Electronic Case Filing
Ask ECF Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I create a PDF file?
2. Why are my PDF documents blank when I print them?
3. When I print my PDF document, it is a mirror image or blank.
4. When I print a PDF document, the Judges signature does not print.
6. I get multiple screens for asking for the PDF file name in TopForm, why?
7. Why do I get second login screen after I've already logged into ECF?
8. How do I create a creditor matrix text file?
9. Why do I get the Site Certification pages?
10. When I print an image from ECF, the right edge gets cut off.
12. When I query a case in ECF, it gives me the previous case I looked at instead.
14. How do I change my address with the Court?
15. When I get an email that something is filed, I can't view the document. What's wrong?
16. I get a blank PDF file when printing a custom form in Bankruptcy 2000 - what's wrong?
17. Printing a large docket sheet (over 50 pages) produces a 'Data Missing' error.
18. The page "times out" after 30 minutes of inactivity.
20. Can a document be deleted?
21. Can the docket text be modified?
22. Can I get a password if I am not an attorney?
23. How come my password doesn't work?
24. After I select my PDF document and click 'Next', how come the system just hangs?
25. What case number do I use on the Training Database?
26. My Adobe PDF documents are taking a very long time to upload. What could be the problem?
27. Where can I obtain the necessary forms for filing bankruptcy and Proof of Claims?
28. What are the current filing fees for filing bankruptcy?
29. How do I find out who is the trustee assigned to a case?
30. Ho do I get an Interpreter?
1. How do I create a PDF file? When Adobe Acrobat is installed, it will create the Adobe PDF writer/printer. 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.
2. Why are my PDF documents blank when I print them? It's possible you will need to install a postscript print driver. These drivers are available from your printer manufacturer's web-site.
3. When I print my PDF document, it is a mirror image or blank. Begin to print the document and while in the Print window, click the Advanced button. Check the box "Print as image". In the future, you may want to turn this setting off because it can slow down a large print job.
4. When I print a PDF document, the Judges signature does not print. When you print the document and the print dialog box pops up, click the drop down next to the Print What: box & choose to print Document and Comments.
5. I get an error message when trying to view a PDF document. "Error reading linearized hint data" OR "The instruction at "0x006153ee" referenced memory at "0x00000004". The memory could not be "read". Click OK to terminate the program. Click on CANCEL to debug the program. The instruction number and memory number may not be the same as your error but the fix should work on all machines. This will also fix problems with blank PDF pages in Internet Explorer.
Open Adobe Acrobat 6.0. Choose Edit--Preferences. Click the Internet options on the left and uncheck the box that says Allow fast web view.
for Adobe Acrobat 5.0. Choose Edit--Preferences--General. Choose the category Options. Uncheck the box labeled "Allow Fast Web View".
For Adobe Acrobat 4.0. Choose File--Preferences--General. Uncheck the box that reads "Web Browser Integration". By deselecting this option, the Adobe document will open in Adobe Reader instead of opening in your Browser.
6. I get multiple screens for 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 files. You will need to name these files separately (e.g. Debtorname1, debtorname2, etc.). Once you have all the PDF files, you can either go into Adobe Exchange, open the petition PDF file, click on Document, Insert pages, and insert each file into the petition PDF file OR when you file the case uncheck the 'last document' box when you attach the PDF petition file, and then browse and attach each schedule when you docket the lead event - don't forget to check the 'last document' box when you're attaching the last PDF file.
7. Why do I get second login screen after I've already logged into ECF? This is the PACER login screen that you get whenever you request a report or document from a case. The first time you login, click the box that says 'make this my default login' and you shouldn't have to login repeatedly.
8. How do I create a creditor matrix text file? You can find instructions here.
9. Why do I get the Site Certification pages? The first time you go into the ECF site, you'll get a series of Site Certificate pages, letting you know that the court is encrypting the date while you're signed on to ECF. On the third screen, you'll have an opportunity to check a box that says accept this certificate forever - if you check this box these screens will not come up again. Simply click on next, finish and finally continue on the last screen. You will always get the final screen to notify you of the certificate, click on continue to proceed.
10. When I print an image from ECF, the right edge gets cut off. After you click the print icon, 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.
11. I'm trying to docket an event and it tells me that this transaction has already been posted, but I look on the docket and it's not there. Probably what has happened is that you docketed an event for a case, and then clicked on the browser back button a few times to get to a point where you could enter another case number and then docketed another event. By clicking the back button, instead of clicking on 'Bankruptcy Events' you're keeping the information pulled for the last case you docketed. AS long as you click on the main item instead of clicking on Back 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.
12. When I query a case in ECF, it gives me the previous case I looked at instead. Check your Cache settings in Netscape. The verify documents entry should have the 'once per session' or 'every time' entry checked, but not the 'never' entry. In Netscape 4 this can be found by clicking on Edit, Preferences, Advanced, Cache. The Netscape default of 'once per session' will work fine.
13. I'm getting an invalid usercode or password message and I know I'm entering the correct password. Some common problems are that both the usercode and password message 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" http://ecf-train.areb(arwb).uscourts.gov while the live database is at: http://ecf.areb(arwb).uscourts.gov (without the train). Make sure you're using the proper password for the proper database - they are always different.
14. How do I change my address with the Court? In ECF, click on Utilities, Maintain Your ECF Account. You can change your address, phone, email preferences, login, and password on these screens. Local rules do require that you continue to send us a paper notice of any address changes as well.
15. When I get an email that something is filed, I can't view the document. What's wrong? Make sure you have version 4.6x or 4.7x of Netscape or version 5 of Internet Explorer. If you get a login screen when you request the document, make sure you give it your PACER not ECF login id and password. If all else fails, please call ECF Help Desk at 501-918-5590 or email askecf@areb.uscourts.gov.
16. I get a blank PDF file when printing a custom form in Bankruptcy 2000 - 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.
17. Printing a large docket sheet (over 50 pages) produces a 'Data Missing' error. You should run the report in smaller date ranges.
18. The page "times out" after 30 minutes of inactivity. Sometimes a large document can take longer than 30 minutes to transfer. The system registers inactivity during a document transfer. To avoid being timed out, you should open a new Web browser window which registers 'activity' and extends the 'time out' time by another 30 minutes. The second window should be minimized. Please note: Files over 3.0 MB are not allowed. Separate into smaller files.
19. I get an error when submitting an answer to a complaint. "No unanswered docket entries exist for the party on whose behalf you are filing." If the defendant was not entered at the time the complaint was uploaded, you will get the above error. To docket the answer you must select Bankruptcy Events, enter the AP number, then select Response, then select Other Answers, and refer to the Complaint from the list of documents. In the docket text you can type (Complaint) after the word Answer.
20. Can a document be deleted? No documents can be deleted (or modified) in the ECF system. If an attorney submits the wrong document he must submit the correct document and insert the word "Amend" in the docket text. You can also optionally refer back to the incorrect document (using the related document screen), when you submit the amended document.
21. Can the docket text be modified? The docket text can be modified by court users only.
22. Can I get a password if I am not an attorney? The live system is restricted to attorneys. Passwords can be issued to other users for the training database. Registration forms for both the training database and the live database can be found on our Getting Started Page.
23. How come my password doesn't work? Most often, the user is trying to use their training login and password on the live system or vise versa. Each system has it's own set of login names and passwords. You are typing in UPPER CASE. All login names and passwords are lower-case. If you use a browser other than Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator you may receive a window stating a Security Violation, contact your Systems Admin. Please see our section on System Requirements.
24. After I select my PDF document and click 'Next', how come the system just hangs? Unfortunately, the system does not give the user any indication that the document is being transferred. If you typically only file short documents you may get confused the first time you file a large document and it appears your session is hung. Be patient. Please note: Files over 3.0 mb in size are not allowed.
25. What case number do I use on the Training Database? Users of the training database are often confused when they can't use 'live' case numbers for training. They can run the 'Cases' report from the Reports menu to get a list of all training database cases.
26. My Adobe PDF documents are taking a very long time to upload. What could be the problem? It is possible that the documents have been scanned incorrectly before being converted to a PDF document. Please read these scanning guidelines.
27. Where can I obtain the necessary forms for filing bankruptcy and Proof of Claims? The Court cannot supply forms. Forms are available from office supply stores or legal stationery stores. Forms are also available for printing by clicking here: See Official Bankruptcy Forms
28. What are the current filing fees for filing bankruptcy? See Fee Schedule: Fee Schedule.
29. How do I find out who is the trustee assigned to a case? You may obtain the trustee;s name by visiting the clerk's offices, or through the Voice Case Information System (VCIS). The VCIS telephone numbers is: 1-800-891-6741.
30. Ho do I get an Interpreter? Debtor(s) who need an interpreter for a sec. 341 meeting of creditors should contact the U.S. Trustee at (501) 324-7357.
If your question was not answered here, please contact the CM/ECF Help Desk in Little Rock 918-5590, outside of Little Rock 866-497-9068 or you can e-mail our help desk at AskECF@areb.uscourts.gov