Having trouble using your Firefox addons with the latest version of Firefox?

I needed to wipe my laptop and install the OS again.  After getting everything up and running it was time for me to start installing my Firefox addons.  I installed the latest beta version this time around, currently Firefox 3.1b2.  A few of my addons didn't work. Because I created an addon a few years ago that saved my bookmarks to a local database I had a good idea of how I could update the addons to adhere to the version checking when Firefox goes to install the addon. 

Here are the steps on how I was able to get several of my addons to work in the latest beta version of Firefox.

Disclaimer:  The process I am about to explain will allow Firefox to install the addon.  The addon might not work after you get it installed.  I was lucky that all my addons worked in the latest beta version.


1.  XPI files as I understand them are just Zip files with an xpi extension instead of a zip extension.  Unzip the xpi file into a directory

2.  Open up install.rdf in a text editor such as Editplus or notepad

3.  Look for a line similiar to em:maxVersion="3.1b2pre"

4.  Change the version to:  em:maxVersion="3.1b2"

Note:  I was able to get version 3.0 addons to work in 3.1b2.  I don't image that any 2.x addons will work in version 3.1   

5.  Next save the file.

6.  Now inside the directory select all the files and right click (Assuming you are using 7 Zip) and choose 7-zip -> add to directoryname.zip

7. Once it is all done saving rename the zipfile to addonname.xpi

8.  In Firefox go to File -> Open File and your addon should install and hopefully work just fine.

That's all there is to it.  Good Luck!