when download file with docx extension, IE changes the .docx to .zip

[Bruce Sanderson]

I put two Word 2007 documents (using the docx file type) on my website at
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...8/OfficeProfessionalPlus2007ProductGuide.docx
(near the bottom of the page).

I found that when I use IE (6 or 7, Vista, XP, 2003) and click on the hyperlink the download dialog
opens, but the file extension is magically changed from docx to .zip.

Of course, one can change the extension in the download save location box, or after the file is
downloaded, but that is only a workaround.

I found (well actually a co-worker point me at) the page at
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/31497454/ie7-download-problem.aspx where this problem is
discussed, but no solution (e.g. hot fix or otherwise) is reported there. Apparently, this problem
only arises with IE - other browsers (e.g. Firefox) do not have this issue.

Is there a kb article, hotfix, or perhaps a registry setting change that will cure this incorrect
behaviour?

I've tried turning on the setting "Open files based on content, not file extension" but that made no
difference.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Just a thought: Could your security software be changing the extension?

The e-mail component of some security software is (or can be) configured
to automatically change the extension of a laundry list of file
extensions known to carry malicious payloads. As for why this doesn't
happen with non-Microsoft browsers, well, not all security software
supports non-Microsoft browsers.

 

[rob^_^]

Hi Bruce,

You provided a link to a MS download

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...8/OfficeProfessionalPlus2007ProductGuide.docx

Not your web page.

Sounds like a security setting. "Open files based on content not file
extension"

Regards.

 

[Jay Freedman]

I put two Word 2007 documents (using the docx file type) on my
website at
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...8/OfficeProfessionalPlus2007ProductGuide.docx
(near the bottom of the page).
I found that when I use IE (6 or 7, Vista, XP, 2003) and click on the
hyperlink the download dialog opens, but the file extension is
magically changed from docx to .zip.
Of course, one can change the extension in the download save location
box, or after the file is downloaded, but that is only a workaround.

I found (well actually a co-worker point me at) the page at
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/31497454/ie7-download-problem.aspx
where this problem is discussed, but no solution (e.g. hot fix or
otherwise) is reported there. Apparently, this problem only arises
with IE - other browsers (e.g. Firefox) do not have this issue.
Is there a kb article, hotfix, or perhaps a registry setting change
that will cure this incorrect behaviour?

I've tried turning on the setting "Open files based on content, not
file extension" but that made no difference.

You need to add the MIME types for the new file formats to your web server.
This post has a list of them:
http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162526.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

You're absolutely right! What a silly mistake!

Here's the link to my web page:

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/WindowsGeneralWeb/DomainAndActiveDirectory.htm

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

Thanks for your post. The only "security software" on this computer is that
from Microsoft.

I've also tried this on a brand new install of XP SP2 (IE 6) before any
"software" was installed (not even any Microsoft updates) and the problem
shows up there also, so I don't think this problem is caused by any
"security software".

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

Thank you for your post and the link.

The web server is provided by my ISP (shaw.ca) - I have absolutely no
control over it whatsoever - all I can do is upload content.

I understand that other web browsers (e.g. Firefox) don't have this problem,
so why does something have to be done to the web server since the problem
appears to be confined to IE?

I have never seen IE change the file extension for any other file that I've
downloaded - why would IE change the file extension for any file type
anyway?

If I click on the link to the file on my page, then select Open (instead of
download) the file opens in Word, although the file name in the Word 2007
title bar (top of the Word window) shows the file extension as .zip.

If I click on the link to the file on my page, then select Download, the
file extension shows as .zip (instead of docx).

When I connect to the web site using the Windows Vista ftp client, it tells
me that the file extension for the files is docx.

Jay, perhaps you could ask one of your Microsoft contacts about this issue.

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

[VanguardLH]

Bruce Sanderson wrote:

I put two Word 2007 documents (using the docx file type) on my website ...
http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/6/c/76c1ebc3-a2cc-47cf-a46f-88...
(near the bottom of the page).

I found that when I use IE (6 or 7, Vista, XP, 2003) and click on the h...
opens, but the file extension is magically changed from docx to .zip.

Of course, one can change the extension in the download save location b...
downloaded, but that is only a workaround.

I found (well actually a co-worker point me at) the page at
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/31497454/ie7-download-proble...
discussed, but no solution (e.g. hot fix or otherwise) is reported ther...
only arises with IE - other browsers (e.g. Firefox) do not have this is...

Is there a kb article, hotfix, or perhaps a registry setting change tha...
behaviour?

I've tried turning on the setting "Open files based on content, not fil...
difference.

Reduce the line-wrap (max line length) in OE. 128 characters is WAY TOO
LONG. Set to 76 characters, or less.

Have you searched Microsoft's support knowlegebase or otherwise
investigated what *ARE* .docs files? This is yet another new Microsoft
properietary document format that showed up in their Word 2007 that
isn't even compatible with prior versions of Word. Don't save in .docx
format. Save in the older .doc Microsoft proprietary format that
everyone can understand (which includes Microsoft products before Office
2007). Alternatively, you can install Microsoft's "Office Compatibility
Pack for 2007 Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats. Well,
that means YOU can read .docx files (if you don't have Word 2007) but
you can't guarantee that anyone else has that utility installed to read
your .docx files or they even use Word to read a .docx file although
lots of non-Microsoft products can read the older .doc format.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA100444731033.aspx?pid=CH100626291033
http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=5&Origin=HA100444731033

..docx is an XML-formatted document that is then compressed (using the
..zip algorithm) into a smaller file. That is probably why it appears as
a .zip file by any application that looks inside the file (to determine
filetype by *content*) rather than rely on its filetype (the filename's
extension).

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA100069351033.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA100444731033.aspx?pid=CH100626291033
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA102406831033.aspx?pid=CH101778931033

Don't use a document format that you or your recipients cannot decipher.

 

[rob^_^]

Hi Bruce,

Dan's post looks like its on the money.

Regards.

 

[VanguardLH]

Hi Bruce,

Dan's post looks like its on the money.

I'm not Bruce.
There was a post in this thread from someone named Dan?