Plugins like Excel and Acrobat--how to force New Window?

[jsteph]

Is there a browser setting to force any page that links to a .pdf or .xls file to open that in a *new* window, and not the IE window?

The problem is that the IE window is 'converted' to 'look like' Excel or Acrobat. What happens is that when I'm done looking at the data, I close the window--of course closing IE and all of my back-button history is now gone. Monumentally frustrating.

Is there a solution for this, aside from the Marxist (Groucho, that is) "Don't do that"?
--Jim

 

[electronicsfreak]

Not sure if this will work but id give it a try. Go to tools, the internet options, then click advanced tab. Uncheck the box that says enable 3rd party browser extensions. This might disable them or it might force to open in the things itself, you will have to restart after you adjust this setting. Anyways if it doesnt work look around in there as you might find something.

 

[smah]

You can make a particular file type prompt you to open or save, which might give you the behavior that you want. To do this, open Windows Explorer. Go to Tools, Folder Options, File Types tab. Scroll down and select the appropriate file type, Advanced button, and deselect the 'Confirm open after download' checkbox. Now when prompted to open or save, I think that if you choose 'open', it will open with Excel instead of the IE plugin.

The 'Browse in the same window' checkbox in that same Advanced dialog may also give you the behavior that you want, but might also give you some behavior that you don't want. With excel for example, if you have multiple workbooks open, I think they will all be seperate instances of excel instead of the default behavior where they're all open within the exel instance.