-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LfcFufdKdCbsEVlRA+nxalv1Mo5w2vPYEEWoKDwge+QS0tH5amQOWYkIBb6JgY3F
 ypbwi9dvaeCto38GjMMEnA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001169918-05-000001.txt : 20051219
<SEC-HEADER>0001169918-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20051219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051219125418
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001169918-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBERTS LEE D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001169918

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15997
		FILM NUMBER:		051271857

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3565 HARBOR BOULEVARD
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626-1420
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7143277673

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
</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>2005-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001169918</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBERTS LEE D</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2733</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>57267</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip C. Maynard, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----