FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-rc-b27)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b14, mixed mode, sharing)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
AppletContext.showDocument fails silently in IE7 if target contains hyphens.

If you disable the new plugin architecture in the java control panel then it works.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.applet.Applet;
import java.net.*;

public class ShowDocument extends Applet implements ActionListener
{
    public ShowDocument ()
    {
Panel p = new Panel();
p.setLayout( new FlowLayout() );

Button b = new Button( "Works" );
b.addActionListener( this );
p.add( b );

b = new Button( "Does Not Work" );
b.addActionListener( this );
p.add( b );

        add( "Center", p );
    }

    public void actionPerformed ( ActionEvent e )
    {
String command = e.getActionCommand();
        URL url = null;
        try
        {
            url = new URL( "http://www.google.com" );
        }
        catch ( MalformedURLException ex )
        {
            throw new Error( ex );
        }
if ( "Works".equals( command ) )
        {
            String target = "works";
            getAppletContext().showDocument( url, target );
}
        else if ( "Does Not Work".equals( command ) )
        {
            String target = "does-not-work";
            getAppletContext().showDocument( url, target );
}
        else
        {
            throw new Error( "unknown command: " + command );
}
    }

    public static void main ( String args[] )
    {
Frame f = new Frame( "ShowDocument" );
ShowDocument sd = new ShowDocument();
sd.init();
sd.start();
        f.add( "Center", sd );
f.setSize(300, 100);
f.show();
    }
    
    public String getAppletInfo()
    {
        return "Demonstrates that some frame targets do not work with IE 7.0.6001 and Java 1.6u10 and new plugin.";
    }
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Don't put hyphens in your targets?!