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 Posted by Philip Hallstrom on 06/16/34 11:14 
>> This is what I do to "force" excel docs to be downloaded... 
>> 
>> Header("Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-excel"); 
> 
>This tells the browser that it's an Excel file. 
> 
>> Header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=general-data.xls"); 
> 
>This tells Microsoft browsers (who I think made up all the stuff in this 
>line on their own, disregarding existing standards) to handle this file as 
>an "attachment" and to name it "general-data.xls" 
> 
>Now, I really don't know why their BROWSERS want to use the word 
>"attachment" (usually used in email) nor what that's supposed to mean, 
>but... 
> 
>This will most likely *FAIL* for older non Microsoft browsers, 
>particularly if the user has some kind of plug-in that allegedly can 
>"handle" MS Excel files. 
> 
>If you want to *FORCE* a download, the mime type 
>"application/octet-stream" *WILL* do that in an HTTP-compliant browser 
>(all of them). 
> 
>> I found that just using the content type itself wasn't enough... 
> 
>*WHICH* content type? 
 
Honestly, I don't remember.  I did it a couple of years ago and my memory  
is that the above was the only thing that guaranteed a pop up save dialog.  
Anything else and it would sometimes download, sometimes display inline,  
and sometimes open excel depending on the browser. 
 
I wasn't concerned with anything old at the time, so can't comment on  
that. 
 
Also, it might have something to do with the fact that the file I was  
downloading was just tab deliminited text not a true excel file with  
whatever file magic goes along with it... 
 
>You're better off, though, to force the URL to end in the filename you 
>want the user to use, as some browsers will not pay attention to the 
>"attachment" header. 
 
I definitely agree with you here... 
 
-philip
 
  
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