A downloaded .xls file attachment is empty when you open the file by using Outlook Web Access on Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1

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SYMPTOMS

You use Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) 2007 to access a mailbox on a computer that is running Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1. When you download an .xls file attachment and then try to open the file, the downloaded file is empty.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs if the .xls file contains XML data. In Exchange Server 2007, if a file that contains XML data is attached to a message, the XML content in files is removed when you open or save the attachment by using OWA.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, install Update Rollup 6 for Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1.

For more information about Update Rollup 6 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1, see the following Exchange Help topic:

Description of Update Rollup 6 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=152555)

For more information about how to obtain the latest Exchange service pack or update rollup, see the following Exchange Help topic:

How to Obtain the Latest Service Pack or Update Rollup for Exchange 2007 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=152570)

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MORE INFORMATION

The hotfix provides a new option named "BypassOwaXmlAttachmentFiltering" in the "appSettings" section in the Web.Config file:

<appSettings>
..	
	<add key = "BypassOwaXmlAttachmentFiltering" value="true" />
..
</appSettings>

This file is in the following location:

Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\ClientAccess\Owa

The BypassOwaXmlAttachmentFiltering option lets you disable XML attachments.

Note If the value of the BypassOwaXmlAttachmentFiltering option is set to "true," you may see the XML context on the attachment.

Important You have to set the .xls file extension name in the Force Save list in the Direct File Access Setting page in the Exchange Management Console for the hotfix to work. To set a file type in the Force Save list, follow these steps.

In the Exchange Management Console, click Server Configuration, and then click Client Access.
In the action pane, under Outlook Web Access, click Properties.
Click either the Public Computer File Access tab or the Private Computer File Access tab.
Under Direct file access, select the check box next to Enable direct file access to let users download attachments.
To change the kinds of attachments that you want users to be able to access, click Customize next to Customize direct file access.
On the Direct File Access Settings page, click Force Save. Then, set the .xls file name extensions in the Enter the file extensions you want to force save, one at a time dialog box on the Force Save List page, and then click Add.
Click OK three times to save your settings.

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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Force Save list, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691004.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb676377(EXCHG.80).aspx)

For more information about how to manage public and private computer file access, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124232.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124232.aspx)

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

958881 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958881/ ) All HTML content in attachment files of messages is run through an HTML filter when you open or save the attachment by using Outlook Web Access (OWA)

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