maybe...

How to Configure Internet Explorer to Open Office
Documents in the Appropriate Office Program Instead of in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=162059

Steve H wrote:

Hi,

I am trying to force a downloaded xls file from Internet Explorer to open in
Excel 2003 directly, instead of in a browser window. This seemed to work in
Excel 2000, but now does not.

Any suggestions?

--

Dave Peterson