Can't download recent xls file 1

[balin]

We have simple xls orderforms stored on our website and are trying to make it user friendly to down load them. The files are accessed through an ftp link on a simple webpage.

Some work stations will open the current version in their browser (or 'save target as') but some will open what seems to be an older cached version.

Is it a version IE issue? Seems to be IE 5 machines not IE 6 but havn't checked many. Checking newer file versions option set to 'automatic' for both.

Tried deleting cached files through IE Internet options.
Tried searching for the offending filename on the local machine. Even when there seems to be no cached files the browser opens an older version.

Any clues.

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

I've no idea why it is happening, but to fix it, try appending a random value to the URL using JS... something like:

<a href="ftp://ftp.somesite.com/foo/bar.xls" onclick="this.href = 'ftp://ftp.somesite.com/foo/bar.xls?randParam=' + new Date().getTime();">

Hope this helps,
Dan


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[balin]

Sorry to be slow to get back to you but i didn't get a response for so long I assumed forum users just don't know the answer or my question was really stupid.

Yep your solution worked. I still don't understand why I have a problem. It doesn't seem to be an IE version issue.

Eventually users do get the updated version but it takes a full 24hrs or more before their browsers see it as a new file. ?? I'd love to know the answer coz I'm not a code hound.

JON