# Managing flynotes
Flynotes are part of the case summaries generated automatically by AI. On some LII websites, users can explore judgments by flynote topics, which makes discovery and staying up-to-date much simpler.
On websites where this feature is enabled, administrators can manage flynotes in bulk. This includes renaming, merging, and deprecating flynotes. Changes made to the flynote topics will (after some time) reflect on the judgment detail pages for judgments linked to those flynotes.
{% hint style="info" %}
When changes are made to flynotes in the Flynote Manager, it may take some time (up to a few hours), before those changes are visible on the linked judgments.
{% endhint %}
## Flynote structure
Flynotes have a particular structure:
1. Area of law
2. Sub-topic
3. Specific issue
4. Rule / legal question (optional)
5. Legislative reference (optional)
For example:
> Criminal law — Minimum sentencing for rape of a person under 16 — Whether substantial and compelling circumstances justify departure from prescribed life imprisonment — Criminal Law Amendment Act s 51(1)
* Criminal law
* Minimum sentencing for rape of a person under 16
* Whether substantial and compelling circumstances justify departure from prescribed life imprisonment
* Criminal Law Amendment Act s 51(1)
### Level 1 flynotes
Top-level flynotes are treated specially. When the AI generates flynotes, it MUST choose the top-level flynote from the existing list of flynotes.
Usually, a website has between 50 and 100 top-level flynotes which are used for all judgments.
The AI cannot choose flynotes that are **deprecated.**
### Levels 2, 3, 4 and 5 flynotes
At the remaining flynote levels, the AI will try to choose an existing flynote if a suitable one exists, otherwise it will create a new flynote.
This helps to ensure that we don't have flynotes that vary only in terms of wording (such as plurals, abbreviations).
The AI cannot choose flynotes that are **deprecated.**
## Editing flynotes in bulk
The **Flynote Manager** allows you to edit the flynote tree, and linked judgments will be updated automatically. Use it to keep the flynote tree clean, fix typos and avoid duplication.
### Merging flynotes
Merge flynotes that are very similar.
For example:
* Banking and contract law
* Banking / contract law
{% hint style="warning" %}
Be careful. Merging cannot be undone. Only merge flynotes that are semantically similar.
Check that the children of the flynotes you're going to merge will still make sense under the new flynote.
{% endhint %}
To merge flynotes:
1. Open the **main flynote** in the flynote manager. This is the flynote that the other flynotes will be **merged into**.
2. Click on the **Merge** tab
3. The manager will show similar flynotes. Use the search box to search for other flynotes you want to merge.
4. For each flynote you want to **merge into** your main flynote, click **Add**.
5. Click **Merge these flynotes** when you are ready to merge.
{% hint style="info" %}
Tips for merging flynotes:
* Most merging happens at levels 1 and 2.
* Flynotes with fewer than 5 linked judgments are good candidates to merge into other flynotes.
{% endhint %}
### Deprecating a flynote
Sometimes we want to get rid of a flynote, but it is not a good candidate for merging. In this case, we can deprecate the flynote.
{% hint style="warning" %}
Deprecating a flynote will cause all linked judgments to have their summaries (and flynotes) re-generated.
**This costs real money, and can take hours.**
Be careful.
{% endhint %}
What happens when a flynote is deprecated:
1. that flynote, and all descendants, are marked as deprecated
2. the judgments linked to that flynote and any descendants will have their summaries re-generated.
3. the AI will no longer use the deprecated flynotes
4. Once all judgments linked to the deprecated flynote are updated, the flynote will be deleted automatically.
### Deleting a flynote
You can only delete a flynote that does not have any linked judgments, and none of its descendants have linked judgments.
Deleting a flynote deletes all of its descendants.
{% hint style="info" %}
You do not normally need to delete a flynote. Flynotes without any linked judgments are deleted automatically.
{% endhint %}
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://liieditors.docs.laws.africa/judgments/managing-flynotes.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.