How to Auto Run Downloaded Files in IE 9

Hi,

I am using IE9 Browser on a Windows 7 Professional Platform. I would like to enable IE9 to open up a downloaded file (in this case .doc / .docx ) file directly without asking me if I want to Run / Save / Cancell the download.

(As an example : I have a word document on a website. When I click on the link for the word document I want it to open up directly in Word 2007. Without any prompts coming from the IE 9 Browser about saving or opening the file).

Is there a way to do this ?

Thanks,
Christopher.

1- With regards to auto opening documents IE downloaded I'm not sure that's possible.

2- With regards to wanting IE to automatically open documents once they're downloaded I'm not sure that's wise move! - Security/virus Issues.

Anyway I think #1 is intentional to prevent #2

My two cents.

It is a good practice to first store any download and make a scan with the AV program. That takes a few seconds but can possibly save your bacon. I have seen a virus trail a download from reputable sites. Nothing is safe any more.

Thanks Sygnus21. However if we do need to over ride this security measure only for .doc and .docx files ... do you think it can be done ? If so how ? Registry value change ? ... Its just these two file types that I want an exception to be made for.

whs said:

It is a good practice to first store any download and make a scan with the AV program. That takes a few seconds but can possibly save your bacon. I have seen a virus trail a download from reputable sites. Nothing is safe any more.

Click to expand...

That's usually the way I do it

Anyway the OP is talking about a known document - but it's still risky as the document be compromised.

chrisisaac said:

Thanks Sygnus21. However if we do need to over ride this security measure only for .doc and .docx files ... do you think it can be done ? If so how ? Registry value change ? ... Its just these two file types that I want an exception to be made for.

Click to expand...

I don't think the feature you seek is possible in IE for security reasons. You really don't want programs automatically opening once downloaded. And I don't think there is/know of an overridding feature in IE to allow this, again, for security reasons.

I suppose there may be some third party apps but I don't know of any, nor would I use them if there were. Once again security.

Sorry.

I just checked IE's Options and didn't see anything like what you're looking to do, so no, it doesn't look like it's possible.

sygnus21 said:

whs said:

It is a good practice to first store any download and make a scan with the AV program. That takes a few seconds but can possibly save your bacon. I have seen a virus trail a download from reputable sites. Nothing is safe any more.

Click to expand...

That's usually the way I do it

Anyway the OP is talking about a known document - but it's still risky as the document be compromised.

Click to expand...

Anything coming from the web can be infected. I am really not paranoid about that, but the few seconds required to make a check are worth it.

It makes me laugh the way things have been changed so easily by saying security issue. Yes, this was not an issue for years.

I've a trusted website, Intranet, and now I want to let people download word document by one click. Till IE 8, they had an option to bypass this save, open, close dialog; at least they could control on when to see and when to not - by one check box.

At least there should be an option for the check box; for Intranet - TRUSTED??!!!

If it is PDF then it works like a charm. so now don't tell me for PDF there is no issue because it is not a Microsoft Product

I really don't know what to say as this is a non issue for me as it's something I would never allow, even if I know the file is safe.

Bottom line is I have no answer for your situation. Sorry.

And BTW PDF files are intentionally designed to do that as they more or less operate like a web pages at times.

Here's a question..... do other browsers allow for what you want to do??? I doubt it.

In the past there were a lot of security holes..... but progress and security has gotten a lot better.... and you're seeing some of those results now.

Sorry.

I have windows xp and internet explorer 6 and I want to know how to get internet explorer to do it. The thing is I'm not worried about security and here's why; I have an html page set as the desktop background and I have created a link in the page to different programs on the computer (ie: itunes, word, photoshop, and stuff like that), The problem I'm running into is whenever I click the link a dialog box asks if I want to run the program. Now I know there is no virus and since it's not coming from the net there is no chance of one piggy-backing, How can I do this?

This is very frustrating! We offer our clients a Report Writer option within our application. Prior to IE9, our users could click the output link and produce the requested report within a new window instantly. Now, the user must save the document, find the document, and then open it. I thought good development adhered to the CRUD principle - Create, Read, Update and Delete. Where is the option to DELETE the "save first" option?!?

Security Model is SHORT-SIGHTED!

With all due respect to those making the "it's for security reasons", I think you're all thinking too narrowly!

I'll admit, I DON'T want to "automatically open" ANY FILE (from EVERYWHERE) - THAT would be "dangerous".

BUT, just as one can establish "trusted sites", one SHOULD be able to specify "TRUSTED FILES from SPECIFIC SITES [domains]"!

As a SIMPLE example, I use Citrix (vpn) to connect to my office computer (from home). The ".ICA" files (FROM my company's Citrix farm) are 100% SAFE (as far as I'm concerned). I will NEVER, EVER, "Save as" - I will ALWAYS "Open" these .ICA's when they are presented to me.

YOU tell me, WHY should I have to SPECIFICALLY "Open" these files from a KNOWN (TRUSTED) source?

I'll tell you WHY... Because the "Security" dweebs, couldn't IMAGINE that people would be doing what I (and many others) are doing (blindly OPENING files from KNOWN/TRUSTED SITES). THEIR "Security Model" (and view of the world) is GREATLY (naively) LIMITED!

carlilelance said:

I'm interested in this as well. I'm not interested in opinions on whether this is safe/smart/etc. Either you can or you can't. Answer the question or don't post, please.

Click to expand...

First post ! How to win friends and influence people.

Having clicked a downloadable file you will given a chance to either save it or run it.

Cyclic,

Late to the party i know, but... though it was carlilelance's first post... I think it was valid. I think that most people that would take the time to register for this forum know enough to decide whether they should or should not auto run a downloaded file from a desired source. That said, I would rather have an answer to a question that I post than a lecture on what everyone else thinks is a bad idea, security issue or not. The question was valid and someone wanted to know HOW to do it not IF they should.

Has there been a resolution to the initial question?