The Mozilla Archive Format (MAFF) is a file format that allows you to save entire web pages in a single compressed file. It was developed by Mozilla Foundation Firefox and SeaMonkey browsers .
Unfortunately, the MAFF format is no longer supported by Firefox since version 57, released in November 2017 . This decision was motivated by the move to a new extension system, called WebExtensions, which does not allow the use of the MAFF format. Firefox users who have archives in MAFF format therefore find it impossible to open them with their usual browser.
Fortunately, there are solutions to revert to the Mozilla archive format and continue enjoying its benefits. In this article, we will show you three methods to achieve this!
Use an older version of Firefox or SeaMonkey
The first method is to use an older version of Firefox or SeaMonkey that still supports the MAFF format. This is the simplest solution, but also the least recommended, because it poses risks to the security and performance of your computer. Indeed, old versions of Firefox or SeaMonkey no longer benefit from regular updates that correct security vulnerabilities and improve the browser's functionality. Additionally, they may be incompatible with some modern websites that use recent technologies.
If you opt for this method, here are the steps to follow:
- Download an older version of Firefox or SeaMonkey from the official Mozilla website: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/
- Install the browser on your computer, choosing a folder different from where your current version is located.
- Open the browser and go to the Tools > Add-ons > Extensions .
- Find and install the Mozilla Archive Format extension: https://addons.mozilla.org/en/firefox/addon/mozilla-archive-format/
- Restart the browser and open your MAFF archives as you did before.
Use an extension compatible with the MAFF format
The second method is to use an extension compatible with the MAFF format on your current version of Firefox or SeaMonkey. This is a safer and more practical solution than the previous one, since it allows you to take advantage of the latest browser updates while maintaining the possibility of opening your MAFF archives . However, you should know that the extensions compatible with the MAFF format are few in number and may present bugs or limitations.
Among the available extensions, we recommend one of the following two:
- UnMHT : https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/unmht/
- Save Page WE : https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/save-page-we/
These two extensions allow you to open your MAFF archives with your browser, but also to save web pages in different formats, including MHTML, which is similar to MAFF but more widespread. To use these extensions, here are the steps to follow:
- Download and install the extension of your choice on your browser.
- Open your browser and go to Tools > Add-ons > Extensions .
- Click the Extension Options button and check the “ Enable MAFF support ” box.
- Restart your browser and open your MAFF archives by clicking the extension's button in the toolbar.
Convert MAFF archives to another format
The third method is to convert your MAFF archives to another format that is more compatible with current browsers . This is a more durable and universal solution than the previous ones, because it allows you to preserve your web archives without depending on a specific browser or extension. However, be aware that the conversion may result in a loss of quality or functionality of the archived web pages .
To convert your MAFF archives, you can use one of the following tools:
- MAF Converter : https://maf.mozdev.org/converter.html
- Archive Converter : https://archive-converter.com/
- Web Archive Extractor : https://www.webarchiveextractor.com/
These tools allow you to transform your MAFF archives into other formats, such as HTML, MHTML, PDF or ZIP. To use these tools, here are the steps to follow:
- Download and install the tool of your choice on your computer.
- Open the tool and select your MAFF archives to convert.
- Choose the desired output format and click Convert button.
- Save the converted files to your computer and open them with the browser or software of your choice.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Mozilla archive format:
What is the difference between MAFF format and MHTML format?
MHTML format that allows you to save entire web pages in a single file. It is similar to the MAFF format, but it uses the MIME standard to encode data. It is more widespread than the MAFF format and is supported by most browsers , including Chrome , Edge , and Internet Explorer .
Why choose the MAFF format to archive web pages?
The MAFF format has several advantages over other web archiving formats, such as HTML or MHTML:
- It allows you to preserve the formatting , images, sounds, videos and scripts of web pages.
- It offers better compression and reduction of disk space occupied by archives.
- It makes sharing and consulting archives , since you just need to open them with a compatible browser.
- It respects web standards and is independent of the operating system.
What are the advantages of MAFF over HTML?
HTML format is the standard format for representing web pages . It allows you to save the source code of a web page in a text file. However, it does not allow you to save elements associated with the web page, such as images, sounds, videos or scripts. It is therefore necessary to create a separate folder to store these elements, which makes archiving more complex and less reliable. The MAFF format solves this problem by integrating all the elements into a single compressed file.
How to create archives in MAFF format?
To create archives in MAFF format, you must use a browser compatible with this format, such as Firefox or SeaMonkey , and install the Mozilla Archive Format extension. Next, you need to navigate to the web page you want to archive and click on the extension's button in the toolbar. You can then choose the MAFF format and the destination folder to save your archive.
File > Save As… menu and select the MAFF format from the drop-down list.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+U to save the web page in MAFF format.
Conclusion
The Mozilla archive format is a file format that allows you to save entire web pages in a single compressed file. It offers better fidelity, compression, and ease of use than other web archiving formats. However, it is no longer supported by Firefox since version 57, which poses a problem for users who have archives in MAFF format. To revert to the Mozilla archive format , you must access the about:config page on your browser and modify certain settings .
We hope this article helped you understand what Mozilla archive format is and how to revert it. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know in the section below.
