Where are my 15 .json backup files?
Newer versions of FF hose my bookmarks periodically. Was given a complicated answer of which half the instructions didn't solve. Save the lecture. I'm now on another system and same thing is happening.
So there is NO special rare unusual blue moon reason FF changes itself on a regular basis - not update the version - and loses bookmarks. It seems to do this by design. I have only uBlock Origin, no special settings, update manually and 2 video codecs. Nuthin' fancy.
Followed the posts and I find my Profiles folder but only 1 file is found there. A bookmarkbackup from 2016. A search inside or outside of FF yields 2 bookmark files. The other one is 'current', dated yesterday but another date refers to today 1-25-19.
Where are my proverbial 15 backup .json files?
Pretty sure I'm not going to find them elsewhere so let me ask how do I config FF to correctly save 15 bookmarkbackup .json files, on some periodic basis, so in the future I'll find more than 1 in the folder.
Thank you,
Mac
All Replies (5)
Let's check your settings.
Firefox automatically makes backups of the bookmarks. These are stored in the bookmarkbackups folder. You can set how many backups are kept by doing this;
Type about:config<enter> in the address bar. If a warning screen comes up, press the I Accept the Risk button. At the top of the screen is a search bar. Type browser.bookmarks.max_backups
The values for this setting are; -1 = unlimited number of backups 0 = Do not create any backups Any other number here will keep that many backups Example: 5 = 5 backups are kept.
The backups are stored in a jsonlz4 file named something like this; bookmarks-2016-06-29_1424_enD1GTHya0JmicnYWg4V4g ==.jsonlz4 In this example; 2016-06-29 = date created, 1424 = number of entries.
Well this is confounding, that entry is set to 15. Why would the folder not have 15 files in it?
I can refresh, as there isn't anything important in bookmarks or elsewhere at this point.
I'll have to re-read the instructions re: the innards of FF for the last time I posted, back in Dec. Can't yet understand why no 15 backup files. If they existed I could easily import and at least 'solve' for missing bookmarks.
Thank you FredMcD.
The browser should create a new backup anytime there is a change to the data file.
Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles.{web link} I use an add-on that makes backups of my user profile, Just In Case. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with the current Firefox.
Every now and then, open the profile folder and create a copy of the current profile as is to another location on your hard drive. This way you will have a backup.
If you do this each day, you will not lose much data. This should be done with Firefox Closed.
Note: In case you need to restore from these backups, you may need to overwrite old or corrupted files.
Firefox should create a JSON backup after you (re)start Firefox. Note that a backup is only created when there is a difference with the calculated hash value that is part of the name of the backup.
The name of an automatically created JSON bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder includes a total item count (folders and separators included) and an hash value to prevent saving the same backup more than once. You also see this count in the Restore menu drop-down list.
- bookmarks-YYYY-MM-DD_<item count>_<hash>.jsonlz4.
Can you create a backup manually in the Bookmarks Manager (Library)?
You can check for problems with the places.sqlite (bookmarks and history) and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.
- use "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page
in case errors are reported close and restart Firefox and retry
See also:
Super replies gents. OK, I'll copy ( not up on writing scripts yet). I'll check the sql files and pay attention to file naming convention: good to know. I'll read the links.
Cor-el, I can create backups using the 'Library' window but it wants to save file to my desktop.
Thank you!