Viewing Word Docs within the browser

[andytomp]

I'm trying to set up a simple PHP script which is passed a single variable (the file name) and then display the file (which will always be a word document) within the browser, NOT the option to download the file.

Any ideas? I'm sure it's a header thing, but I've never got my head around headers (arf, arf).

[piersk]

With the latest versions of IE, word documents open up automatically in the browser anyway.

Obviously you cant control the browser, so why not convert the files into .pdf documents?

[mrmufin]

Originally posted by piersk
With the latest versions of IE, word documents open up automatically in the browser anyway.

Obviously you cant control the browser, so why not convert the files into .pdf documents?

I like the idea of .pdf files rather than word docs, for a variety of reasons. First, they render impeccably on a much wider array of OS's; secondly, the folks at MicroShaft have used the .doc for a variety of 'doc-type' documents which are inconsistent (which could cause header() issues, and the nead to do some .doc parsing before sending the 'proper' header directive), and lastly... folks like me (out here on the perimeter, out here in Linux and FreeBSD-world) have absolutely no use for .doc files, which will appear as jumbled garbage if dumped into the browser window...

I suggest you think this one through carefully, unless your 'target' browsers are well-known (i.e. behind a firewall where everybody has similar Windows PCs)...

Just my too sense...