Firefox 3.0.1/Profiles bookmarks offline

Good Afternoon Staff,
I've used Firefox (FF in this post) on a Windows XP, Dell Dimension 4600 since 2005 (FF versions 0.4...6).

My active hard drive bookmarks.html file in FF/Profiles has always been current for the date last used.
Today, 092508, I used FF 3.0.1 on Internet for an hour. When I opened my FF/Profile folder offline again today, this FF/Profiles *.html file remains not updated since June 20, 2008 !! These same bookmarks online, however, are always current since my last visit. Puzzling!!
Furthermore the bookmarksbackup folder in FF/Profiles displays its files for the last five days (09/17, /18, /19, /21, and /24) in the following format, i.e., bookmarks-2008-09-24.JSON with a size of only 2816 KB, while my old June 20th *.html file contains 6.06MB of data. What is this extension *.JSON? These backup files have always been *.html files. Something has radically changed since FF 3.0.X was released.

I need help desperately with the third FF version.

Sincerely,
Scott Dietert

 

Actually, if memory serves, this changed sometime during the beta cycle before V3 was released.

See these two Mozillazine.org articles:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Lost_bookmarks
• http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&p=4558695

There was also an earlier discussion here at WindowsBBS.com:

• http://www.windowsbbs.com/firefox-t...-how-save-bookmarks-separate-file-backup.html

 

Good Afternoon, Staff and Visitors,
Thank you for yesterday's excellent explanation/solution to my "loss" of the html bookmarks on FF 3.0.x. I now understand how to use *.json files as the replacement of *.html files. While I personally feel the html solution was far superior, at least I now can create these daily backup files at any time and restore them as well.
PS: I guess there is still no way to convert *.json files into *.html. I doubt that MS IE will be able to import my *.json files into this browser.
Scott Dietert

 

to create a bookmarks.html file in your profile folder every time you close firefox
enter about:config in the location bar
filter html
double click on browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML to set it to true

 

Nope. Not convert. But, as explained in my earlier post, and also in the post just above this one, it is possible to save in .html format. I do this to make them transportable to my Linux and Windows Mobile browsers.

 

Hello eisneum,
I've just answered my own question: 1.use the browser URL location and type in about:config; the first time I tried this an error window appeared; second time however the long list of operations appeared after I answered the question that I will be careful.
Scott

Hello eisneum,
I seem to need more detail in your helpful solution for acquiring *.html bookmarks: 1. which location bar are you referring to? 2. where is filter html located? 3. where is browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML located?
I'm lost I think!
scottdietert

 

for information about using about:config see:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config
location bar is the term used in firefox for the url/address/location bar where you type urls to go to websites.
the filter box appears at the top of the page when you are in about:config
above the line Preference Name - Status - Type - Value
you can copy and paste the whole phrase browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML into the filter box and it will take you to the exact preference you need to change.

 

Thank you again eiseum,
You have been very helpful in clarifying this new FF 3.0.x environment; I have been so comfortable with the earlier versions of FF that the sudden loss of *.html bookmarks really "wiped me out." Remember the famous quote from Jaws?
"Just when you thought it was safe to go out in the water. "
All the best,
Scott