Foo - opening files from a microsoft IE browser...

okay, we use a lot of .xml files and they are stored on a website. if you click on them, IE wants to open the file itself and since a style sheet isn't assigned, the file can't be displayed properly. I'd like all file extenstions with .xml to open in notepad or something like that. i can't figure out how to do this. and it must be through IE...that's what our company wants.

Anyone know?

In Windows Control Panel, select Folder Options, click on the File Type tab, and change the assocaited program for the .xml file extension.

...and I'm no tecchie!

not quite that easy. this is from a webpage. so i'm dealing with a http:// path that has the file name at the end. for example, if i'm connected to the internet through IE and click to open:

http://company/address/sample.xml

it will open in a new window and won't display correctly. if i'm offline and just in explorer, your method works fine for opening this files. thanks for the suggestion though.

Maybe you could try using OpenOffice Writer to open the file from the url. It has built in support for xml display if I remember correctly. You can include a hyperlink bar in the toolbars section.

thanks nick. i figured out that some of our editing programs can open a url, so i can grab the shortcut from the site and just paste it in to open. so that's at least a little easier.

we have a suite of tools we're supposed to be using and that is accessed through a citrix connection. the technique doesn't seem to work there, looks like there is a permissions issue tied to that. thanks for the suggestion though. i've spent too much time looking at this today.... :o

Can't you right click and save the file localy then open it with notepad? Just asking

I think he was shooting for "convenience" IE has stopped automatic downloads by default and its a PITA to bypass. I think that it can be done but I can't recall how.

You'll actually need to add a rule to the webserver, I think. You can add a line to the .htaccess file defining the .xml doctype as application/octet-stream and the browser will pop up a window asking you to save it or open with an external program whenever you click on a .xml file

Edit: Here's the actual line you need to add, I think (my syntax might be a little rusty, though, so doublecheck it)
AddType application/octet-stream xml
The first time you open one after adding this line, when you choose the external program, there ought to be a checkbox saying "always perform this action" or something similar... if you check it, notepad (or whatever program you choose) will autolaunch in the future.
/edit

Can't you right click and save the file localy then open it with notepad? Just asking

yeah, but with a whole slew of employees accessing the 100's of xml documents we have posted, the routein of saving locally becomes a headache.

thanks brokenrobot, that may be something better done by IT. for my knowledge though where exactly is the htaaccess file?

thanks brokenrobot, that may be something better done by IT. for my knowledge though where exactly is the htaaccess file?
It's on the server side
It relies on you running Apache
and I don't believe it will solve your problem :p