2003 BUG: Opening XMLSS stream from IE a second time

[Luther Miller]

I've written an HTTP Handler (ASP.NET) that returns a stream of XMLSS.

E.g., you hit a link in IE and then you get a pop-up to either save or
open MyFile.xls ...

When you hit Open the first time, it opens just fine in Excel.
If you hit the link a SECOND time while Excel still has the previous
file still open, THEN you get an error!

You get:

"Problems During Load"
"Problems came up in the following areas during load:"
"Workbook Setting"
"The file cannot be opened because of errors. Errors are listed in:
C:\..."

The contents of the log file are:

XML ERROR in Workbook Setting
REASON: Too many tags
FILE: C:\Documents and Settings\testuser1\Local Settings\Temporary
Internet Files\Content.IE5\CHYJ4XEN\Test[1].xls
GROUP: Workbook
TAG: Worksheet
ATTRIB: Name
VALUE: Summary

XML ERROR in Workbook Setting
REASON: Too many tags
FILE: C:\Documents and Settings\testuser1\Local Settings\Temporary
Internet Files\Content.IE5\CHYJ4XEN\Test[1].xls
GROUP: Workbook
TAG: Worksheet
ATTRIB: Name
VALUE: Details


The XML is well-formed and conforms to XMLSS. In fact, the exact same
XMLSS is returned each time you hit this link (during this test), so
it makes no sense that the first time it opens and the second time it
does not.

If, instead of leaving the first workbook open, you close it, then you
can open it a second time without any problems at all.

Also, you can save it with either an XML or XLS extension and open
with Excel just fine.

So, this would appear to be a bug in Excel 2003.

(I haven't tested this is 2002.)