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CM/ECF PDF Functionality Information

Version 1.6 of District NextGen Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) includes modified functionality related to uploading and viewing PDF documents. In some instances, PDFs that were previously allowed to be uploaded will no longer be allowed to be uploaded in release 1.6 (and higher). 

PDF Content Criteria

The following list describes PDF content that will or will not be accepted by CM/ECF. If you try to upload a PDF with prohibited content, it will be rejected. The simplest way to address most PDF upload rejections is to flatten the PDF and then upload it. Instructions are provided in the following section for flattening a PDF.

REMINDER: Consult local guidelines regarding additional PDF and filing requirements. Some PDFs may be accepted by the system but then rejected by the court based on local requirements.

1) PDFs with the following content will be rejected: 

  • Does not comply with PDF format standards
  • Contains JavaScript
  • Encrypted or password-protected
  • Contains scripts which can launch an eternal application
  • Contains internal attachments
  • Contains audio and video content
  • Created with Mac OS X using a fillable form in the Safari browser
  • Created with Mac OS X using MS Word and selecting the option, “Best for printing”

2) PDFs with the following content will be accepted: 

  • Contains editable forms will be accepted by the system but may be rejected by court policy 
  • Contains hyperlinks to external web sites
  • Meets the PDF-A standard
  • Contains optical character recognition (OCR) meta-data
  • Comprised of scanned documents. NOTE: Local courts may stipulate acceptable dots-per-inch (dpi) standards. Please consult your local court’s PDF and filing guidelines.
  • Created with Mac OS X using a fillable form in the Chrome browser
  • Created with Mac OS X using MS Word and selecting the option, “Best for Electronic Distribution”

 

How to Flatten a PDF

The simplest way to address most PDF upload rejections is to flatten the PDF and then upload it. The following are a couple of ways you may be able to flatten a PDF. 

On Windows:

  1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat or another tool that lets you work with PDF documents.
  2. Print the PDF file to your PDF printer (File > Print > select Adobe PDF or another PDF printer listed in the drop-down list).
  3. Save the printed PDF and upload it for filing.

On Mac: 

  1. Open your PDF in Safari or another tool that lets you work with PDF documents. 
  2. Select File > Print.
  3. Select PDF > Save as PDF.