Viewing SpreadsheetML Files

[SvA]

I started to experiment with SpreadsheetML files, an XML application, usually processed by Microsoft Excel.

When trying to view the file from Salamander, the Internet Explorer Viewer starts up and asks whether I want to open or download the file. When I say open, the spreadsheet displays in the viewer. In addition, on my first try, but not thereafter I got an Excel window with no document loaded. (I did not try to reboot to reproduce. maybe some background process was still running and preventing this superfluous excel window.)

I could neither close the viewer window, nor the excel window. Closing Salamander brougt up a message box asking wether salamander should force the unresponsive viewer window to close. Excel crashed after clicking around trying to find a working way to close it.

I was using Win XP SP2 and Office 2003.

On Vista Business with Office 2007, Salamander behaved basically the same. I did not get the empty Excel window (Excel wad loaded before) and I can't recall whether the viewer showed the spreadsheet or not. From memory, it did not, but I can't verify at the moment. Anyway, here also the viewer window could not be closed and the main salamander application had to force it to unload while terminating itself.

Edit: I forgot to tell you that I am using IE7 on Vista snd IE6 on XP.

[Jan Patera]

I started to experiment with SpreadsheetML files, an XML application, usually processed by Microsoft Excel.

When trying to view the file from Salamander, the Internet Explorer Viewer.
I forgot to tell you that I am using IE7 on Vista snd IE6 on XP.

So, if I understand it correctly, you have associtaed IEViewer plugin to these files (what's the extenstion of such files)? IEViewer then uses non-MSIE "plugin" to view such files, apparently Excel. Is the Excel window inside the IEViewer window or a standalone window?
Are you able to view your files in IE as such, not via IEViewer plugin? I am not sure if IE7 and Vista with Salamander have been tested properly yet, therefore I would stick with IE6 and XP for testing now, if possible.

[SvA]

So, if I understand it correctly, you have associtaed IEViewer plugin to these files (what's the extenstion of such files)?

The extension is .xml, so IEViewer is associated by default.

IEViewer then uses non-MSIE "plugin" to view such files, apparently Excel.

That's right.

Is the Excel window inside the IEViewer window or a standalone window?

It's inside the viewer window. One time I got an additional external Excel window, though with no document loaded.

Are you able to view your files in IE as such, not via IEViewer plugin?

There's no problem doing so. I'm able to view it in IEViewer also, I am just not able to close the window.

I am not sure if IE7 and Vista with Salamander have been tested properly yet, therefore I would stick with IE6 and XP for testing now, if possible.

I first experimented on Vista/IE7. After I run into problems, I crosschecked on XP/IE6 with exactly the same result.

To generate a file for testing yourself, use Save As in excel and save as XML Spreadsheet or whatever it is called in English, in German it is XML-Kalkulationstabelle (*.xml), but don't confuse it with XML Data (*.xml) which tries to save data as some kind of XML database table.

[Jan Patera]

To generate a file for testing yourself, use Save As in excel and save as XML Spreadsheet or whatever it is called in English, in German it is XML-Kalkulationstabelle (*.xml), but don't confuse it with XML Data (*.xml) which tries to save data as some kind of XML database table.

aha! I am now able to reproduce the problem - same config Off2K3, MSIE6, WinXP, but with small differences: The Excel window is a separate window, not inside the IEViewer window and Excel window can be closed with the Close icon or File/Exit menu.
Additional observations: opening .XLS in IEViewer also produces empty IEViewer wnd, but it can get closed.
opening such .XML in MSIE directly also opens a new MSIE window, but the original can be closed.
I am afraid it is a MS bug in MSIE or Excel...