BUG: HTTP_Referer Is Empty If You Click Refresh, Back, or Forward Within an XML Document (262595)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q262595

SYMPTOMS

If you click the Refresh, Back, or Forward button while viewing an XML document in Internet Explorer 5.01, the HTTP_Referer field is empty. This field is correctly updated for all other known file types (HTML, ASP, and so on), but is not updated for XML files. This problem occurs only when you click Refresh, Back, or Forward.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior


To reproduce this problem, perform the following steps:
  1. Create a file named Test.asp and paste the following code in it:
    <%@ LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" %>

<%Response.ContentType = "text/xml"%>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO8859-1" ?>
<?xml:stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="test.xsl" ?>

<breakfast-menu>
    <food>
        <name>Referer:</name>
        <description>
            <%=Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_Referer")%>
        </description>
    </food>
    <food>
        <name>test1</name>
        <description>some text</description>
    </food>
    <food>
        <name>test2</name>
        <description>some more text</description>
    </food>
</breakfast-menu>
  2. Create a file named Test.xsl and paste the following code in it:
    <xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-xsl">
  <xsl:template match="/">
    <HTML>
      <BODY>
	<A HREF="test.asp">test.asp</A>
        <TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER="1">
	    <TR>
		<TD>Name</TD>
		<TD>Description</TD>
	    </TR>
        <xsl:for-each select="breakfast-menu/food">
            <TR>
                <TD><xsl:value-of select="name" /></TD>
                <TD><xsl:value-of select="description" /></TD>
            </TR>
          </xsl:for-each>
        </TABLE>
      </BODY>
    </HTML>
  </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
  3. In Internet Explorer, open the Test.xsl file.
  4. Click the link to Test.asp; this fills in the HTTP_Referer field.
  5. Click Refresh, Back, or Forward to make the field null again.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/14/2003
Keywords:kbBug kbDatabase kbMSXMLnosweep kbpending KB262595
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