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Abode Acrobat Support for Older Versions
While Acrobat 6 is the current version, documents created in this version can pose a problem for users with older versions of Acrobat. These users will receive the message "This file may contain newer information than this viewer cannot support. It may not open or display correctly..."
Users of Acrobat 5.0 have reported that they have been able to click OK and view documents created in version 6. There are problems, however, with additional pages and slow printing. To support users of older versions of Acrobat, the following steps are recommended:
 
  1. Open Acrobat 6.0 and selecte the "Advanced" menu option
  2. Click on "Acrobat Distiller"
  3. Click on "Settings"
  4. Click on "Edit Adobe PDF Settings"
  5. Click the "Compatibiilty" down arrow and select Acrobat 4.0
  6. Click Save
  
  If creating a PDF from a scanned document, make the following changes:  
 
  1. While in Acrobat 6.0, click the "Create PDF" button on the toolbar or select File->Create PDF from the menu.
  2. Select "From Scanner"
  3. Select the type of scanner you are using in the "Device" field
  4. Change the "Compatible With" field to Acrobat 4.0 and later
  5. Click "Scan"
  6. After the scan is complete, select "Reduce File Size" from the File menu option. (Do not select "Save" or "Save As" yet). Change the "Compatible With" field to Acrobat 4.0 and later.
  7. Save the scanned document.
  
Top Viewing Acrobat Documents in a Separate Window  
  By default, Acrobat is installed to display PDF documents in your browser. If you prefer to view documents in a separate window, change the following:
 
  1. Close your browser
  2. Open Acrobat
  3. Click "Edit" on the menu
  4. Click "Preferences"
  5. Select the "General" option
  6. Select "Options"
  7. Uncheck "Display PDF in Browser"
  8. Click OK
  9. Close Acrobat
   
Top Anti-Virus Protection
  E-mails with virus-infected attachments are becoming more prevalent. Some of these e-mails appear to have been sent by the Court when in fact they have not. The practice of sending e-mails under someone else's e-mail address is called "spoofing" and is a common practice among hackers. Please note that the Court does not send attachments with any filing notification. All e-mails generated by the Court contains links to documents. Do not open attachments that have been sent from the Court's e-mail address.
  It is essential that you have anti-virus software installed on each PC, laptop and server on your network. In addition, your software should be configured to automatically get the latest virus definitions and to run a virus scan daily.
   
Top AOL Users
  When you upgrade to AOL version 9.0, the AOL install may reset your anti-spam preferences. This change may prevent you from receiving the notice of electronic filing (NEF) and other ECF-related e-mails. To prevent the blocking of Court e-mails, verify that all e-mail addresses with the extension "@flmd.uscourts.gov" are included in your AOL address book. You should also check your spam inbox for Court-related e-mails before deleting items from this folder.
  AOL users should not use the AOL browser to access ECF since you will not be able to use all of the ECF features. Instead, make your Internet connection through AOL and then use Internet Explorer, Netscape or Mozilla to access ECF.
   
Top Browsers Supported
  When using Internet Explorer, make sure the following are set:
 
  1. Select "Tools" -> "Internet Options"
  2. On the "General" tab, select the Temporary Internet Files option and then "Settings"
  3. Select "check for newer versions of stored pages on every visit to the page" instead of "automatically" which is the default.
  4. On the "Advanced" tab under the Browsing section, uncheck "Reuse Windows for Launching Shortcuts". This option enables users to open another Internet Explorer session in another window instead of being redirected out of their ECF session.
  5. On the "Advanced" tab under the Security section, check "Empty Temporary Internet Folder When Browser is Closed".
  6. On the "Advanced" tab under the Security section, uncheck "Do Not Save Encrypted Pages to Disk"
  Mozilla Firefox 1.0
  Mozilla is a new open source browser available free at www.firefox.com. While not endorsed by the Court, ECF does work under this browser.
   
Top Filing How-To
 
  1. Create your documents and convert them to PDF.
  2. Scan all exhibits not in Word or WordPerfect and convert them to PDFs. Note: all files submitted to the Court must be no larger than 2mb each. You may need to split your files into small files as they are being created.
  3. To begin filing, login to www.flmd.uscourts.gov.
  4. Click on the menu for the type of case your are filing, either civil or criminal
  5. Select the most descriptive event that describes your case from the dropdown menu. Use the events in the Motion category only for filings that require a ruling by the Court. Documents such as Notice of Appearance should be filed using the appropriate event found in the Notices category. If there is not an exact match for the document you are filing, use the closest match.
  6. Select the party or parties for whom the document is being filed. To select more than one party, hold the Ctrl key down and click on each applicable party.
  7. When prompted to select and attach the PDF document(s), click "Browse" and locate the documents to be filed on your PC. Before sending, check the document one more time to be sure you have selected the correct document. Simply right click on the mouse, click "Open" and check the document. Then click "Yes" and "Next.
  8. If you have exhibits to file with your documents, click "Yes" when you are asked if there are attachments to file. Select "Browse" and locate the PDFs that should be filed. Again, verify each document is the correct one before filing.
  9. Now take a minute to further describe the attachments. From the drop down menu, select the "Type" of attachment. You can also type in the "Description" field additional comments about these attachments. When finished, click "Add to List".
  10. Continue to add attachments and the select "Next".
  11. You can further describe the document you are filing either from the drop down menu or in the description field. When complete, click "Next."
  12. You are at the last chance to cancel the filing page. Once "Next" is clicked, your filing has been made. To cancel the filing, simply click any button other than "Next".
  13. When your filing has been processed, you will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing. Your filing is not complete until you receive this notice.
  14. Save the NEF either electronically or in hardcopy with your client files. This NEF is your file stamp for this fiing.
  Viewing the Notice of Electronic Filing
 
  1. Enter your ECF username and password
  2. Minimize ECF and open your e-mail program to select the NEF sent by the Court.
  3. Single click on the link in the NEF. You will either be taken directly to your document or be prompted for your PACER username and password.
  4. To verify that you have not used your "one free look at the document", place your cursor over the hyperlinked document number in the NEF. Look at the bottom left corner of your browser. There will be a long string of numbers. If the word "MAGIC" is visible after the numbers, you have not used your free look.
  5. Your document will be available for viewing only for 14 days. Your one free look expires after 14 days.
   
Top Hotmail Users
  Be aware that access to the "one free look" of your document in the Notice of Electronic Filing might not be available through your Hotmail account. Until this issue is resolved, we suggest you try another e-mail provider.
   
Top PDF Creation Software
  While there are many commercially-available products on the market, we recommend either Adobe Acrobat Standard Version 6.0 or pdfFactory. If you currently own an older version of Acrobat, these versions will produce a document that can be e-filed.
   
Top System Requirements
 
  1. A PC or laptop running Windows or MacOS
  2. Anti-virus software installed on each PC, laptop and server on your network
  3. Word or WordPerfect
  4. PDF creation software such as Abode Acrobat or pdfFactory
  5. Internet e-mail
  6. Internet Explorer, Netscape or Mozilla
  7. A reliable Internet connection preferably DSL, cable or higher speed. Dial-up connections are not recommended.
  8. A scanner for all converting non-Word processor documents
   
  Notes
  » Effective November 1, 2004, everyone will have access to documents filed on or after that date in criminal cases. Prior to this date only the counsel of record has access to criminal case documents.
  » The rate to view documents and the docket sheet will increase from $0.07 to $0.08 per page effective January 1, 2005. There will still be a cap of $2.40 per document.

 
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