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FIX: Content-Disposition Attachment Header Does Not Save File

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Article ID:279667
Last Review:May 3, 2007
Revision:5.1
This article was previously published under Q279667
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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

1.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>
2.Add the HTML Response Headers for the file by using your Web Server software:
Content-Type = application/download
Content-Disposition = attachment; filename=test.txt
3.In Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1, navigate to this new page.
4.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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Keywords: 
kbbug kbfix kbnavigation kbolehyperlink KB279667

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