How to open an existing excel file (not in the browser) in a new window from ASP.NET 3.5 with C#

Hello folks,

I thought this would be very simple. but I am not able to.

I tried simple code like this using href element. But it tries to open the sheet.xls in the browser window and says it can't find the file. I want the excel file to be opened in excel (not browser). Any suggestions?

<ahref="file://domainname/vol1/destinationfiles/sheet.xls">some excel file</a>

Thanks much

nath