Hardware-Software Questions

• What software and hardware do I need to use ECF?
  Please see the following hardware/software list for basic requirements.
  
  
• Is it true that the only way to make a document into .pdf format is by using a scanner?
  No. In fact, the vast majority of documents that you will be filing can be easily converted to .pdf format without scanning. Any document that you create on your computer can be converted to a .pdf by your computer as long as you have the .pdf writer software installed and configured properly.
  
  
• Every time I resize my browser window I get an error and get logged out. This only appears to happen when I am in CM/ECF. Why is it logging me out?
  You are probably using Netscape 4 as your web browser. Unfortunately in Netscape 4 when you resize your browser window, it also refreshes the page. This is fine on other websites but CM/ECF uses frames and defaults to a login page, which also logs you out. So when you resize your browser in Netscape, it refreshes the login page and logs you out. This appears to be fixed in the newer versions of Netscape, and appears to work well in Internet Explorer. ECF has not been tested with Netscape version 7. You can find previous versions of Netscape at http://wp.netscape.com/download/archive.html
  
  
• How do I save a writable form from the Court's website?
  You do need to use the full writer version of your .pdf software, not just the reader version in order to use and save these writable forms in an electronic filing. If you only have reader software, you can still pull up the form, fill it out then print it out to scan it as a .pdf and file it electronically, or to file over-the-counter, if you have a waiver from e-filing.
  • Access 'Forms' from the Court's website: http://www.nywb.uscourts.gov
  • Click on the desired writable form from the list
  • Complete all fields on the writable .pdf form. Important to e-filers! Remember to sign the document using /s/ signer's name.
  • Click on the 'Save a copy of the file' icon in the Adobe Acrobat menu bar. The 'Save a Copy' window appears.
  • Change the 'Save in' field to the folder in which you wish to save the .pdf file.
  • Name your .pdf file in the 'File Name' field.
  • Verify that PDF Files (*.pdf) is selected in the 'Save as type' field.
  • Click on the 'Save' button.