Problem with downloading Word doc files and rtf files through browser

[John Morgan]

I am using the following link to download a file of about 50k

<a target= "_blank"
href="http://www.bsecs.org.u k/ExecDocs/documentStore/elfridaWord.doc ">open
file</a>

If I save the file to hard disk there is no problem/

if, in response to the menu which appears before downloading, I opt to
open the doc file immediately then I get a problem.

The text in the doc file opens alright in the browser window (though
I notice that the browser icon in the bottom task bar is depicted in a
sort of greyed out manner). If I close the window the browser icon
does not disappear from the the task bar though the window itself
closes. However after it has done so my dial up connection is slow to
non existent and any other browser windows open will not respond to
clicking on any hyperlinss and will not refresh. Its as if the window
which displayed the Word doc is somehow still claiming all the
resources.

When I convert the same doc to a text file and download using a
similar link everything works properly with the browser window closing
and disappearing from the task bar as normal.

I would be grateful for some help on this eg should I be adding some
attribute or other to the above hyperlink ?

If you wish to experience the problem try opening the file titled
"Testing one word file name as doc file" on

http://www.bsecs.org.uk/docsComm/docSearch.aspx

Best wishes, John Morgan

[Dave Patton]

John Morgan <jf*@XXwoodland er.co.uk> wrote in
news:24******** *************** *********@4ax.c om:

I am using the following link to download a file of about 50k

<a target= "_blank"
That's a bad idea. Don't try and force a new browser
window on your site visitors.
href="http://www.bsecs.org.u k/ExecDocs/documentStore/elfridaWord.doc ">o
pen file</a>

If I save the file to hard disk there is no problem/

if, in response to the menu which appears before downloading
No such "menu" on my system - you are serving that file
with the header "Content-Type: application/msword", and
my browser just prompts me for where I want to save it.
If you wish to experience the problem try opening the file titled
"Testing one word file name as doc file" on

http://www.bsecs.org.uk/docsComm/docSearch.aspx

No such text on that page when I looked.

--
Dave Patton
Canadian Coordinator, Degree Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org/
My website: http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/

[John Morgan]

Thanks David,

Apologies, the page is correct as :
http://www.bsecs.org.uk/docsComm/docSearch.aspx

however the part I had in mind is hidden until you search for it.

On the second drop down menu select 'BSECS Conference papers 2005'
and click on the Search. button.

In the list that appears try opening the file link associated with
the title
"Testing one word file name as doc file"

No such "menu" on my system < I'm running Explorer 6.0 on Windows XP and the menu which opens
offers the choice of opening the file or saving it.

I take your point about forcing a new browser window .

By the way I reached the conclusion that it was something to do with
the html rather than my own Installed Word because I tried the
download on another computer and got the same problem.
Thanks for your help,

John Morgan
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 16:48:38 GMT, Dave Patton <sp**@trap.inva lid>
wrote:
John Morgan <jf*@XXwoodland er.co.uk> wrote in
news:24******* *************** **********@4ax. com:

I am using the following link to download a file of about 50k

<a target= "_blank"

That's a bad idea. Don't try and force a new browser
window on your site visitors.

href="http://www.bsecs.org.u k/ExecDocs/documentStore/elfridaWord.doc ">o
pen file</a>

If I save the file to hard disk there is no problem/

if, in response to the menu which appears before downloading

No such "menu" on my system - you are serving that file
with the header "Content-Type: application/msword", and
my browser just prompts me for where I want to save it.

If you wish to experience the problem try opening the file titled
"Testing one word file name as doc file" on

http://www.bsecs.org.uk/docsComm/docSearch.aspx

No such text on that page when I looked.

[Dan]

Dave Patton wrote:

John Morgan <jf*@XXwoodland er.co.uk> wrote in
news:24******** *************** *********@4ax.c om:

I am using the following link to download a file of about 50k

<a target= "_blank"

That's a bad idea. Don't try and force a new browser
window on your site visitors.

And when the target document is something other than HTML, it's an even
worse idea; in some cases, a browser will handle such things by
launching an external application rather than displaying them inline,
so that an attempt to open an extra browser window by a target
attribute will result in a useless empty browser opening before the
document opens in yet another window. (That's what the Mozilla Suite
does for me in such cases, or at least it would if I hadn't configured
it to reject new-window targets.)

--
Dan

[Lachlan Hunt]

John Morgan wrote:

I'm running Explorer 6.0 on Windows XP and the menu which opens
offers the choice of opening the file or saving it.
Have you considered switching to a more secure and standards compliant
browser? It will certainly help when writing standards compliant markup
and css.
By the way I reached the conclusion that it was something to do with
the html rather than my own Installed Word because I tried the
download on another computer and got the same problem.

HTML does not contain any instructions for *how* files should be
downloaded or opened, it only contains information about what the file
is that is being downloaded, such as it's URI, MIME type and/or language
(if you've included the applicable attributes). But HTML does not, and
must not ever attempt describe the mechanics used by users to access the
resources. That is why the target attribute is a bad idea and also why
any such problem encountered must be regarding your software configuration.

--
Lachlan Hunt
http://lachy.id.au/
http://GetFirefox.com/ Rediscover the Web
http://SpreadFirefox.com/ Igniting the Web

[John Morgan]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I have taken out the target attribute and still have problems.

iI suppose I will have to try and work through all the possibilities
of system configuration, browser etc..

I am beginning to wonder whether it has anything to do with my
connection. I am on dial up and the connection seems to have been slow
of late,

Best wishes, John Morgan

On 25 Jan 2005 14:27:45 -0800, "Dan" <da*@tobias.nam e> wrote:

Dave Patton wrote:

John Morgan <jf*@XXwoodland er.co.uk> wrote in
news:24******** *************** *********@4ax.c om:

> I am using the following link to download a file of about 50k
>
><a target= "_blank"

That's a bad idea. Don't try and force a new browser
window on your site visitors.

And when the target document is something other than HTML, it's an even
worse idea; in some cases, a browser will handle such things by
launching an external application rather than displaying them inline,
so that an attempt to open an extra browser window by a target
attribute will result in a useless empty browser opening before the
document opens in yet another window. (That's what the Mozilla Suite
does for me in such cases, or at least it would if I hadn't configured
it to reject new-window targets.)