Netscape 8 and Problems with Internet Explorer's XML Rendering

Dave Massy, a senior programme manager for IE, warned users in a blog posting at http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2005/05/25/421763.aspx that after installing Netscape 8, IE will render XML files as a blank page, including XML files that have an XSLT transformation.

If you have installed Netscape 8 and you try viewing in Internet Explorer an xml page like the one mentioned at the above blog, http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/rss.xml or another provided by the BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/rss/newsonline_world_edition/front_page/rss.xml then you will most likely be provided with a blank page.

The workaround from the above mentioned blog for this problem unfortunately suggests uninstalling Netscape 8 and is copied below:

"We currently have the following work around for people that are hitting this issue:

1. Uninstall Netscape 8
2. START->RUN
I. Type: regedit
II. Hit ENTER
III. Navigate to the following:
IV. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Plugins\Extension
V. Highlight and right-click the node titled "xml" and select delete.
VI. Restart Internet Explorer

Unfortunately if Netscape 8 remains installed then the registry key is continually rewritten so this is an essential step if you are to be able to view XML content in IE. "

You could always just view xml pages with Firefox or Netscape 8 as long as you choose the Display like Firefox option.

Hopefully Netscape will issue a more permanent solution soon.

John R. Willems

 

J R W, and Arie,

Thanks very much for the heads up, and hopefully AOL will be issuing a statement about this problem in the near future. Surely!

Ramona

 

More information here: Netscape Browser Review

Good to know that AOL is working on a patch, and hopefully that will be available next week, as the Memorial Day weekend is on us, no doubt no work will be done on a patch, over the holiday.

 

UPDATE:

(Not with Netscape/AOL)