IE closing just opened popup window

Question

I have a ASP.NET button on a page that opens a popup window this way:

String cstext1 = "window.open('ReportViewer.aspx');";

ScriptManager.RegisterStartupScript(this.Page, this.Page.GetType(), 
Guid.NewGuid().ToString(), cstext1, true);

The ReportViewer.aspx file gets some data, passes it to crystal reports and streams the PDF output back.

In IE7 the window opens and immediately closes afterwords.

I found a workaround by lowering IE security settings for the site but I would like to know if I can make it work without requiring the user to tweak his settings.

Answer 1

That's IE's integrated popup blocker doing its job, just as designed. I suggest you do not have the user lower the security settings. That's a bad idea. Just add the site to the popup blocker exception list (Internet Options -> Privacy -> Settings... on the popup Blocker lower half of the page -> add the site domain to the allowed sites.

Answer 2

it's not the popup blocker, I'm developing on the local machine (and the site it's on the secure sites list) and disabling the popup blocker doesn't solve the problem.

Perhaps it's associated with the fact that the Response.ContentType is "application/pdf".

Answer 3

You need to re-arrange UI design such that the window.open is not called during page start up. If the window.open call is made during the execution of a button click (client-side javascript) the popup blocker won't eat it.

Answer 4

It's not the popup blocker, odd thing the page actually opens and immediately closes, if it was a blocked popup it wouldn't open in the first place.

Answer 5

Ok, I solved it.

It was IE not allowing the fact that a file with a .aspx suffix had a content type of application/pdf and a header with "Content-Disposition:attachment;".

I built and configured a Http Handler that manages a *.pdf verb. The handler does exactly what the ReportViewer.aspx did, but in a ProcessRequest method (thus implementing IHttpHandler).

In this way IE thinks the Url requested is in fact a pdf file (and it doesn't require the Content-Disposition).

If anyone needs the code I'll post it.

Answer 6

Giorgio,

If you can post the code when you get a chance, I would greatly appreciate it. I am running into this problem as well.

Thanks!

Answer 7

Hi,

Could you please post the solution code? I'm having the same exact issue.

Jason

Answer 8

Please paste the code here - there have been people helped you with this situation, its about time you gave something back.

Many thanks

Answer 9

Hi everyone - since the original author will not post the answer I managed to research this all out myself. Its really quite simple just follow the points on this page: http://www.15seconds.com/Issue/020417.htm

Answer 10

Please post code as that article really isn't helpful

Answer 11

I am experiencing the same problem. I am doing a Page.RegisterClientScriptBlock and the window pops up then closes on its own. I may have to make the LinkButton a HyperLink and set the href and target="_blank" when the control is bound.