Netscape and Spreadsheet Files
Netscape can easily retrieve data in spreadsheet format from a web server and
then transfer control of the downloaded spreadsheet to Microsoft Excel or another
spreadsheet application. To customize your version of Netscape to properly handle
the spreadsheets available on this web site, follow the directions outlined below.
After completing these steps, you will only need to click on a hyperlink to a
spreadsheet to have Netscape transfer the spreadsheet file to your computer and
either automatically launch Microsoft Excel or save the file to your local disk.
Determining browser version 
To find out what version you are currently using, go to the "Help" option
on the Netscape browser toolbar and click on "About Communicator" or
"About Netscape". You will see a screen displaying the version
you have, i.e., "Netscape 3.0".
Netscape Navigator 3.0 or earlier
- Go to the Options pull-down menu and select General
Preferences...
- The Preferences dialog box contains a tabbed menu across the top. Click
on the Helpers tab.
- The Helper dialog box displays a list of the helper applications
you've already assigned, as well as boxes for making changes or adding a new
helper. Scroll through the list to see if you've already assigned a spreadsheet
Helper Application MIME type. Now you'll take one of two steps:
- If you have already set the MIME type
for Excel or another Windows/Mac-based spreadsheet application,
highlight the line for this MIME type. Check the following boxes, making
changes where necessary:
- The "File/MIME type" should be set to application.
- "Subtype" should equal x-excel.
- "File Extensions" should include xls,wks,wk1,wk3.
- If you want your spreadsheet application to automatically start up after you've
downloaded one of the spreadsheets, choose Launch the Application
under "Action". If you prefer to download and save the spreadsheet for viewing
at a later time, choose Save to Disk.
- Go to Step #4.
or
If you don't have a MIME type set
for Excel or another Windows/Mac-based spreadsheet application,
click the Create New Type... button.
-
For "Mime type", enter application. At
"Mime Sub Type", enter x-excel. Click
OK.
-
When you return to the Preferences dialog box, you will
notice that the MIME type and subtype you entered now appear on
the screen. Complete the "File Extensions" by typing xls,wks,wk1,wk3.
-
Next choose your spreadsheet program by clicking the Browse...
button. Go to the directory or folder that contains your Excel executable.
Highlight Excel and click the OK button.
-
If you want your spreadsheet application to automatically start up after you've
downloaded one of the spreadsheets, choose Launch the Application
under "Action". If you prefer to download and save the spreadsheet for viewing
at a later time, choose Save to Disk.
-
Go to Step #4.
- Finally, click the OK button in the Preferences dialog box. Your browser
is now configured to accept downloaded spreadsheet files from this web site.
Netscape Communicator 4.0 or later
- Go to the Edit pull-down menu and select Preferences...
- The Preferences dialog box contains a clickable menu on the left. In this
menu, click the Navigator category, then click Applications..
- The dialog box now displays a list of the helper applications you've already
assigned, as well as boxes for making changes or adding a new helper. Scroll
through the list to see if you've already assigned a spreadsheet Helper Application.
Now you'll take one of two steps:
- If you have already set the MIME type
for Excel or another Windows/Mac-based spreadsheet application,
highlight this line. Check the following boxes, making changes where necessary:
- The "Mime type" should be set to application.
- "Extensions" should include xls,xlt,xlm,wks,wk1,wk3.
- "Handled By" should be Excel if you are
using Excel. If another file type appears, click on the pull-down
menu and highlight xls.
- If you want your spreadsheet application to automatically start
up after you've downloaded one of the survey spreadsheets, click on
the Edit... button and select the Application button.
Then locate the spreadsheet program by clicking the Browse...
button. If you prefer to download and save the spreadsheet for viewing
at a later time, choose Save to Disk.
- Go to Step #4.
or
-
If you don't have a MIME type set
for Excel or another Windows/Mac-based spreadsheet application,
click the New Type... button.
- For "Description of Type", enter "Excel Worksheet".
- In the "File Extension" field, type the suffix "XLS".
- For "MIME type", enter application.
-
Finally, choose your spreadsheet program by clicking the Browse...
button. Go to the directory or folder that contains your Excel executable,
double click to select it, and click the OK button.
- If you want your spreadsheet application to automatically start
up after you've downloaded one of the survey spreadsheets, select
the Excel application from the list and click Edit... . Choose
the "Application" option under "Handled By". Click
Browse... to locate and specify the spreadsheet application.
If you prefer to download and save the spreadsheet file for viewing
at a later time, choose the Save to Disk option.
- Go to Step #4.
- Finally, click the OK button in the Preferences dialog
box. Your browser is now configured to accept downloaded spreadsheet files from
this web site.
Determining browser version
