"Work Offline" Command Is Missing from the File Menu (257693)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q257693

SYMPTOMS

When you view an Internet Web site, the File menu does not include the Work Offline command.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if you navigate to an Internet Web site from a Windows Explorer window or if you start Internet Explorer by using a home page that you access via the file: protocol, such as a file on your local computer or local intranet, and then navigate to an Internet Web site. The flag that enables the Work Offline command is neither checked nor set to "on" after you navigate to an Internet Web site. Because of this, the Work Offline command remains unavailable.

NOTE: If you specify a home page on your local computer (for example, by typing "C:\homepage.htm") or by using a universal naming convention (UNC) path (for example, "\\server\share"), then the computer assumes the file: protocol. The Work Offline command is unavailable even if your file: home page redirects Internet Explorer to an Internet Web site.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, start a new instance of Internet Explorer by pressing CTRL+N or by using the about: protocol instead of the file: protocol to direct Internet Explorer to a file: protocol home page. When you do this, the Work Offline command will be available.

For example, the following steps use the about: protocol to direct Internet Explorer to open Homepage.htm in the C:\WebPages folder as your home page:
  1. Create a String value named MyHomePage and set its value to C:\WebPages\Homepage.htm under the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs

  2. In Internet Explorer, click Internet Options on the Tools menu and type about:MyHomePage in the Home Page Address box.
For additional information about the about: protocol, view the "Pluggable Protocols" document on the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/periodic/period99/cutting0199.htm

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Work Offline command, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

196646 How to Make Web Pages Available for Offline Viewing

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/26/2003
Keywords:kbFAQ kbprb kbui KB257693
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