Filing documents in the the court's electronic filing system requires the following:

• A personal computer running a standard platform such as Windows or Macintosh OS.
• An internet connection.
• A web browser. Generally the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Safari work, but try another browser if the one you are using is not working.
• A PDF-compatible word processing program, such as Microsoft Word.
• Software to convert documents from a word processor to portable document format (PDF), such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF-Writer software.
• A document scanner if you need to create PDF files of paper documents you wish to file in CM/ECF.
• An application for viewing PDF files, e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available for free.
• A PACER account with electronic filing access.

What is Portable Document Format (aka PDF file format)?

A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a universal file format that preserves the layout, fonts, and images of any source document, making it look the same everywhere, regardless of software, hardware, or operating system. It is ideal for sharing, viewing, and printing electronic documents.The CM/ECF (Electronic Case Filing) system will only accept PDF documents for filing. 

Common Methods to create PDFs

From Applications (Word, Excel, etc.) Some applications can convert files to PDF by using save as or printing functions. 

• Use the File > Save As or File > Export menu to select PDF as the format.
• Use the Print dialog (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P) and choose "Microsoft Print to PDF," "Save as PDF," or a similar PDF option.

Best practices for converting a document in another program to PDF include:

• Only use standard or common TrueType or OpenType fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, Garamond. Using other fonts may result in your document looking different than the original. Use of other fonts can also increase the PDF file size.
• Avoid special characters, such as bullets, checkboxes and other symbols. These characters may not be viewed correctly on certain computers and can increase the PDF file size.

From Scanners - Use scanner software or Adobe Acrobat's "Create PDF" tool to scan directly into a PDF. When a document includes printouts from multiple sources or charts and/or graphs, it may be easiest to use a scanner to create the PDF file.

Best practices for scanning to PDF include:

• Scan in black and white mode only. Do not scan in color or grayscale. This will result in drastically larger-sized files.
• Scan at 300 dpi (dots per square inch). This will ensure the best compromise between good document image quality and file size.
• Do not OCR (Optical Character Recognition) the scanned document. This may allow the document to have searchable text, but it will result in very large file sizes.

How do I make sure that my PDF's will work with CM/ECF (the electronic filing system)?

By following these suggestions, you can ensure that your document will be compatible with the CM/ECF system:

• There is a 35MB file size limit in CM/ECF. If your PDF file exceeds this limit, then it may need to be split into multiple files.
• All PDF pages must be 8 and 1/2 inches in size exactly. Other file sizes may be incompatible with CM/ECF.
• Follow the guidelines for scanning or converting your documents into PDF correctly.
• Once the PDF is created, do not add or modify it in any way. Such modifications may be incompatible with CM/ECF.

Which browsers work with CM/ECF?

Generally the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Safari work, but try another browser if the one you are using is not working. Always use the latest versions and ensure your browser supports 256-bit encryption and is Java-enabled for optimal performance.

The PACER website provides FAQs, documentation, learning aids, and how to videos:

• Help Page
• How to use PACER
• How to use CM/ECF

Hands-on training can be provided to attorneys and support staff by local SDTX employees. You can request hands-on training by sending an email to cmecf_training@txs.uscourts.gov. Please include as many details as possible about your training request in the email.