-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IrNIvPoiOLugqgxBzKaASY0b0mzlF/4B00StTNjF7zvjYA75/9e4+xGHBnv4+T4J
 hgqMTKyv7Ru5/qaQ6+TGBg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001090094-06-000003.txt : 20060310
<SEC-HEADER>0001090094-06-000003.hdr.sgml : 20060310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060310190844
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001090094-06-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060309
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060310

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FILENET CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000706015
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN [7373]
		IRS NUMBER:				953757924
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3565 HARBOR BLVD
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7149663400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3565 HARBOR BLVD
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			926261420

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FILEX CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19830915

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ERCANBRACK RON L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001169928

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15997
		FILM NUMBER:		06680632

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3565 HARBOR BOULEVARD
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626-1420
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7143277673
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000706015</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FILENET CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FILE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001169928</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ERCANBRACK RON L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FILENET CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3565 HARBOR BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COSTA MESA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92626</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President/Exec VP WW Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a right to receive one (1) share of Issuer's Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Restricted Stock Units vest based upon achievement by the Issuer's of pre-established targeted financial performance goals for fiscal 2006, as certified by the Compensation Committee, and vesting is conditioned upon the Reporting Person's continued employment through the vesting date.  To the extent the Restricted Stock Units do not vest they are automatically forfeited.  The underlying securities are issuable upon or shortly following vesting, or, if elected by the Reporting Person, upon the Reporting Person's termination of service with the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip C. Maynard, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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