everyone’s time. If the “Last refreshed” timestamp is more than 24 hours old, click Refresh.
3
Click Export in the toolbar
The export menu opens. Choose:
- Full PDF
- Lawyer brief
- Specific section — sub-menu for chronology / evidence matrix / strategy / next actions / consultation insights
4
Confirm what's included
Some sensitive material (family-violence detail, mental-health history, financial detail) can be excluded if not relevant to the audience. The platform asks before generating sensitive content.For consultation insights, the platform asks whether to include lawyer-advice content (which may be privileged) — typically excluded from exports going to the other party but included in exports to your own lawyer.
5
Generate and download
The export generates in 10–30 seconds. The PDF downloads to your browser; the platform also stores a copy under the MCF’s export history (so you know which version you sent to whom and when).
6
Note the export in your records
The platform auto-records the export with a timestamp and (optionally) a recipient note. “Sent to Mary at Smith & Co. on 14 May 2026 for first consultation.”The export history is visible at the bottom of the MCF surface — useful for “wait, which version did I send Mary?” later.
Versioning
The MCF is a living document. The platform handles versioning so you always know which version was current when:- Every refresh creates a new version
- Every export is timestamped and stored
- You can view any prior version (read-only) from the MCF’s version history
- You can roll back to a prior version’s content (rare, but supported — useful if a refresh produced something notably worse)
Privacy when sharing
The MCF is sensitive. Some practices that pay off:When the MCF stops being useful
A pattern worth noting: when an MCF has been heavily exported but lightly refreshed, exports stop reflecting reality. If you have a habit of exporting the MCF without refreshing first, you’re broadcasting old information. The platform tracks the gap between last-refresh and last-export. If you’ve exported without refreshing for the last 5 exports, a banner appears reminding you. Pay attention.What’s next
What it shows
Detail on each of the six MCF sections.
Master Case File overview
Step back to the framing.
Privacy and data
How exports are stored and protected.
Settings
Configure auto-refresh behaviour and export preferences.