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Bookmarks drop-down not working correctly

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I am trying to drop all my bookmarks into a folder I created, but the bookmarks are each replicated on the main Bookmark dropdown. making terrible clutter. I already know deleting Bookmarks from the dropdown deletes the equivalent ones in the folder I want them in. Bookmarks cannot be deleted from the main dropdown, So I use the * next to the search box and poof - they're all gone from the dropdown and all folders.

Instead of Firefox bookmarks I am just using desktop shortcuts, which is even more clutter. With all due respect, please do not post an answer unless you have a proven remedy. I am wasting huge amounts of time/money trying to use Mozilla support pages...

I am trying to drop all my bookmarks into a folder I created, but the bookmarks are each replicated on the main Bookmark dropdown. making terrible clutter. I already know deleting Bookmarks from the dropdown deletes the equivalent ones in the folder I want them in. Bookmarks cannot be deleted from the main dropdown, So I use the * next to the search box and poof - they're all gone from the dropdown and all folders. Instead of Firefox bookmarks I am just using desktop shortcuts, which is even more clutter. With all due respect, please do not post an answer unless you have a proven remedy. I am wasting huge amounts of time/money trying to use Mozilla support pages...

All Replies (5)

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Chrislongski said

I am trying to drop all my bookmarks into a folder I created, but the bookmarks are each replicated on the main Bookmark dropdown. making terrible clutter. I already know deleting Bookmarks from the dropdown deletes the equivalent ones in the folder I want them in.

Sorry, I think you're having a problem with a new feature in Firefox 49, which is a section of the menu listing your 5 most recently added bookmarks (regardless of which folder you put them in). Since that section is not an independent copy of the bookmarks, deleting from that section also deletes the actual bookmark.

You can hide the gray heading Recently Bookmarked and following five bookmarks using one of these methods:

(1) Context Menu

Right-click the "Recently Bookmarked" text and choose Hide Recently Bookmarked from the bottom of the right-click context menu (see attached screenshot)

Note: A user reported this doesn't work on the Bookmarks Menu on the main menu bar on Mac, only the bookmarks menu that drops from the toolbar button, which is pictured in the screenshot.

(2) Directly Edit a Preference

The menu item switches a hidden preference from true to false, and you can do that directly as follows:

(A) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful.

(B) In the search box above the list, type or paste book and pause while the list is filtered

(C) Double-click the browser.bookmarks.showRecentlyBookmarked preference to switch the value from true to false

Success?

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I think you may be misunderstanding the concept of how Firefox handles bookmarks. I know you have tried to look at some of the help articles without success. Some of those have screenshots animations or video clips and probably explain them better than I can. Firefox has fairly sophisticated methods of handling bookmarks. It will probably do whatever you want it to do.

That dropdown is only one view of your bookmarks. Firefox gives you great flexibility in how you arrange the bookmarks Quick tips

  • Put folders towards the top
  • Nest folders if need be
    • I often have hundreds if not thousands of Bookmarks, but I tent to restrict numbers per folder to what displays without scrolling.
    • In the dropdown from the icon folders expand to the side on mousover

You have three main methods of viewing bookmarks

  • a dropdown from the paired bookmarks icons to the right of the search bar {Click the icon)
  • a sidebar at the left edge of the window {Keyboard shortcut Ctrl+B toggles that on and off)
  • A tripple pane multi column searchable Library or Manager page { Ctrl + Shift + B)

You will also see the bookmarks

  • When using the bookmarks star
  • From the bookmarks toolbar if it is enabled and populated.

Bookmarks are usually put on folders. Some exist by default. Probably rather annoyingly if you use the dropdown the recently bookmarked ones take up space at the top. Followed by bookmarks toolbar folder. That one has some Firefox links in it by default. Next is other bookmarks - that folder is where Firefox puts the bookmarks if you do not put them anywhere else. The space under there is where the vast majority of bookmarks will probably normally be put. The space will scroll.

Bookmarks Toolbar If you choose to use that each top level folder becomes a dropdown on the bookmarks toolbar. When it runs out of top level space it makes a dropdown on the right edge. Each folder may be nested.

You do not need to physically view bookmarks to use them. Firefox will find then easily from the addressbar

This is slightly out of date, the names and positions of some things are not quite as they are now but a picture paints a thousand words, and this is a video clip

Note the thumbnail video will expnd to full screen size if clicked on then click in the [] bottom right corner.

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What you guys have explained works. I do know about the the About:Config. I do know about the sidebar but I like a clean browser window, side-to-side and top-to-bottom (see attachment). I hate to be a pain but I find if I keep everything 'just so' I can knock around quickly and efficiently.

More importantly, I configure all my support customers exactly as I configure so I don't even have to be near a computer to tell them what to do, if you know what I mean. Have to keep everything uniform and predictable and it is a pain, but does pay off. Uniformity end-to-end is very important for me.

I have another question I will post. I am an applications guy but I get calls about your browser all the time.

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The question I have is already posted - about the popups in the lower-right corner. Everyone I know hates them. You can see from my screen shot in this post which addons I run for Firefox. Thanx a lot you guys. I get pressured all day every day...

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So can you close out this particular question -- is it solved?