PRB: Errors Opening Word Documents or Excel Workbooks With IE

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When opening a Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word document with Internet Explorer, you may receive an error message that the files Temporary.xls, Internet.xls, Temporary.doc, or Internet.doc could not be opened.

CAUSE

When Internet Explorer downloads a file, it places it in a temporary directory, which is usually named "Temporary Internet Files." When you open the file, Internet Explorer will launch the application associated with the file's extension, and pass that application the full path and filename of the file. For example, for an .xls file, Internet Explorer might launch Excel.exe as follows:

C:\>Excel.exe C:\WINNT\PROFILES\user\Temporary Internet Files\85IFCTQN\page.xls

The problem occurs with path and filenames that contain spaces. The target application sees this as multiple parameters. For the example above, Excel thinks you want to open the three files "C:\WINNT\PROFILES\user\Temporary.xls," "Internet.xls," and "Files\85IFCTQN\page.xls"

RESOLUTION

Change your Internet Explorer "Temporary Internet Files" directory so that it doesn't contain spaces. You can specify a new directory in your Internet Control Panel applet by clicking the Settings button on the General tab.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in Internet Explorer 4.01.

Additional query words: mime type asp http vnd

Keywords          : kbExcel kbIE400bug kbWord kbIE500betabug kbGrpDSO 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.01,97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: February 20, 1999