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. This information is used for traditional noticing by U.S. Mail and for entering Proof of Claim information, when a Proof of Claim is filed in a case. It is not used when choosing filers of pleadings. Creditors listed on the matrix do not receive “Notices of Electronic Filing” by e-mail. NOTE: If you prepared your petition using petition preparation software, you do not need to follow the instructions below because the case upload process will also upload the creditor matrix. See the separate instructions for “Bankruptcy Case Upload”. NOTE: As an attorney, you will only be able to upload a creditor matrix one time as part of the case opening process. Creditors added later will have to be by “Amendment to Schedules” and there will be a filing fee due. NOTE: Processing creditor matrices is limited to the menu item under Creditor Maintenance, there is no “batch” processing, so this limits the loading of creditors to one case at a time. If you filed the bankruptcy case using the “Open a BK Case” hyperlink, the steps set out below should be completed immediately after case opening.
STEPS PRIOR TO UPLOADING THE MATRIX	Follow the separate instructions for “Converting a Matrix to .txt Format” and for opening a bankruptcy case using the “Open a Bk Case” hyperlink.
HELP SCREENS	Help is available for most screens by clicking on the button. The help box will display describing the fields and what entry is required for the window you are currently viewing. Click on the button at the upper right hand corner of the screen or the button to close the help screen.
STEP 1	NOTE: You should already be logged in because these steps needs to be taken immediately after you complete the filing of the petition unless the petition was uploaded using the “Case Upload” hyperlink. Click on “Bankruptcy” in the blue menu bar at the top of the screen.
STEP 2	Click on “Creditor Maintenance” in the list of Bankruptcy Events.
STEP 3	The “Creditor Maintenance” Menu will display. Click on “Upload a creditor matrix file”.
STEP 4	The “Creditor Processing – Upload a File Method” screen will now display. It may contain the case number of the last case you have been using during the current login session. Leave the number if it is the correct case, or enter the correct case number (yy-nnnn), including the hyphen. NOTE: If you change the case number and make an error entering the new case number, the system will display the following message regarding the case number format. Click the button or the button and try entering the case number again. NOTE: You should normally be able to accept the default case number since it should be the same as the bankruptcy case you just finished opening.
STEP 5	Click the button.
STEP 6	The “Load Creditor Information” screen appears next. Follow the separate instructions for “Browsing For and Selecting the Correct .pdf Document” to find, open, review, and select the “Onassis Creditor Matrix” .txt image. NOTE: Even though the separate instructions are specifically for .pdf documents, since you change the “File Type” to “All Files”, your .txt files will show up also. So, you can simply right click on the .txt file that contains the creditors you wish to browse for, select, and upload. For the training case, the .txt documents will be on the local “c:/” drive. NOTE: At your law firm, the .txt documents may be stored on a network drive or on the “c:/” drive of a staff member’s computer.
STEP 7	The path of the document will now be inserted in the field next to the browse button. Click the button to continue uploading the creditor matrix.
WARNING MESSAGE	If you fail to select a creditor matrix and enter the path on the previous screen, a warning message, as such, will NOT display. However, as shown below, the following screen will show that you are about to enter “0” creditors.
STEP 8	The “Add Creditors” screen will now appear. Verify that the correct number of creditors is being added. Click the browser’s button and research the error if the total number of creditors entered is not the same as the total number of creditors on the submitted matrix.
STEP 9	Click the button to complete the upload.
CREDITORS RECEIPT SCREEN	The “Creditors Receipt” screen will display confirming the case number and the number of creditors added.
STEP 10	At this point, you could click on the hyperlink “Return to Creditor Maintenance Menu” to upload a creditor matrix for another bankruptcy case. If there are no other matrices to add, click on “Logout” or select another option on the main menu bar if you need to electronically file more pleadings.