Problem opening Excel files from FTP server

Hi,

I have created an application that upload files to FTP server and get a list of
files from specific folders on FTP server. These list of files has a
corresponding href link to FTP server (the UserID and Pwd is included in the
link e.g.
ftp://userID:Pws@10..../CFDReports/DailyReports/20060510/ClientEquity_20060510.x
ls) but everytime I click on the link, I'm still being prompted by the FTP Log
On window. When I clicked 'Cancel', the file will be open but there will be a
prompt saying: Microsoft Excel cannot access the file
'ftp://.../CFDReports/DailyReports/20060510/ClientEquity_20060510.xls' There are
several possible reasons:

The file name or path name does not exist
The file you're trying to open is used by another program. Close the document in
the other program, and try again.
The name of the workbook you're trying to save is the same as the name of
another document that is read-only. Try saving the workbook with a different
name.

I've search for this problem, and I found out that this is a problem with any
Office 2003 documents opened in IE6 and there is a hotfix available. But the I'm
using Office 2000 and IE6 SP2. I've search for an updated service pack for IE6
or any hotfix for Office 2000 that will correct this problem, but I couldn't
find anything.

The userID and pwd I've used in href link has sufficient permission on the
folder where the files are located in FTP server. Also, I can open any PDF files
without any problems. I'm only encountering this problem when opening an excel
file.

Has anyone of you encountered this problem? Please, please if you know of any
solution, let me know ASAP.

Thanks so much!

rei

Mm.. what's the status code in IIS FTP log file? 550?

and firefox works?

Hi qbernard,

Thank you for replying.

The log file is this:
02:38:56 10.107.70.75 [16]USER anonymous 331
02:38:56 10.107.70.75 [16]PASS IEUser@ 530
02:38:56 10.107.70.75 [17]USER anonymous 331
02:38:56 10.107.70.75 [17]PASS IEUser@ 530

I don't allow anonymous login in FTP. And am passing the UserID and Pwd in the
ftp link, how come it's still using anonymous login? Also, I don't send any
commands to FTP when user clicks the link. I just basically have a page which
has a list of file names with a corresponding FTP link, and file should be open
when user clicks the link.

Sorry, but I don't have firefox installed. We're only using IE here.

thanks again!

Ok. the log is telling few connections attempt on anonymous login but failed of
coz. And I don't see the request for your username:password link at all. is this
the complete log?

The reason I want you to test FF because it looks like IE issue to me. IIS FTP
is working fine. IE is not a decent ftp client and I remembered I saw similar
problem from other users, whereby anonymous download sometime works but not
always.

Basically, this is the complete round log. the first two lines are the commands
I sent for UserID and Password to display the list of files from FTP server. The
next two lines, is the FTP sending the file to me after I clicked the FTP link.
And the last four lines are another requests for a UserID and Password. As to
why it was logged twice, I don't know. But, yeah there was no request for the
username:password that I sent in the FTP link. But then, I just read that IE no
longer supports the sending of username:password in the URL link. So, I guess
that explains why. 

06:49:51 10.107.70.75 [42]USER cfdreports 331
06:49:51 10.107.70.75 [42]PASS - 230
06:49:51 10.107.70.75 [42]sent
/CFDReports/DailyReports/20060516/ClientEquity_20060516.xls 226
06:49:51 10.107.70.75 [42]sent
/CFDReports/DailyReports/20060516/ClientEquity_20060516.xls 226
06:49:52 10.107.70.75 [43]USER anonymous 331
06:49:52 10.107.70.75 [43]PASS IEUser@ 530
06:49:52 10.107.70.75 [44]USER anonymous 331
06:49:52 10.107.70.75 [44]PASS IEUser@ 530

But when I open a PDF file, the log only shows this:
07:07:55 10.107.70.75 [42]sent
/CFDReports/DailyReports/20060516/FundCall_20060516.pdf 226
07:07:55 10.107.70.75 [42]sent
/CFDReports/DailyReports/20060516/FundCall_20060516.pdf 226

there's no request for a UserID and Password. Maybe because, by default, PDF is
read-only unlike excel file.

So, I guess it's a problem of Excel on IE OR IE on Excel. Whichever, IT IS a
microsoft problem. I already have an inkling that it might be an IE/Excel
problem. But I was hoping that there's more to it than that... Oh, well... I
guess I just have to find some other way to open the file. If only my PM would
agree to download the file first to the web server and open it through HTTP. 
Another, Oh well...

Thanks for bearing with me bernard :)