[Windows SIG] Firefox question

[Loyd W. Dreher]

At  2008-05-20 20.07 ,Tuesday, you wrote:
>Supposedly one can backup all settings and 
>bookmarks (in Firefox) by copying the "profile" 
>under C:\program files\mozilla 
>firefox\profiles.  I find that folder and files 
>but they are dated 2006.  I did a search for 
>"profiles" and find nothing from 2008.  Where is 
>the file(s) I need to save?  HELP!!!
>
>Thanks.
>
>Craig


Craig, I found you message from last week about backing up bookmarks.

Your profiles are in the "C:\Documents and Settings" folder unless you
have moved and renamed them. You can startup "Firefox.exe -p profilemanager"
and name them anything you want and/or create new 
profiles. I have multiple profiles.
Any profile can be run on the Netscape (now Mozilla} type browses.
However some extensions may not work on some of them.

This is true with Netscape,Mozilla,Firefox,SeaMonkey --any of the
Netscape (now Mozilla} type browsers.
They all use "Netscape" type bookmarks. The Opera 
"piggybacks" on these bookmarks and other

The full path in Windows XP to the Firefox Profile is something like below:

C:\Documents and Settings\"User Name"\Application 
Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\"tv62zm4v"\

The "tv62zm4v" is a random thing generated by the 
profile manager. There can be multiple profiles.

Now, to solve your problem.   There are several ways.

There is an extension "

Bookmark Backup

Version 0.4.9" that works very good.

You will find this 
at   http://www.pikey.me.uk/mozilla/    it is not 
currently in the mozilla add-ons files.

I just downloaded and checked it out. It installs on Firfox 2.0.0.14


Check out it's options.
You may select the backup folder if you want it to be other than the default.
You can also backup other settings.

A partial description from the pike website is below.
Go to the site to read all of it download.

========
"Description

Bookmark Backup is a simple extension that helps 
to keep your bookmarks (and optionally other 
Firefox settings) safe. Each time Firefox is 
closed, a copy of your bookmarks file will be 
made to a backup location. If Firefox's bookmarks 
become corrupted or lost, find the most recent 
uncorrupted backup and copy it into your 
<http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profiles#locate>profile 
folder. By default the backups can be found in 
the bookmarkBackups folder inside Firefox's 
profile folder, though this location can be 
changed in Bookmark Backup's Options dialog.

Additionally, thanks to code contributed by 
Nickolay Ponomarev, other files may also be 
backed up along with the bookmarks file. You can 
specify which files to backup in the Options 
dialog. Just check the box for each type of 
setting you want backed up, any other files can 
be listed in the following text box separated by 
a | character. Please refer to the 
<http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profile+folder+contents>Firefox 
Support Knowledge Base for details about what data is stored in each file.

Please remember, this extension should be used in 
addition to a regular profile backup not as a replacement."

=========

The contents of one of my bookmarkbackups folder are at:

C:\Documents and Settings\"User Name"\Application 
Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\tv62zm4v\bookmarkbackups\

Contents are as follows:

bookmarks-2008-05-21.html
bookmarks-2008-05-24.html
bookmarks-2008-05-25.html
bookmarks-2008-05-28.html
bookmarks-2008-05-29.html

Note that the backup saves the backups in a"FIFO" stack.
When I run this machine then cut it off the 
oldest is discarded and new backup added.
You can note the dates when I used this particular machine.

Running the bookmarkbackups extension is 
automatic and does not require you to do anything after installation.

DO NOT try to edit the  with a text editor.
A word of warning: Head the heading of the 
"bookmarks.html" file that appears below.
"
<!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>
<!-- This is an automatically generated file.
      It will be read and overwritten.
      DO NOT EDIT! -->
"

The "bookmarks.html" is not exactly a true html file.
Always use the Built in "Bookmarks Manager" or other built in tools to change
the "bookmarks.html".

ANOTHER way to backup the "bookmarks.html" is as follows.

On the Main menu of the browser click "Bookmarks" -->"Organize Bookmarks...".
The "Bookmarks Manager" window opens.


On the Main menu of the "Bookmarks Manager" click "File --> "Export ...".
You can the save the "bookmarks.html" anywhere.
I suggest that you create a folder in which to to save the bookmarks.
I would the suffix the  "bookmarks.html" with a date and time'
Example:  "2008-05-29-1326h-Bookmarks.html".
This identifies each saved file with a unique name.
The "Import..."Can also be used to add to or replace the current bookmarks.
The "Import.." function adds to the current "Bookmarks.html"
If you intend to replace and old bookmarks file, first delete the current file.


OTHER essential bookmarks extensions

Here are other essential bookmarks extensions that make them easy to manage.
In Firefix go to the menu Tools--> Add-ons  .
A window with a list of your current extensions will open.

Go to lower right hand corner and click Get Extensions .

The "Firefox Add-ons" search page for  will be opened.

Type in "Bookmarks" (no quotes) in the "Search for Add-ons" , click"Search".

When the search result is displayed, go to the bottom of the page.

You will see that 243 or more Add-ons have the name "Bookmarks"  in them.

Go to the right and click on "100" per page and 
start viewing what is available.

The cursor will be at the top of the listings.

This makes reviewing what is available easier.
Otherwise you will have to click "next" after 
about 20 entries. That is a "hastle".
You have to only click "next" twice to Browse all of them.

Click on the listed name to see details, before you install them.
Personally, I creat a folder for those I want to download.
I save the HTML description to that folder.

Then, I RIGHT click on the button labeled "Add to FireFox", and select
"Save link as..."  .  This allows you to save 
the  named-add-on.xpi in the folder also.
If and when you are ready to install it in 
FireFox, just drag and drop the named-add-on.xpi
on the FireFox   tab bar area.

The following Bookmark add-ons are essentials:


Add Bookmark Here ² 3.0.20080518

Bookmark Duplicate Detector 0.6.4

Bookmarks LinkChecker 0.6.8.4


A good cataloger and shortcut manager is "ScrapBook".
Be aware that the saving of a large number of 
HTML can take up a lot of disk space.
Make sure you have enough disk space.

ScrapBook 1.3.3.4


Loyd W. Dreher









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