FireFox 3.5.4 mimetype.rdf file doesn't remember saved file type extensions fix

FireFox greyed out box #1 .ext = ".rar"
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

FireFox greyed out box #2 .ext = ".r02"
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Firefox has had a very annoying bug whereby trying to save different file-type extensions like .rar, .r00, .r01 etc doesn't activate the greyed out box "do this automatically for similiar files from now".
So you are forced to "Save File" each and every time which is maddening.

This appears to be an 'intermittent' bug so for some users it is not a problem, for others it sucks big time.
After finally having enough of this stupid bug I sorted out this annoying problem FireFox has had for years.

I opened the file mimeTypes.rdf found in your FireFox profile directory:-


C:\Documents and Settings\xxxUser Namexxx\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxx.default

... with a simple text editor like Notepad.

Then if there is no entry for "rar" etc search for an ending sequence "/>[]" (without quotes)
Note [] here is a terminator character like EOL or CR.

Then insert the following chunk:-
Note chunks start with "</" and end with "/>" (no quotes).


...
</RDF:Description>
<RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mimetype:application/x-rar"
NC:value="application/x-rar"
NC:editable="true"
NC:fileExtensions="rar"
NC:description="WinRAR archive">
<NC:handlerProp RDF:resource="urn:mimetype:handler:application/x-rar"/>

...

Subesquent chunks can be for any other .ext:-


...
<RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mimetype:application/octetstream"
NC:value="application/octetstream"
NC:editable="true"
NC:fileExtensions="r00"
NC:description="WinRAR archive">
<NC:handlerProp RDF:resource="urn:mimetype:handler:application/octetstream"/>

...

and so on.

Final sequence--


...
<RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mimetype:application/octetstream"
NC:value="application/octetstream"
NC:editable="true"
NC:fileExtensions="r00"
NC:description="WinRAR archive">
<NC:handlerProp RDF:resource="urn:mimetype:handler:application/octetstream"/>
<RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mimetype:application/octetstream"
NC:value="application/octetstream"
NC:editable="true"
NC:fileExtensions="r01"
NC:description="WinRAR archive">
<NC:handlerProp RDF:resource="urn:mimetype:handler:application/octetstream"/>
<RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mimetype:application/octetstream"
NC:value="application/octetstream"
NC:editable="true"
NC:fileExtensions="r02"
NC:description="WinRAR archive">
<NC:handlerProp RDF:resource="urn:mimetype:handler:application/octetstream"/>

...


Be sure to exit and restart FireFox then try downloading 1 of these .ext's.

FireFox automatically downloading #1 .ext = ".rar"
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

FireFox automatically downloading #2 .ext = ".r02"
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

FireFox Options Main Downloads Setting
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Works flawlessly for me on latest FireFox v3.5.4 :)
Should work on earlier versions :D

Notes
IE uses the registry for data on registered file-types (based on their extension).
FF not being Micro$oft uses the mimetype.rdf file to store the same data.
Howver this may or may not work properly for users.
FF has had this bug since v1 I believe and it is appalling the developers never fixed it in all that time (!!)
____

Enjoy :)

this looks to work as well for .r01-rxx --

<RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mimetype:application/octetstream"
NC:value="application/octetstream"
NC:editable="true"
NC:description="WinRAR archive">
<NC:fileExtensions>r00</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r01</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r02</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r03</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r04</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r05</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r06</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r07</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r08</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r09</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r10</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r11</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r12</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r13</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r14</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r15</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r16</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:fileExtensions>r17</NC:fileExtensions>
<NC:handlerProp RDF:resource="urn:mimetype:handler:application/octetstream"/>