GENERAL INFO.	A creditor matrix contains each creditor’s name and mailing address. The creditor matrix must be in an ASCII file format (usually a .txt or .scn file) before it can be uploaded into the CM/ECF creditor table. The names and addresses in the creditor table are used for the notices that the court still sends out via U.S. mail and also for Proofs of Claim when they are filed in a case. NOTE: If you prepared your petition using petition preparation software, you do not need to follow the instructions below because the software will convert the matrix to .txt or .scn format. NOTE: These instructions are for converting from WordPerfect or Word, but should work very similarly for other word processors. NOTE: Scanning a paper matrix is another method to convert to .txt format, but can be less reliable.
MATRIX SPECIFICATIONS	The name and address combined of each creditor must be 5 lines or less. Each line may contain no more than 40 characters including blanks. Names and addresses should be left justified (flush against the left margin with no leading blank spaces). NOTE: This requirement is different than BANCAP, the court’s previous computer program. Account numbers or “attention” lines should be placed on the second line of the name/address. City, state and ZIP code must be together on the last line. Nine digit ZIP codes must be typed with a hyphen separating the two groups of digits. All states must be two-letter abbreviations. Each creditor must be separated by at least one blank line. Do not include page numbers, headers, footers, etc.
STEP 1	Create the creditor list using a word processor. NOTE: If you use Window’s Notepad to create the matrix, it will already be in the proper .txt format so you can skip the remaining steps.
STEP 2	Open the creditor list file (if you created and closed it previously) by double clicking on the matrix file.
STEP 3	Click “File” in the Word toolbar or click “File” in the WordPerfect toolbar
STEP 4 (If matrix is a Word file)	The Word “File Menu” will display. Click “Save As” in the drop down list.
STEP 5 (If matrix is a Word file)	Click on the arrow next to the “Save as Type” field.
STEP 6 (If matrix is a Word file)	Select the file type “Text Only (*.txt)” by clicking on it with your mouse.
STEP 7 (If matrix is a Word file)	Word will save the file with the same name it had before except with a .txt extension on the end. If you want to change the name of the matrix you can type a different name into the “File Name” box. Click the button if you want to accept the name provided. NOTE: You may get a standard warning message next. This message is just warning you that unlike .pdf format which saves all your formatting and fonts, a .txt document will not necessarily save everything exactly the same, so standard fonts could be substituted if strange fonts were used, tabs or line breaks might occur in different locations than they were in the original document, etc. The Word “Title Bar” will change to reflect the name of the newly created document.
Alternate STEP 4 (If matrix is a WordPerfect file)	The WordPerfect “File Menu” will display. Click “Save As” in the drop down list.
Alternate STEP 5 (If matrix is a WordPerfect file)	Click the arrow in the “File Type” box. Select the file type “ASCII DOS Text” by clicking on it with your mouse. NOTE: Do NOT choose “ASCII DOS Delimited Text”.
Alternate STEP 6 (If matrix is a WordPerfect file)	WordPerfect Version 10 will save the file with the same name it had before except with a .txt extension on the end. With earlier versions, you may have to type in the name of the document. If you want to change the name of the matrix you can type a different name into the “File Name” box.
Alternate STEP 7 (If matrix is a WordPerfect file)	Click the button.
STEP 8	Close and exit the document.

	bugs you should be aware of:
MR #551	Matrices that are not left aligned upload with the end portions of the address lines cut off in the creditor record. This creates a creditor record that is incomplete for noticing. As the attorney for the debtor, you will get back any 341 Meeting Notices that were undeliverable and will have to deal with re-mailing same. The problem seems to be caused by blank characters that precede the address.