Temporarily load bookmarks?
In the 7-9 years that I've been using FireFox, I have a lot of bookmarks. And after learning how to create backups of those bookmarks, I have a bit of an odd question.
As far as I know, when you load the bookmark backup file on a different install of FireFox, it replaces all existing bookmarks already there with the ones from the backup. In other words, the previous bookmarks are deleted.
With that said, is there a way to load the bookmarks to FireFox and then revert back to the previous bookmarks when FireFox closes? I'm asking this because I'm using different computers (which might mean different versions of FireFox) to work on a college project and being able to click on the bookmark instead of taking out my laptop, finding the bookmark then typing it in would be significantly faster.
Edit title. ~J99
Modified by John99
Chosen solution
John99 said
If you load bookmarks into Firefox manually by importing or restoring them, you need to manually delete or overwrite those if you wish to get rid of them. That applies even if you are using Private Browsing.
*sigh* I thought as much.
I was hoping there would be a faster way but since there isn't, I guess I'll continue with my previous method.
So, to summarize. Short of someone in the future creating an add-on for this specific purpose, there's no way to delete recently added bookmarks upon shutdown, nor is there a way to temporarily store them for a limited time. Got it.
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (9)
Hi, a normal backup is saved as a JSON file, which as you say, will replace the existing ones, however if you select Export Bookmarks to HTML, you can import them as a separate file (Import Bookmarks from HTML) in addition to your existing ones, and which won't replace them.
If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you.
Also note if you export Firefox bookmarks as an HTML file that file itself could be opened by Firefox. (Ctrl+O keyboard shortcut). So if you had a memory stick (or other media) with them on, and the college computer allows you to use memory sticks, you could use that to have clickable links on your college Firefox.
No need then to remove or restore the bookmarks. You could also export the college bookmarks to use either imported or as a file on your laptop.
See also
(Currently using college computer)
Huh. I didn't think about that option and now that I know about it, I like it.
However, this solves half the problem.
Notice the (misspelled) keyword: Temporarily. I don't want my personal (and of course very NSFW) bookmarks to stay there after I'm done.
So the effect I'm trying to get here is one of the following:
- The bookmarks that were recently loaded into FireFox are deleted before/during shutdown.
- The bookmarks that were recently loaded into FireFox, while usable, are not actually saved to FireFox, therefore no risk of a random student stumbling upon my personal (and again, very NSFW) bookmarks.
Is there a way to do any of those effects? If it helps, I always activate Private Mode on the college computers.
Did you try opening the exported bookmark files with Firefox.
Ideally you should have your own college account and so no student would be able to access it.
Also note Private Mode does not stop your employer seeing your browsing History, (i.e. sites visited) so if NSFW means NSFW @ college you may have problems; if you visit such sites, regardless of whether you save or delete: bookmarks or History on Firefox. Maybe you should check the College rules and review whether what you are doing is permitted by the College.
- Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history
Important: .... Your Internet service provider, employer, or the sites themselves can still track what pages you visit.
I will correct the spelling Temporally in the thread title
If you load bookmarks into Firefox manually by importing or restoring them, you need to manually delete or overwrite those if you wish to get rid of them. That applies even if you are using Private Browsing.
Chosen Solution
John99 said
If you load bookmarks into Firefox manually by importing or restoring them, you need to manually delete or overwrite those if you wish to get rid of them. That applies even if you are using Private Browsing.
*sigh* I thought as much.
I was hoping there would be a faster way but since there isn't, I guess I'll continue with my previous method.
So, to summarize. Short of someone in the future creating an add-on for this specific purpose, there's no way to delete recently added bookmarks upon shutdown, nor is there a way to temporarily store them for a limited time. Got it.
As I said did you try just using an exported bookmarks HTML file possibly kept on a memory stick and opening that by using Ctrl+O. That gives you a list of searchable clickable links that is temporarily available.
To me that seems way more convenient than taking out a laptop, opening Firefox on that looking for bookmarks on the laptop's Firefox and then typing the bookmark URL into another computer.
Of course if you had your own college account for your college project then your bookmarks would be safe from others and could be synced with the other Firefox on the laptop. If your college project bookmarks are NSFW because other students should not see them then surely you should have your own college account.
If the issue is you are breaking College rules. You should not be doing that, and should be aware that the College IT Dept can see exactly what sites and webpages you visit in any session.
You can consider to use multiple profiles if you do not want to lose the bookmarks in your main Firefox profile.
John99 said
As I said did you try just using an exported bookmarks HTML file possibly kept on a memory stick and opening that by using Ctrl+O. That gives you a list of searchable clickable links that is temporarily available. To me that seems way more convenient than taking out a laptop, opening Firefox on that looking for bookmarks on the laptop's Firefox and then typing the bookmark URL into another computer.
True, that does seem more convenient. And even though I said that I like it, I haven't done that yet. Whoops.
John99 said
Also note Private Mode does not stop your employer seeing your browsing History, (i.e. sites visited) so if NSFW means NSFW @ college you may have problems; if you visit such sites, regardless of whether you save or delete: bookmarks or History on Firefox. Maybe you should check the College rules and review whether what you are doing is permitted by the College.
John99 said
If the issue is you are breaking College rules. You should not be doing that, and should be aware that the College IT Dept can see exactly what sites and webpages you visit in any session.
That's not the main problem, although it's a given (and common sense) that no one should look up NSFW material in a public area and I'm aware that the internet provider can see my history. My main concern is that I have 7-9 years worth of bookmarks saved and none of it is organized.
For example, I could have 5 DeviantArt images about cute things bookmarked one after the other and the very next bookmark is something NSFW. It's like this, but with (potentially) over 1,000 bookmarks. Sorting it all could take 2 hours or more as I check each and every bookmark and with the many things I'm busy with, I won't have the time to do this in the near future, which is why I made this question.
Anyways, I'll try the HTML file tonight.
It may be worth remembering Firefox can sort bookmarks itself in the library. You do not need to open the bookmarks. You can choose the columns to display and what to sort on. You may also search in the Library. Also you can use the tagging system.
- Bookmark Tags - Categorize bookmarks to make them easy to find
- Sort your bookmarks to quickly find the ones you want
The sorts may not be permanent. But if you drag and drop the sorted bookmarks they do then remain in that sorted order in the new location.