downloaded excel file won't open

[pauloelias]

Version: 2004 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) Processor: Intel I can't immediately open downloaded excel files from a site using Firefox. When I try to do this, the file has an "mpl"extension and this message appears:

"Adobe Reader could not open 'viewatt(17).mpl' because it is either not a supported file type or because the file has been damaged (for example, it was sent as an email attachment and wasn't correctly decoded)."

However, I can open the file through Excel (2004 for mac, version 11.5.6) and if I first save the file adding an xls extension. Also, I don't have any problems when I use Safari.

Can someone recommend a way to solve this problem using Firefox? I would like to be able to open an excel file immediately, without the hastle of adding an xls extension to the file or going through the excel software.

 

[CyberTaz]

I think the reason for the difference in how the file is treated stems from
the facts that the files have not been posted properly on the site & that
Safari uses the OS X file associations whereas Firefox provides internal
overrides. Perhaps the manner in which the files have been posted is causing
FF to not recognize them as Excel files so it is attempting to display them
generically using Reader. If you choose to Save the file rather than open it
is it being saved with the .mpl extension? [*]

See if this will correct it...

Go into Firefox> Preferences - Applications, locate each listing for Excel
file types (there are at least 2) & set the Action to either save the file
automatically or specify Excel as the application to open them with.

If that doesn't correct it I'd suggest you contact Mozilla support as it
most likely to be a FF issue. I have no idea why FF would construe the file
as a .mpl in the first place other than how it's been handled on the posting
end ‹ especially since Safari seems to know what the proper association
should be. The .mpl format is generally used for 'media playist' files
generated from A/V apps, I believe.

[*] Another option might be to Get Info on one of the saved .mpl files & set
the Open With to Excel. Unfortunately, that not only encourages FF to
continue misinterpreting the file type but also that *any* other .mpl files
(legitimate or not) will attempt to be opened in Excel. Even if my
suggestion works I'd further recommend that you bring it up with Mozilla
support to see if there is a better fix.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[pauloelias]

" Go into Firefox> Preferences - Applications, locate each listing for Excel
file types (there are at least 2) & set the Action to either save the file
automatically or specify Excel as the application to open them with. "

Cybertaz, there were no excel files in my applications. Should I download them...from where?

 

[CyberTaz]

There should be no need to download anything. When you choose Applications
in the Firefox Preferences there should be a 'Content Type' column that list
an array of file types. I would expect that both 'Excel files' & 'XLSX
Files' would appear in that list. The adjacent column is captioned 'Action',
which is where you can click to specify how the file type on that row should
be handled. If you don't have what I'm describing you'll need to contact
Mozilla support to determine what needs to be done. Go to the FF Help menu.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac