PRB: Limitation of XML Mimeviewer Causes Unexpected Behavior When You Transform XML Data by Using Internet Explorer (823828)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft XML 2.5, when used with:
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming)
  • Microsoft XML 2.6, when used with:
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming)
  • Microsoft XML 3.0, when used with:
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming)

SYMPTOMS

When you transform XML data by using Internet Explorer in critical or stress applications, you may see unexpected results and behavior. These results and behavior can include any of the following:
  • Internet Explorer stops responding (or hangs).
  • There are no results in the window (blank or empty page).
  • Access violations occur.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) viewer (Mimeviewer) is not designed for the following situations:
  • Critical applications that must not fail.
  • Stressed applications.
  • Applications where the Refresh button is clicked frequently while transforming.
  • Applications that transform large amounts of XML data.
  • Applications where transformations may be terminated and restarted.
  • Deep XSLT linking in the XSL file.
  • Recursive document loading in xsl:script.
The Mimeviewer is helpful to view single transformation results, or when you use very small amounts of data and small XSL files. This also applies to opening an XML file in Internet Explorer because the XML will be transformed by using the default style sheet.

WORKAROUND

To work around the problem, use one of the following methods:
  • Method 1: Transform the XML data on the server side, and then send the results to the client.
  • Method 2: Transform the XML data in the client-side script (vbscript/jscript/javascript) that uses the TransformNode method.

STATUS

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

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

258294 HOWTO: Offload XSL Transformations to Clients' Browsers

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/29/2003
Keywords:kbXML kbPerformance kbweb kbbug KB823828 kbAudDeveloper
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.