Force downloading of a file - do not open!

Brain101 · 9 Mar 2006 at 11:12

I want to place a button in an html form to download an XML file; however internet exploerer keeps trying to open it in IE instead of saving to disk. Any idea how to force it to save?

Cheers!

<form>
<input type="button" onclick="window.open('http://www.mysite.co.uk/results.xml')" value="download" name="downloadResults">

Visage · 9 Mar 2006 at 11:46

Brain101 said:
I want to place a button in an html form to download an XML file; however internet exploerer keeps trying to open it in IE instead of saving to disk. Any idea how to force it to save?

Cheers!

<form>
<input type="button" onclick="window.open('http://www.mysite.co.uk/results.xml')" value="download" name="downloadResults">

Isnt that a result of having xml files associated with IE?

Try going to an explorer window, going Tools, Folder options, File types, and deleting the xml entry.

Dj_Jestar · 9 Mar 2006 at 11:55

You are opening a window with the address of an XML page.. so it opens it..

Write a small PHP script to send the XML document with the header for attachment, that way you'll get the download prompt.

pinkegobox · 9 Mar 2006 at 15:25

alternatively, make sure the instructions clearly say...

Right click on the link, and select "Save As..."

people will probably mess it up first time, but they'll go back to their page and realise their mistake.

Inquisitor · 9 Mar 2006 at 19:31

Visage said:
Isnt that a result of having xml files associated with IE?

Try going to an explorer window, going Tools, Folder options, File types, and deleting the xml entry.

He's after a solution that will work for everyone, regardless of file associations I think. Try what Dj_Jestar said, that should work

durbs · 11 Mar 2006 at 00:00

If you want to force the save dialog box see:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q260519/