Bookmarks lost due to too many bookmarks (.JSON file >1MB)?
To my horror all my Firefox (14.0.1) bookmarks suddendly disappeared. None of the remedies given in kb.mozillazine.org/Lost_bookmarks helped. Fortunately I could import a backup from the "bookmarkbackups" folder of my profile.
However, when inspecting the backup files in that folder, I found that their .JSON file size was approaching 1 MB (the largest backup is 1043 kb). Somewhere I read that JSON files exceeding 1 MB cause problems. Could this be the reason for the bookmarks disappearing?
Chosen solution
I doubt that is anywhere near any limit.
I have backups exceeding 1MB and places.squlites in 10's of MB. This current profile has a couple of thousand bookmarks. I note from a blog about changes that Firefox should be able to handle tens of thousands of bookmarks.
If you wish to get a rough count of bookmarks do a search using : as the target as that (colon : ) is included in nearly all bookmarks if you then go to the bottom of the listing the library displays the number of objects.
Periodically backing up your bookmarks and for that matter the profile is a worthwhile exercise. Also although not a true backup if you have multiple devices consider syncing bookmarks between devices, but do not rely on any info held on the sync server.Whilst I do not use it myself I often see recommendations of the add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/
Also see
- Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer
- Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles
- How do I set up Sync on my computer?
All Replies (5)
Chosen Solution
I doubt that is anywhere near any limit.
I have backups exceeding 1MB and places.squlites in 10's of MB. This current profile has a couple of thousand bookmarks. I note from a blog about changes that Firefox should be able to handle tens of thousands of bookmarks.
If you wish to get a rough count of bookmarks do a search using : as the target as that (colon : ) is included in nearly all bookmarks if you then go to the bottom of the listing the library displays the number of objects.
Periodically backing up your bookmarks and for that matter the profile is a worthwhile exercise. Also although not a true backup if you have multiple devices consider syncing bookmarks between devices, but do not rely on any info held on the sync server.Whilst I do not use it myself I often see recommendations of the add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/
Also see
Problems with bookmarks and history not working properly can be caused by a corrupted places.sqlite database file.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file
You can also try to check and repair the places database with this extension as already posted above:
Thank you John99 for all the info. It is a relief to know that I need not start pruning away some of my bookmarks (now counting nearly 3000)!
And as you advised, I took a bookmark-backup and also set up the Sync functionality, which btw seems a very useful tool if one uses Firefox in several devices. Thanks again.
And thank you cor-el for the info regarding "places.sqlite". Very good to know in case the problem recurs.
- -
Btw I really appreciate your kind peer support, it is wonderful there are folks like you cor-el and John99 readily sharing your knowledge!
Finefox
Note that Sync isn't meant to be used as a backup tool, so it is best to avoid using that way to prevent dataloss and always backup data yourself locally or on your own website or on a more reliable web based (cloud) service.