I have progress. whilst reviewing the HTML I found a separate section of code that detailed saved filters with links to open them. I have therefore been able to save a filter and recall this daily! happy chappy on that front, the remaining pop up was an iframe and I could take care of that OK.

remaining hurdle is IE9 & the flaming "do you want to open or save" and the fact I cannot trust this internal website! flaming corporations really like makibg work easy don't they!

I'm looking at xmlhttp to download the files that way now.