export to .csv or better, .xls

Can someone help with this last item - everything works fine in Mozilla Firefox, but when I test the code in IE7, instead of asking where to save the txt file, it fills the browser window with the contents of the txt file

I need it to ask where to save the file

Here's the code that appears to work in Firefox but not in IE7:

<cfheader name="Content-Disposition" value="inline; filename=flatfile.txt">
<cfcontent type="application/txt">

I also deliver Excel spreadsheets to clients. But I place the data directly into the Excel spreadsheet and deliver the Excel spreadsheet.

I do this by starting with a standard Excel template. I copy this to another file name so that I can preserve the original template to use again. Then using ODBC I input the data directly into named areas on the spreadsheet. This allows a complete spreadsheet to be delivered with formulas, validations, and restrictions.

Is it possible to construct the CSV using something other than a comma as a field delimiter ?

What else can I use ?

"Excel has detected its a SYLK file"
"Would you like to open it ?"

Clicking yes opens the file and it looks fine. So why is it doing the above ?

ok so I have everything working with the code example below, but I need to add the field names to the first row of the csv. I've tried in the example below, but excel doesn't recognise the file format? Any ideas ?

<!--- following code spits out a .csv file --->

<cfsetting enablecfoutputonly="yes"> <!--- Required for CSV export to function properly --->
<cfset delim = 44> <!--- Use a comma for a field delimitter --->

<cfheader name="Content-Disposition" value="inline; filename=test.csv">
<cfcontent type="application/csv">

<!--- header showing column names--->
<cfoutput>ID#chr(delim)#manufacturer#chr(delim)#model#chr(delim)#sub_model#chr(delim)#ABS#chr(delim)#engine#chr(delim)#information#chr(delim)#gearbox#chr(delim)#year#chr(13)#</cfoutput>

<!--- Spill out data from a query --->
<cfloop query="getResults">
<cfoutput>#ID##chr(delim)##manufacturer##chr(delim)##model##chr(delim)##sub_model##chr(delim)##ABS##chr(delim)##engine##chr(delim)##information##chr(delim)##gearbox##chr(delim)##year##chr(13)#</cfoutput>
</cfloop>

Craig that's great news. I'll definitely give this a try.

I'm having a few issues at the moment with my clientstorge (DSN) so once I've got that done, I'll try what you suggest.

Big thanks!

Dax,

It would work for you. It was, from what I gather on Ben's blog, new to add CFMX 7 support. I use the utility on CF8 daily and no problems! Another bonus is that the utility has both a custom component AND a CFC. The do the same tasks but the CFC can be used on any CF installation (as opposed to the custom tag, which some ISPs do not allow -- of course, you can always throw the custom tag in the same directory as the calling CFML template but that's usually not as desired!).

Cheers,
Craig

Thanks craig - as I'm reliant on my ISP's CF8 server, do I take it this isn't for me ?

My ISP doesn't allow me to add custom tags to their server
The CF server is v8

Just in case folks didn't know Ben Nadel has a phenomenal utility called POI. It reads and creates XLS files from CF in a nice, clean, easy-to-use way. I've had great success with it on a few projects. Ben just updated it last month for CFMX 7. Might be worth checking out:
http://www.bennadel.com/projects/poi-utility.htm

incidentally I fixed the first code, by just putting the whole <cfoutput>.....</cfoutput> on the same line - this seemed to do the trick