Binary File or VRML Page Incorrectly Identified as Text

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 2.0, 3.0 for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you click a link to a binary file in Microsoft Internet Explorer version 2.0 or 3.0 for Windows 95, Internet Explorer may display the contents of the file as if the file were a text file, instead of displaying the file itself. In addition, if you have installed the VRML Add- In and you attempt to load a Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) page (or virtual world) in Internet Explorer 3.0, the following message may be displayed:

   Opening:
   http://<site>/<page>.wrl.gz

   Some files can contain viruses or otherwise be harmful to your
   computer. It is important to be certain that this file is from a
   trustworthy source.

   What would you like to do with this file?

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the binary file or VRML page has an incorrect MIME content type (hint) of "text/html." When Internet Explorer attempts to access a file on the Internet, it receives a hint from the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server that it uses to determine whether the file is binary or text. If the server sends Internet Explorer the wrong hint, Internet Explorer is unable to correctly identify the file and may display the contents of the file instead of displaying the file itself. This problem typically occurs as the result of an improperly configured server.

RESOLUTION

If you are attempting to access a binary file, you may be able to work around this problem by using the FTP tool (Ftp.exe) included with Windows 95 to access the file instead.

If you are unable to access a binary file even after using the above workaround, or if you are unable to access a VRML page, you should contact the administrator of the Web site to report the problem and inquire about additional workarounds that will allow you to access the file or VRML page.