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1: Microsoft Office files open as .zip files
01/07/11 07:53 AM
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Hi All

My LAMS server details:

Operating system: win 2003 server
Browser: IE7 / 8
Flash player version: 10.0.45.2
LAMS version: 2.3.3


When you have linked to a Microsoft Office 2007 type file (e.g. extension .docx) file using the FCKeditor, it opens the file as a zip file. Pretty inconvenient for students! Older office files such as .doc open properly.

I notice that in the LAMS Resource File area, .docx type files display a blank icon to the left of file name whereas .doc files (i.e. earlier office file type) display with a nice Microsoft Word icon. Not sure if this is significant.

I have got our IT support to edit the FCKConfig.LinkUploadAllowedExtensions in the fckconfig.js file on the server (FCKeditor files) i.e. added docx|xlsx| etc. to the list (although we haven't restarted the server). However the files still open as a .zip.

Any ideas? Could it something as simple as a server cache that needs to be cleared?

Is it a server problem, a Microsoft problem (!) or a LAMS problem?


Cheers

Ian Davis
Orpington College

Posted by Ian Davis

2: Re: Microsoft Office files open as .zip files
In response to 1 01/07/11 11:17 AM
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Hi Ian,

I think you are on the right path with the FCKConfig.LinkUploadAllowedExtensions. Adding the file extensions there should do the trick.

However, I think it might be that your browser has cache that file. Can you clear your browser cache and try again?

Thanks,

Ernie

Posted by Ernie Ghiglione

3: Re: Re: Microsoft Office files open as .zip files
In response to 2 01/10/11 09:14 AM
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Hi Ernie

Office 2007 files still open as .zip. We have tried:
1) Clearing Browser Caches
2) Restarting server
3) Adding / modifying a MIME type for JBOSS as seen below - web.xml file and server restarted.

.docx = application/vnd.openxmlformats-
officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


Then I tried linking to a .docx document in the lesson.lams site (http://lessonlams.com/) and it opened into Microsoft Word 2007 no problem!

However, here's the interesting (!) bit. I addded a .docx link in a Noticeboard activity on the LAMS demo site (http://demo.lamscommunity.org/ - demo group 43 "Test_Delete sequence) and it opened as a zip file!

Any thoughts?

Ian Davis

Posted by Ian Davis

4: Re: Re: Re: Microsoft Office files open as .zip files
In response to 3 01/10/11 09:40 AM
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Hi Ian,

I've just added the docx and xlsx to the FCKConfig.LinkUploadAllowedExtensions in http://demo.lamscommunity.org/lams and I was able to upload a file and it all worked well.

See the steps I've taken:

1) Created a sequences with one Noticeboard in which, I added a docx file (see fckeditor_docx_1.png)

2) Run the lesson and click on the link to get the docx file (fckeditor_docx_2.png)

3) The docx file is being downloaded as a docx file rather than a zip. (see fckeditor_docx_3.png)

Attached you can find the exported sequence.

Is this what you are attempting to do, right?

Thanks,

Ernie

Posted by Ernie Ghiglione

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5: Re: Re: Re: Microsoft Office files open as .zip files
In response to 3 01/10/11 09:57 AM
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Hi Ian,

I tested this on Windows with IE and I think I can see where the confusion might be...

When launching the lesson as learner (Win_docx_file_1.png), and clicking on the link, I get the file as if it would be a zip file (see Win_docx_file_2.png). However, in the folder where I save it, it does display properly as a .docx file (Win_docx_file_3.png)

Is this the issue you are having?

Ernie

Posted by Ernie Ghiglione

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