FIX: Content-Disposition Attachment Header Does Not Save File

Retired KB Content Disclaimer

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q279667

SYMPTOMS

A Web server that uses the Content-disposition: attachment HTTP header to force a file download should prompt the user to open or save the file; however, in Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1), the user is prompted to open or save the HTML file instead.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, refer to the hotfix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

281119 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281119/EN-US/ ) Internet Explorer Saves HTML Content Instead of the Active Document

In addition, a fix for this problem is incorporated in Microsoft security bulletin MS01-015:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-015.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-015.mspx)

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WORKAROUND

There are several ways to work around this problem:

Bypass Content-disposition, and use either an ActiveX control or a Java applet to download files to disk.
Use the Save As command from the pop-up menu.
Use the Internet Explorer download behavior instead. (This is for text-based files only).
Use a window.showModalDialog of an HTML page that does a document.write of a hidden IFRAME with the source pointing to the file.

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

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MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create an HTML Page with an anchor tag that points to the file:

<HTML>
<BODY>
Click <a href=test.txt>here</a> to download file
</BODY>
</HTML>

Add the HTML Response Headers for the file by using your Web Server software:
Content-Type = application/download
Content-Disposition = attachment; filename=test.txt
In Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1, navigate to this new page.
Click the hyperlink to the file.

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REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

244757 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244757/EN-US/ ) HOWTO: Download a File Without Prompting

260519 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260519/EN-US/ ) HOWTO: Raise a File Download Dialog Box for a Known MIME Type

262042 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/262042/EN-US/ ) FIX: Content-Disposition: Attachment Saves Wrong Filename for Unknown Extension

267991 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/267991/EN-US/ ) FIX: Content-Disposition: Attachment Fails for Known Content Types

266305 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/266305/EN-US/ ) FIX: Canceling Multiple File Downloads on Large File Causes Internet Explorer to Stop Responding

For more information about download behavior, see the following MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms531417.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms531417.aspx)

For more information about developing Web-based solutions for Microsoft Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/ie/ (http://msdn.microsoft.com/ie/)

http://support.microsoft.com/iep (http://support.microsoft.com/iep)

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APPLIES TO

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5

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kbbug kbfix kbnavigation kbolehyperlink KB279667

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Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

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