shortcuts to excel files.

[nitm]

hi all.
i'm creating a system that works on the net.
i'm writing it with asp and one of the functions of the system is to import
data from excel files into the system (access db).
everything is going swell, except one thing.
whenever the system creates a new excel workbook and saves it as xls file
something (i don't know what) is creating a shortcut to that file and places
it in the system drive (c:\).
the xls files that the system creates are only temp files and they are
deleted after being used. the shortcuts remain.

i can't figure out why this is happenning and i really want it to stop!
i can't delete the shortcuts with asp because the system will be hosted on a
server that has nothing to do with me and i have no idea if i'll have access
to the system drive (probably not).
i'm kind of stuck here.

i would love to get any ideas of why this is happenning and how can i avoid
it.
thanks a lot!
nitm;

[Jake Marx]

Hi nitm,

How are you creating the Excel workbooks on the server? Using
Server.CreateObject, using an HTML file upload, or some other way? How are
you saving the file? If you can provide more detail (including relevant
lines of code), that would make it much easier to diagnose.

--
Regards,

Jake Marx
MS MVP - Excel
www.longhead.com

[please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]


nitm wrote:
> hi all.
> i'm creating a system that works on the net.
> i'm writing it with asp and one of the functions of the system is to
> import data from excel files into the system (access db).
> everything is going swell, except one thing.
> whenever the system creates a new excel workbook and saves it as xls
> file something (i don't know what) is creating a shortcut to that
> file and places it in the system drive (c:\).
> the xls files that the system creates are only temp files and they are
> deleted after being used. the shortcuts remain.
>
> i can't figure out why this is happenning and i really want it to
> stop!
> i can't delete the shortcuts with asp because the system will be
> hosted on a server that has nothing to do with me and i have no idea
> if i'll have access to the system drive (probably not).
> i'm kind of stuck here.
>
> i would love to get any ideas of why this is happenning and how can i
> avoid it.
> thanks a lot!
> nitm;

[nitm]

here are parts of the code that i think that have something to do with the
problem (you don't want to see the whole code):

tmpfilename = "tmp_" & Int((99 - 10 + 1) * Rnd + 10) &"_" & Int((999 - 100 +
1) * Rnd + 100) & ".xls"
objfso.CopyFile Server.MapPath("emplate.xls"), Server.MapPath(tmpfilename),
true

Dim objExcel, objWorkBook, objSheet
Set objExcel = Server.CreateObject("Excel.Application")
objExcel.Visible = False
objExcel.DisplayAlerts = False

Set objWorkBook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open(Server.MapPath(mpfilename))
for each objSheet in objWorkBook.Sheets
if InStr(1,tbls,"," & getTblNum(objSheet.Name) & ",") = 0 then
objSheet.Delete
end if
next

objWorkBook.Close True
Set objWorkBook = Nothing
objExcel.Quit
Set objExcel = Nothing

here's what i'm doing:
there's a template file on da server (xls file) with some sheets in it.
i copy this file and i'm giving it a random name so that if more than one
user attempts this it won't crush.

after that i iterate thru all of the sheets in the temp file and check if
the user asked for the sheet, if not i delete the sheet from the temp file.

that's the code that i just gave you, after that i send the temp file to the
user and at the end i delete the file with the file system object (asp).

hope this explains it all.
thanks a lot.

"Jake Marx" wrote:

> Hi nitm,
>
> How are you creating the Excel workbooks on the server? Using
> Server.CreateObject, using an HTML file upload, or some other way? How are
> you saving the file? If you can provide more detail (including relevant
> lines of code), that would make it much easier to diagnose.
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Jake Marx
> MS MVP - Excel
> www.longhead.com
>
> [please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]
>
>
> nitm wrote:
> > hi all.
> > i'm creating a system that works on the net.
> > i'm writing it with asp and one of the functions of the system is to
> > import data from excel files into the system (access db).
> > everything is going swell, except one thing.
> > whenever the system creates a new excel workbook and saves it as xls
> > file something (i don't know what) is creating a shortcut to that
> > file and places it in the system drive (c:\).
> > the xls files that the system creates are only temp files and they are
> > deleted after being used. the shortcuts remain.
> >
> > i can't figure out why this is happenning and i really want it to
> > stop!
> > i can't delete the shortcuts with asp because the system will be
> > hosted on a server that has nothing to do with me and i have no idea
> > if i'll have access to the system drive (probably not).
> > i'm kind of stuck here.
> >
> > i would love to get any ideas of why this is happenning and how can i
> > avoid it.
> > thanks a lot!
> > nitm;
>
>

[Jake Marx]

Hmm...I don't see anything there that would cause a shortcut to be created.
Where exactly is the shortcut to the XL file being created? In the root of
C:? And it's a true shortcut, not a copy of the new XL file?

--
Regards,

Jake Marx
MS MVP - Excel
www.longhead.com

[please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]


nitm wrote:
> here are parts of the code that i think that have something to do
> with the problem (you don't want to see the whole code):
>
> tmpfilename = "tmp_" & Int((99 - 10 + 1) * Rnd + 10) &"_" & Int((999
> - 100 + 1) * Rnd + 100) & ".xls"
> objfso.CopyFile Server.MapPath("emplate.xls"),
> Server.MapPath(tmpfilename), true
>
> Dim objExcel, objWorkBook, objSheet
> Set objExcel = Server.CreateObject("Excel.Application")
> objExcel.Visible = False
> objExcel.DisplayAlerts = False
>
> Set objWorkBook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open(Server.MapPath(mpfilename))
> for each objSheet in objWorkBook.Sheets
> if InStr(1,tbls,"," & getTblNum(objSheet.Name) & ",") = 0 then
> objSheet.Delete
> end if
> next
>
> objWorkBook.Close True
> Set objWorkBook = Nothing
> objExcel.Quit
> Set objExcel = Nothing
>
> here's what i'm doing:
> there's a template file on da server (xls file) with some sheets in
> it.
> i copy this file and i'm giving it a random name so that if more than
> one user attempts this it won't crush.
>
> after that i iterate thru all of the sheets in the temp file and
> check if the user asked for the sheet, if not i delete the sheet from
> the temp file.
>
> that's the code that i just gave you, after that i send the temp file
> to the user and at the end i delete the file with the file system
> object (asp).
>
> hope this explains it all.
> thanks a lot.
>
> "Jake Marx" wrote:
>
>> Hi nitm,
>>
>> How are you creating the Excel workbooks on the server? Using
>> Server.CreateObject, using an HTML file upload, or some other way?
>> How are you saving the file? If you can provide more detail
>> (including relevant lines of code), that would make it much easier
>> to diagnose.
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Jake Marx
>> MS MVP - Excel
>> www.longhead.com
>>
>> [please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]
>>
>>
>> nitm wrote:
>>> hi all.
>>> i'm creating a system that works on the net.
>>> i'm writing it with asp and one of the functions of the system is to
>>> import data from excel files into the system (access db).
>>> everything is going swell, except one thing.
>>> whenever the system creates a new excel workbook and saves it as xls
>>> file something (i don't know what) is creating a shortcut to that
>>> file and places it in the system drive (c:\).
>>> the xls files that the system creates are only temp files and they
>>> are deleted after being used. the shortcuts remain.
>>>
>>> i can't figure out why this is happenning and i really want it to
>>> stop!
>>> i can't delete the shortcuts with asp because the system will be
>>> hosted on a server that has nothing to do with me and i have no idea
>>> if i'll have access to the system drive (probably not).
>>> i'm kind of stuck here.
>>>
>>> i would love to get any ideas of why this is happenning and how can
>>> i avoid it.
>>> thanks a lot!
>>> nitm;

[nitm]

i don't see that either.
yes, the shortctus are being created in the root of the system drive (it's
d: in my machine but c: in the server which i tested it on).
and yes, it's a true shortcut, not a copy of the xls file.

i see only two options for which lines are the ones that causing it:
(1) Set objWorkBook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open(Server.MapPath(mpfilename))
(2) objWorkBook.Close True

these are the only ones that looks like they might do something stupid
enough...

thanks.
"Jake Marx" wrote:

> Hmm...I don't see anything there that would cause a shortcut to be created.
> Where exactly is the shortcut to the XL file being created? In the root of
> C:? And it's a true shortcut, not a copy of the new XL file?
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Jake Marx
> MS MVP - Excel
> www.longhead.com
>
> [please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]
>
>
> nitm wrote:
> > here are parts of the code that i think that have something to do
> > with the problem (you don't want to see the whole code):
> >
> > tmpfilename = "tmp_" & Int((99 - 10 + 1) * Rnd + 10) &"_" & Int((999
> > - 100 + 1) * Rnd + 100) & ".xls"
> > objfso.CopyFile Server.MapPath("emplate.xls"),
> > Server.MapPath(tmpfilename), true
> >
> > Dim objExcel, objWorkBook, objSheet
> > Set objExcel = Server.CreateObject("Excel.Application")
> > objExcel.Visible = False
> > objExcel.DisplayAlerts = False
> >
> > Set objWorkBook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open(Server.MapPath(mpfilename))
> > for each objSheet in objWorkBook.Sheets
> > if InStr(1,tbls,"," & getTblNum(objSheet.Name) & ",") = 0 then
> > objSheet.Delete
> > end if
> > next
> >
> > objWorkBook.Close True
> > Set objWorkBook = Nothing
> > objExcel.Quit
> > Set objExcel = Nothing
> >
> > here's what i'm doing:
> > there's a template file on da server (xls file) with some sheets in
> > it.
> > i copy this file and i'm giving it a random name so that if more than
> > one user attempts this it won't crush.
> >
> > after that i iterate thru all of the sheets in the temp file and
> > check if the user asked for the sheet, if not i delete the sheet from
> > the temp file.
> >
> > that's the code that i just gave you, after that i send the temp file
> > to the user and at the end i delete the file with the file system
> > object (asp).
> >
> > hope this explains it all.
> > thanks a lot.
> >
> > "Jake Marx" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi nitm,
> >>
> >> How are you creating the Excel workbooks on the server? Using
> >> Server.CreateObject, using an HTML file upload, or some other way?
> >> How are you saving the file? If you can provide more detail
> >> (including relevant lines of code), that would make it much easier
> >> to diagnose.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Regards,
> >>
> >> Jake Marx
> >> MS MVP - Excel
> >> www.longhead.com
> >>
> >> [please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]
> >>
> >>
> >> nitm wrote:
> >>> hi all.
> >>> i'm creating a system that works on the net.
> >>> i'm writing it with asp and one of the functions of the system is to
> >>> import data from excel files into the system (access db).
> >>> everything is going swell, except one thing.
> >>> whenever the system creates a new excel workbook and saves it as xls
> >>> file something (i don't know what) is creating a shortcut to that
> >>> file and places it in the system drive (c:\).
> >>> the xls files that the system creates are only temp files and they
> >>> are deleted after being used. the shortcuts remain.
> >>>
> >>> i can't figure out why this is happenning and i really want it to
> >>> stop!
> >>> i can't delete the shortcuts with asp because the system will be
> >>> hosted on a server that has nothing to do with me and i have no idea
> >>> if i'll have access to the system drive (probably not).
> >>> i'm kind of stuck here.
> >>>
> >>> i would love to get any ideas of why this is happenning and how can
> >>> i avoid it.
> >>> thanks a lot!
> >>> nitm;
>
>

[Jake Marx]

nitm wrote:
> i don't see that either.
> yes, the shortctus are being created in the root of the system drive
> (it's d: in my machine but c: in the server which i tested it on).
> and yes, it's a true shortcut, not a copy of the xls file.

So this happens on your development machine as well?

> i see only two options for which lines are the ones that causing it:
> (1) Set objWorkBook =
> objExcel.Workbooks.Open(Server.MapPath(mpfilename)) (2)
> objWorkBook.Close True

Errors in Automating Excel can definitely cause problems, but mostly with
Excel processes hanging around after you meant to close them. I've never
seen shortcuts created willy-nilly like this. Have you determined at what
point in the process the shortcut actually shows up in the C:\ folder?

--
Regards,

Jake Marx
MS MVP - Excel
www.longhead.com

[please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]

[nitm]

hi jake.
first of all i'd like to thank you for your help, so thanks.

yes, this problem occurs in my machine (windows 2000 proffesional s.p 4 +
iis) and on the server in my working place.
i asked around the asp forum where i usually go to (4guys from rolla) and
someone said he has the same problem, but he isn't even using asp, just
clicks on a file.
here's the url for my thread there:
http://www.aspmessageboard.com/forum...=20&P=1#759859
i don't have that problem though, if i double click on a file it only opens
it w/out creating a shortcut. it happens only with the asp.

> Errors in Automating Excel can definitely cause problems, but mostly with
> Excel processes hanging around after you meant to close them. I've never
> seen shortcuts created willy-nilly like this.

i had that problem (when the excel just hangs) but i fixed that.. there are
no errors now, it all goes great.. works just as i want it to...
i don't think it has something to do with errors...

> Have you determined at what
> point in the process the shortcut actually shows up in the C:\ folder?

like i said, i think that it's one of these code lines:
(1) Set objWorkBook =
objExcel.Workbooks.Open(Server.MapPath(mpfilename))
(2) objWorkBook.Close True

but i'm not sure, do you have any idea of how can i know for sure?

thanks, nitm;

[Jake Marx]

nitm wrote:
>> Have you determined at what
>> point in the process the shortcut actually shows up in the C:\
>> folder?
>
> like i said, i think that it's one of these code lines:
> (1) Set objWorkBook =
> objExcel.Workbooks.Open(Server.MapPath(mpfilename))
> (2) objWorkBook.Close True
>
> but i'm not sure, do you have any idea of how can i know for sure?

Well, I would probably put a Response.End at various places in my ASP
server-side code to see exactly which line of code is creating the shortcut.
I have found a few other postings from users experiencing the same problem,
and one user said it was happening on the Workbooks.Open line.

Are the web servers running IIS, and if so, is URLScan or IIS Lockdown
installed on either/both?

One other thing - is Option Explicit at the top of your ASP document? If
not, add it and make sure you aren't using any undeclared variables. I
noticed you use mpfilename in the code above but tmpfilename earlier - just
curious to know if that is intentional or a typo. Option Explicit will tell
you for sure.

--
Regards,

Jake Marx
MS MVP - Excel
www.longhead.com

[please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]

[nitm]

> Well, I would probably put a Response.End at various places in my ASP
> server-side code to see exactly which line of code is creating the shortcut.
> I have found a few other postings from users experiencing the same problem,
> and one user said it was happening on the Workbooks.Open line.

good idea, why didn't i think of that?
that user was right, it happens after the Workbook.Open method.

> Are the web servers running IIS, and if so, is URLScan or IIS Lockdown
> installed on either/both?

yes, both my computer & the server are running IIS, i don't know what
URLScan or IIS Lockdown are... i don't think that it's installed on my
computer (i didn't install it) and i have no idea if the server has them.
what are they? should i install them?

> One other thing - is Option Explicit at the top of your ASP document? If
> not, add it and make sure you aren't using any undeclared variables. I
> noticed you use mpfilename in the code above but tmpfilename earlier - just
> curious to know if that is intentional or a typo. Option Explicit will tell
> you for sure.

yes, i use Option Explicit, always.
there's no mpfilename, it's tmpfilename but i guess i deleted the 't' when i
copied the code.. sorry for that.

i take it that you only found that this problem happenned to other people
but there was no answer to the problem....

thanks again. nitzan;

[Jake Marx]

nitm wrote:
>> Are the web servers running IIS, and if so, is URLScan or IIS
>> Lockdown installed on either/both?
>
> yes, both my computer & the server are running IIS, i don't know what
> URLScan or IIS Lockdown are... i don't think that it's installed on
> my computer (i didn't install it) and i have no idea if the server
> has them. what are they? should i install them?

Well, they're a good idea to have running if you have a publicly-accessible
IIS machine. They are designed to stop certain URL-based attacks and
prevent certain types of files from executing on the server. I was just
checking because they can cause unexpected results with certain scripts/file
types. I doubt this is the case here since you didn't install them.

>> One other thing - is Option Explicit at the top of your ASP
>> document? If not, add it and make sure you aren't using any
>> undeclared variables. I noticed you use mpfilename in the code
>> above but tmpfilename earlier - just curious to know if that is
>> intentional or a typo. Option Explicit will tell you for sure.
>
> yes, i use Option Explicit, always.
> there's no mpfilename, it's tmpfilename but i guess i deleted the 't'
> when i copied the code.. sorry for that.

No problem - just checking. <g>

> i take it that you only found that this problem happenned to other
> people but there was no answer to the problem....

Yes. You may want to try your luck in one of the ASP or IIS groups to see
if anyone knows what's going on. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

--
Regards,

Jake Marx
MS MVP - Excel
www.longhead.com

[please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]

[nitm]

hi jake,
thank you for your help, i will check it in the iis and asp groups.
can you please send me the urls to where you found about other people with
my problem.

thanks, nitzan.

[Jake Marx]

http://forums.devshed.com/showthread...oto=nextoldest

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...82dfa9246afcf8

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...9b3878248d878c

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...33e629befb5237


--
Regards,

Jake Marx
MS MVP - Excel
www.longhead.com

[please keep replies in the newsgroup - email address unmonitored]


nitm wrote:
> hi jake,
> thank you for your help, i will check it in the iis and asp groups.
> can you please send me the urls to where you found about other people
> with my problem.
>
> thanks, nitzan.