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Fixed - After A Bookmarks' Library [Restore] Function, Tag Bookmark Names & Folders Show Duplicated

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by Jimmy

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Something went wrong w/ the mouse, some of my tags disappeared & wasn't able to recover them via Ctrl+Z, so I decided to perform my 1st [Restore] (never had to do 1 before), since I had just recently done an [Export Bookmarks] & a [Backup]. Everything seems to have gone Ok, except that for every tag, all of the bookmarks listed under the [Name] column are duplicated. When I right-click & [Show In Folder], they both show in the same folder. When going onto their folder, they are only shown once, so there are no duplicates there. When I attempt to [Delete] 1 of the 2 duplicate entries they both get [Deleted], so I can only conclude that they are 1 in the same. But the question remains, "How can I fix this duplicate condition?"

Another related & interesting behavior is that, from any bookmark folder where you can clearly see there are no duplicated bookmarks, when you do a [Search] from the top-right-hand search-box, the "results" are also "duplicated", although you might need to sort them by clicking on the [Name] column control. So, I can go to any bookmark folder & clearly see that there are no duplicate bookmarks, but when you do a [Search], that's when you get duplicate entries. That leads me to believe that this is the result of the [Search] function, & thus for some odd reason the [Search] is generating "duplicate entries". And then perhaps, both the [Tag]s & the [Search] function are related.

Also, this "duplication" does not happen on newer added bookmarks, after the [Restore] was executed, & it's only a phenomenon that affects those bookmarks that were saved by the Bookmarks' Library [Backup] function, & thus this anomaly was introduced by the [Backup].

Actually, I just realized the problem is more complicated than I thought. The reason any search results in "duplicate bookmarks" is because there are 2 sets of folders, 1 set above the other, & if you don't scroll down all the way you won't see it. So that's why there are actually "2 Sets Of Bookmarks", because there are "2 Sets Of Folders", 1 above the other. The problem is that when you delete any "Duplicate Bookmark" you delete them both, & not just 1 of the 2 bookmarks.

I wonder if it would work, to "Delete All Bookmarks" & then do a [Restore]?

Could "Mozilla Support" answer that?

Don't know why every time I attempt to [Post A Reply] & get an "Error",... So I'm going to post my reply right here,...

Fix: (2024-02-19) Of course, I did some testing before I concluded what was the best approach, but since I noticed all of the "Bookmarks Folders" were duplicated under [Bookmarks Menu], an easy fix is to go to the "bottom duplicated folder", right on top of the [Other Bookmarks] folder, & "Select It" (by clicking on it) & [Delete] it (w/ the [Delete] key on your keyboard). Do this 1 by 1, until you reach the "bottom folder" of the bookmarks' folder you certainly don't want to delete. Close Firefox & then reopen it - to make sure Firefox takes care of any garbage-collection. Then do your Bookmarks' Library [Export Bookmarks To HTML] followed by a [Backup], & you are good to go.

Actually, I don't know what introduced the error. Don't know if it was Firefox's [Restore] function, or it could have been me (by accident) w/ some "unnoticed & unexpected" move of the mouse/trackball, which accidentally duplicated all of the folders w/o me noticing, & that is why all of the "Bookmarks" were "duplicated".

Happy Firefox Browsing,...

Something went wrong w/ the mouse, some of my tags disappeared & wasn't able to recover them via Ctrl+Z, so I decided to perform my 1st [Restore] (never had to do 1 before), since I had just recently done an [Export Bookmarks] & a [Backup]. Everything seems to have gone Ok, except that for every tag, all of the bookmarks listed under the [Name] column are duplicated. When I right-click & [Show In Folder], they both show in the same folder. When going onto their folder, they are only shown once, so there are no duplicates there. When I attempt to [Delete] 1 of the 2 duplicate entries they both get [Deleted], so I can only conclude that they are 1 in the same. But the question remains, "How can I fix this duplicate condition?" Another related & interesting behavior is that, from any bookmark folder where you can clearly see there are no duplicated bookmarks, when you do a [Search] from the top-right-hand search-box, the "results" are also "duplicated", although you might need to sort them by clicking on the [Name] column control. So, I can go to any bookmark folder & clearly see that there are no duplicate bookmarks, but when you do a [Search], that's when you get duplicate entries. That leads me to believe that this is the result of the [Search] function, & thus for some odd reason the [Search] is generating "duplicate entries". And then perhaps, both the [Tag]s & the [Search] function are related. Also, this "duplication" does not happen on newer added bookmarks, after the [Restore] was executed, & it's only a phenomenon that affects those bookmarks that were saved by the Bookmarks' Library [Backup] function, & thus this anomaly was introduced by the [Backup]. Actually, '''''I just realized the problem is more complicated than I thought'''''. The reason any search results in "duplicate bookmarks" is because there are 2 sets of folders, 1 set above the other, & if you don't scroll down all the way you won't see it. So that's why there are actually "2 Sets Of Bookmarks", because there are "2 Sets Of Folders", 1 above the other. The problem is that when you delete any "Duplicate Bookmark" you delete them both, & not just 1 of the 2 bookmarks. '''''I wonder if it would work, to "Delete All Bookmarks" & then do a [Restore]?''''' Could '''''"Mozilla Support"''''' answer that? Don't know why every time I attempt to '''[Post A Reply]''' & get an '''''"Error"''''',... So I'm going to post my reply right here,... '''''Fix: (2024-02-19)''''' Of course, I did some testing before I concluded what was the best approach, but since I noticed all of the '''''"Bookmarks Folders"''''' were duplicated under '''''[Bookmarks Menu]''''', an easy fix is to go to the "bottom duplicated folder", right on top of the [Other Bookmarks] folder, & "Select It" (by clicking on it) & [Delete] it (w/ the [Delete] key on your keyboard). Do this 1 by 1, until you reach the "bottom folder" of the bookmarks' folder you certainly don't want to delete. Close Firefox & then reopen it - to make sure Firefox takes care of any garbage-collection. Then do your Bookmarks' Library [Export Bookmarks To HTML] followed by a [Backup], & you are good to go. Actually, I don't know what introduced the error. Don't know if it was Firefox's [Restore] function, or it could have been me (by accident) w/ some "unnoticed & unexpected" move of the mouse/trackball, which accidentally duplicated all of the folders w/o me noticing, & that is why all of the "Bookmarks" were "duplicated". Happy Firefox Browsing,...

Modified by Jimmy

Chosen solution

Fixed: (2024-02-19) - This is how I fixed the problem. I don't [Synch] since I only have 1 Firefox device.

Of course, I did some testing before I concluded what was the best approach, but since I noticed all of the "Bookmarks Folders" were duplicated under [Bookmarks Menu], an easy fix is to go to the "bottom duplicated folder", right on top of the [Other Bookmarks] folder, & "Select It" (by clicking on it) & [Delete] it (w/ the [Delete] key on your keyboard). Do this 1 by 1, until you reach the "bottom folder" of the bookmarks' folder you certainly don't want to delete. Close Firefox & then reopen it - to make sure Firefox takes care of any garbage-collection. Then do your Bookmarks' Library [Export Bookmarks To HTML] followed by a [Backup], & you are good to go.

Actually, I don't know what introduced the error. Don't know if it was Firefox's [Restore] function, or it could have been me (by accident) w/ some "unnoticed & unexpected" move of the mouse/trackball, which accidentally duplicated all of the folders w/o me noticing, & that is why all of the "Bookmarks" were "duplicated".

Happy Firefox Browsing,...

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All Replies (4)

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If you use Sync, best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.

  • use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

  • keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
  • you lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created

You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).

See also:

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).

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Jimmy said

Don't know why every time I attempt to [Post A Reply] & get an "Error",... So I'm going to post my reply right here

The not being able to reply to threads issue for some users should hopefully be fixed now. /forums/contributors/716818#post-87077

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Ok James,... If this posts, I can now [Reply],... Thanks.

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Chosen Solution

Fixed: (2024-02-19) - This is how I fixed the problem. I don't [Synch] since I only have 1 Firefox device.

Of course, I did some testing before I concluded what was the best approach, but since I noticed all of the "Bookmarks Folders" were duplicated under [Bookmarks Menu], an easy fix is to go to the "bottom duplicated folder", right on top of the [Other Bookmarks] folder, & "Select It" (by clicking on it) & [Delete] it (w/ the [Delete] key on your keyboard). Do this 1 by 1, until you reach the "bottom folder" of the bookmarks' folder you certainly don't want to delete. Close Firefox & then reopen it - to make sure Firefox takes care of any garbage-collection. Then do your Bookmarks' Library [Export Bookmarks To HTML] followed by a [Backup], & you are good to go.

Actually, I don't know what introduced the error. Don't know if it was Firefox's [Restore] function, or it could have been me (by accident) w/ some "unnoticed & unexpected" move of the mouse/trackball, which accidentally duplicated all of the folders w/o me noticing, & that is why all of the "Bookmarks" were "duplicated".

Happy Firefox Browsing,...