How to Auto Run Downloaded Files in IE 9

[chrisisaac]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

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.

 

[whs]

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.

 

[chrisisaac]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

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.

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.

 

[sygnus21]

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.

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.

 

[whs]

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.

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.

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.

 

[chrisisaac]

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

 

[sygnus21]

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.

 

[Werty]

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?

 

[crill777]

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?!?

 

[WardMD]

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!

 

[cyclic]

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.

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.

 

[iHaveEnables]

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?