This sounds like a MIME type setting issue. Each client machine has a 
series of settings called MIME types, stored inteh registry and in 
Windows Explorer that are handlers for different filetypes. I think 
that you will find a differenceinteh configuration for .xls format on 
these machines.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tzhang@h... [mailto:tzhang@h...]
> Sent: 23 March 2001 22:40
> To: html_code_clinic@p...
> Subject: [html_code_clinic] IE and Excel spread sheet
> 
> 
> Hi:
> 
> I have a link in my page to link to an Excel file like this:
> <a href='test.xls'>report</a>
> 
> when I click it in IE5, the excel file gets opened inside IE 
> window, while 
> I click it in IE5.5, the file get opened outside IE window as 
> a seperate 
> application.
> 
> Is this a browser version issue or some settings acturally 
> control this 
> behavior?  Are there any way to make it work consistantly?
> 
> Thanks!
>