FAQ's

Having Problems viewing PDF documents in your Browser? 
We've encountered a problem when using Adobe Acrobat to view Court PDF Documents within your browser.  The problem involves the web plug-in.  Please see the following steps to temporarily work around this problem.

Adobe 4
1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4
2. Click on File
3. Click on Preferences
4. Click on General
5. Uncheck Web Browser Integration
6. Display Splash Screen at Startup
7. Click on OK

Adobe 5
1.  Open Adobe Acrobat Version 5
2.  From the Menu Bar, Select edit
3.  Select Preferences
4.  Select Options
5.  Uncheck Display PDF in Browser

Adobe 6
1. Open Adobe Acrobat Version 6
2. From the Menu Bar, Select edit
3. Select Preferences
4. Select Internet
5. UnCheck Display PDF in Browser
6. UnCheck AllowFast Web View
7. UnCheck Check browser settings when starting
8. Click on OK and close Adobe Acrobat

This configuration will allow the user to open the file and launch Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Please Note other versions (i.e., 4 or 3) seem to function properly with the plug-in.

Adobe Acrobat 5
Disable Allow Fast Web View

1. Open Adobe Acrobat
2. From the Menu Bar, Select Edit
3. Select Preferences
4. Select Options
5. Uncheck Allow Fast Web View

Having problems viewing updated Bankruptcy Case Data?

Try Clearing Web Browser Cache

Internet explorer
1. Click on tools
2. Click Internet Options
3. Click on the General Tab
4. Click on Delete files
5. Click the delete all offline content radio button
6. Click on OK
7. Click on Clear History

Netscape
1. Click on Edit -> Preferences
2. Double Click on Advanced
3. Click on Cache
4. Click on Clear Memory Cache
5. Click on Clear Disk Cache
CM/ECF Hardware/Software Requirements

What are the hardware/software requirements for participating in CM/ECF?

You will need the following:

  • Windows based petition or word processing software.
  • Windows Internet Explorer 6 or Higher OR Netscape Navigator version 4.06 or higher
  • Adobe Acrobat version 4.0 or higher (PDF writer)  OR WordPerfect 9 or Higher 
    Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher (4.0 will work on all documents except viewing electronic orders.)
  • Internet Service Provider (ISP)
  • Computer capable of running the software mention above.

Windows Based Petition Software

Adobe Acrobat

How do I create a PDF file?
When Adobe Acrobat is installed, it will create the PDF Writer. You choose this as your 'printer' and print the file as usual. The PDF writer will query you for a file name and then write the PDF file with the name and directory that you provide it. Some software such as WordPerfect 9 has the PDF Writer built into the application so you don't need to purchase Adobe Acrobat separately.

Printing Problems

When printing a custom form in Bankruptcy 2000, I get a blank PDF file - what's wrong?
If you're using the File, Print menu in Bankruptcy 2000, try going into Custom, Forms instead and then select the form and click on the Print form button.

 

Why does the right edge get cut off when I print an image from ECF?
After you click on the print icon

  1. Click the 'Shrink to Fit' box on the printer setup screen. Once you change this setting, it should stay that way for all PDF documents.

Software Questions

TopForm

I get multiple screens asking for the PDF file name in TopForm, why?
TopForm puts out each schedule as a separate PDF file when you ask it to 'print' the PDF file. You will need to name these files separately (e.g. Debtorname1, debtorname2, etc.) Once you have all the PDF files, you can either 

  1. Go into Adobe Exchange
  2. Open the petition PDF file
  3. Click on Document
  4. Click on Insert pages, and insert each file into the petition PDF file 

OR when you Open the Case, 

  1. Attach the petition PDF file to the first 'Browser' and 
  2. Check the 'Y'es button to Attachments to Documents. (This will allow you to browse for the other PDF 's you have named as separate files. Continue this process for all attachments - schedules, statements, etc.)

How do I create a creditor matrix text file using TopForm?

  1. Enter the creditor information 
  2. Click on File
  3. Click on Address Matrix and 
  4. Set the format to OCR. 
  5. Enter creditor information, then click on File Export Matrix. It will ask for a file name and location.

Word Processors

How do I create a creditor matrix text file using my Word Processor?
You may use any Word Processor to enter the name and address information in the proper form and save it as a text (.txt) file.

Bankruptcy 2000

How do I create a creditor matrix text file using Bankruptcy 2000?
In the Setup screen, 

  1. Click on File
  2. Click on Save Matrix to diskette, it will prompt you for a filename and location.

CM/ECF System

If I docket and event and submitted to the court, why does the system tell me that this transaction has already been posted? (Docket entry not posted on the docket.)
Probably what has happened is that you docketed an event for a case, and then click on the Netscape's Back button a few times to get to a point where you could enter another case number and then docket another event. By clicking the Back button, instead of clicking on 'Bankruptcy' you're keeping the information pulled for the last case you docketed. As long as you click on the menu item instead of clicking on the Back button, you'll be fine - only use the Back button to correct a mistake on an event you're in the process of docketing not to change cases.

 

Why, when I query a case in ECF, it gives me the previous case I looked at instead?
Check your Cache settings in Netscape V.03

  1. Click on Options
  2. Click on Network Preferences
  3. Click on Cache. The 'Verify Documents' entry should have the 'once per session' or 'everytime' entry checked, but not the 'never' entry.

In Netscape V.04, 

  1. Click on Edit
  2. Click on Preferences
  3. Click on Advanced
  4. Click on Cache. The Netscape default of 'once per session' will work fine.

Internet Explorer

    1.  Click on Tools
    2.  Click on Internet Options
    3.  Click on Setting in Temporary Internet Files.  Ensure Every time you start Internet Explorer or Every Visit to the Page is selected

Why am I getting an invalid user code or password message when I enter the correct password?
Some common problems are that both the user code and password should be all lower case - if that looks good, check the location of the website in the location window of Netscape.

The Training Database is located at https://ecf-train.mtb.uscourts.gov/

The Live Database is located at https://ecf.mtb.uscourts.gov/

Note: Make sure you're using the proper password for the proper database - they are always different.