MacIE: When You Return to a POST Page, Internet Explorer Generates a GET Request (811174)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2.x for Macintosh
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1.x for Macintosh
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0.x for Macintosh

SYMPTOMS

When you return to a page that was generated as a result of a POST request, Microsoft Internet Explorer for Macintosh generates a GET request. Therefore, Internet Explorer may not display the page correctly because the original POST data was not sent. This problem occurs only if you use a secure connection (through HTTPS).

RESOLUTION

On the Web server, if the POST data is missing, return an HTML page that indicates to the user that the page has expired. You can also redirect the user to the page that the user viewed before the posted page, if that is possible.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

  1. Create the following two files on a secure Web server:

    test.htm
    <html>
<body>
Enter your name:<br>
<form action="test.asp" method="POST">
<input type="text" name="val1"></input>
<input type="submit"></input>
</form>
</body>
</html>
    test.asp
    <html>
<body>
time = <%= Time %><br>
<br>
Request method = <%= Request.ServerVariables("REQUEST_METHOD") %><br>
<br>
Hi <%= Request.Form("val1") %><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.microsoft.com">Go to Microsoft</a>
</body>
</html>
  2. Use Internet Explorer for Macintosh and the HTTPS protocol to view test.htm.
  3. Type a name in the text box, and then click Submit to submit it to test.asp.
  4. When test.asp returns from the POST request, the name that you entered (the POST data) and the current time appear.
  5. Click the link to view the Web page for Microsoft.
  6. When the Microsoft Web page has loaded, click the Back button. Note that you do not have to view the page from which you return to the POST page over a secure protocol.
  7. This time, instead of reposting for the page, Internet Explorer makes a GET request for the page. Therefore, the page does not contain the original POST data. However, the time on the page is updated as expected. Note that this page is cached and is used again if you return to the Microsoft Web site and then return to this page.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/17/2003
Keywords:kbhtml kbhttp kbbug KB811174 kbAudDeveloper
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.