Download Prompt (IE7) on locked machine

Question

I'm using an OpenSpan automation to retrieve invoice pdfs from a company webpage. When the automation reaches the page where href links are clicked to retrieve the invoices, the standard IE prompt comes up (Open/Save/Cancel). The automation clicks save and assigns a filename. The automation has been put on a virtual machine which is not to be constantly monitored. The issue is here, where the prompt does not come up (or at the very least is not manipulated?!) when a user is not logged in to the machine. The automation resumes immediately upon a user logging in. I need to know how to manipulate (click "Save" on) this prompt, or allow it to show up openspan can do something with it, despite no one being logged in. i know an FTP would be a much better solution, but I don't believe that's possible. I would assume this is some simple Windows setting I've overlooked, but any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

If it's a Virtual Machine, you could make it so the user is always logged in, possibly by suspending it or hibernating only, within the machine.

Answer 2

Sorry for the lack of elaboration. i knew when i was asking that i was forgetting some stuff. I don't have direct access to the files themselves. the links clicked direct to a server which then redirects to the invoices. i don't have access to that machine. I figure that would be the deciding factor in FTP's not working.

the vm is always set to locked, i.e. anyone standing in front of the VM will not see what is happening on the computer if someone is manipulating it through remote desktop

My OS automation is called thru a webservice. endusers will access this page and provide query terms, click a search button which then calls my automation into action.

i hope this information helps. i'm pretty new to the programming world.