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Version 62.0 Bookmarks Description Window GONE !!!!

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It seems that Mozilla has gotten rid of the DESCRIPTION window when you right click on a bookmark's properties. This was done in July for the Mac version of Firefox and with Ver. 62.0 for Windows.

No warning was given and there are a lot of complaints on the Mac version forum about this change. Again with Windows there was no warning that this MAJOR change was going to take place.

Like MANY other people I use the DESCRIPTION window to store extensive information about a given webpage. You can imagine my shock this morning when I went to retrieve some info and the window was gone. A little digging online found the complaint thread on the Mac change.

I have no idea why this was done. If it was for some security reason then it is understandable........the change that is, not t he way it was handled.

There are solutions given on the Mac thread on how to use another companies add-on to show the past saved descriptions. They are still in the Mozilla data files but are not shown in Ver. 62. You can also do an EXPORT to a .html file and then open the descriptions in the browser. Or you can reinstall Ver. 61.x from the archives and set it to NOT check for updates. This is what I did for the moment.

PLEASE bring back the DESCRIPTION window in bookmark properties. This is absolutely nuts to have to experience what I went through this morning sorting this all out.

BH Davis

It seems that Mozilla has gotten rid of the DESCRIPTION window when you right click on a bookmark's properties. This was done in July for the Mac version of Firefox and with Ver. 62.0 for Windows. No warning was given and there are a lot of complaints on the Mac version forum about this change. Again with Windows there was no warning that this MAJOR change was going to take place. Like MANY other people I use the DESCRIPTION window to store extensive information about a given webpage. You can imagine my shock this morning when I went to retrieve some info and the window was gone. A little digging online found the complaint thread on the Mac change. I have no idea why this was done. If it was for some security reason then it is understandable........the change that is, not t he way it was handled. There are solutions given on the Mac thread on how to use another companies add-on to show the past saved descriptions. They are still in the Mozilla data files but are not shown in Ver. 62. You can also do an EXPORT to a .html file and then open the descriptions in the browser. Or you can reinstall Ver. 61.x from the archives and set it to NOT check for updates. This is what I did for the moment. PLEASE bring back the DESCRIPTION window in bookmark properties. This is absolutely nuts to have to experience what I went through this morning sorting this all out. BH Davis

Все ответы (20)

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We (support) don't make any project decisions and have anything to say about it.

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The description field that was removed is part of the annotations and all annotations will be removed rather then rewriting all involved code to be asynchronous (i.e. run off the main thread). I'm sure that there will be extensions that will use the other description field that is present in places.sqlite and that has been added to be used by Activity Stream (new Firefox Home page) once there is API support.

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Hi BH Davis, is your Mac running a Beta or Developer version of Firefox? The Mac and Firefox versions of Firefox 61 and 62 should have the same core features.

But as to the question at hand:

Advocating for Feature changes in Firefox

Support forum volunteers work with the Firefox we have today. We can suggest settings, add-ons, and other workarounds to resolve issues, but we don't decide (or really even influence) the direction of the product.

To give further comments on the Descriptions issue, you can use one or more of the following (depending on whether you want a suggestion box or a discussion):

Next Steps

If you use the Description field frequently, you could consider adopting a new program (or an add-on?) that will help you maintain your notes. I've tested one so far and wanted to mention this as an option:

Zotero

Zotero is an open source bibliographic/research tool for collecting references. Zotero knows how to read a Firefox HTML bookmarks file and will preserve the descriptions. You can keep your storage purely local, or you can optionally sync with the Zotero cloud.

This is a one-way trip: you can send new references to Zotero from within Firefox using a Zotero add-on, but you won't be able to read/edit bookmark descriptions from within Firefox.

If you want to try it:

The Zotero research tool is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux from https://www.zotero.org/

When you import a bookmarks.html file, it creates entries for each page but it flattens the folder structure, so it comes out like this:

  • bookmarks.html, with top-level Bookmarks Menu items
    • Bookmarks Toolbar folder
    • Folder1
    • Folder2
    • Other Bookmarks folder

When you click a bookmark, Zotero displays the Title, URL, and "Abstract" which contains the imported Description. (Screenshot #1) Double-clicking the item will launch the page in the default browser.

Zotero also has an optional Firefox Connector webextension, which allow saving new pages to a Zotero collection (either under the bookmarks structure, or other folders the user created in Zotero). (Screenshot #2)

<center></center>

(I didn't look at cloud sync.)

Using a second program is less convenient than using Firefox features or a fully self-contained Firefox extension. However, it might suit your needs.

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what were they thinking.. massive messup on Mozilla's part for the Description Tab that has always been there.. ALL my notes are GONE under Description... there has to be some type of solution out there... so far I walked back the Update from 62.0 to 61.0.2 and got everything back luckily.. I now cannot update to the most recent version until I find a fix.. what a mess BAD STUFF.. after all these years using FF and before that back to the days of Netscape this happens.. I knew they would ruin it.. change for the sake of change is never any good.. disappointed in Mozilla big time

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For now the description field has only been removed from the user interface in the Bookmarks Manager (Library). This description field is still present in the places.sqlite database and you can export the bookmarks to an HTML file or create a JSON backup to have a backup copy that includes the descriptions.

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jscher2000 said

FF Facebook and Twitter accounts as you know are no longer monitored by FF.. so NO solution.. I saw this coming a while back.. little by little the powers to be will ruin a great browser.. this is just the start.. disappointed ..
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Users who cannot live without this feature could consider switching from the regular release of Firefox to the Extended Support Release of Firefox 60. This change won't come to the ESR track until 10-12 months from now.

While ESR was designed for businesses that require feature stability for long periods of time, there's nothing to stop individuals from using it. There is an article about it here: Switch to Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) for personal use.

If anyone tries this, please make a backup first -- Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles -- and let us know how it works out.

Изменено jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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cor-el said

For now the description field has only been removed from the user interface in the Bookmarks Manager (Library). This description field is still present in the places.sqlite database and you can export the bookmarks to an HTML file or create a JSON backup to have a backup copy that includes the descriptions.

I've always done both those backups on a regular basis.. only trouble is.. can't read the Description Tab without FF

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If you create an HTML backup then you can open this file in any browser or text editor to see the description field.

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cor-el said

If you create an HTML backup then you can open this file in any browser or text editor to see the description field.

Yes you can do that. You can even then copy/paste it into a Word.doc for reference. However aside from the inconvenience this method runs all the text on into one long difficult to decipher paragraph.

You can even download and install ZOTERO which can import an exported .html file and maintain the folder structure of the bookmark list. However again the data isn't as clearly paragraphed out as in the original DESCRIPTION window. Plus you have to leave Firefox to go to Zotero to grab the info you need. Zotero has a Firefox extension for saving bookmarks though and that is helpful. But again you have to go to Zotero to then add the info you need. Plus Zotero has to be open for the Firefox extension to work.

All in all a real pain for those who relied on this key feature.

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bhdavis said

cor-el said
If you create an HTML backup then you can open this file in any browser or text editor to see the description field.
Yes you can do that. You can even then copy/paste it into a Word.doc for reference. However aside from the inconvenience this method runs all the text on into one long difficult to decipher paragraph.

HTML hides line breaks. To force them to appear, you can insert a style rule into your HTML file. For example, this will preserve line breaks in the descriptions (first rule) and indent folders (next 3 rules), making it a little easier to follow:

<style> dd {white-space: pre-wrap;} dl>dt>dl {margin-left: 1em; border-left: 1px solid #444; padding-left: 1em;} dt>h3[personal_toolbar_folder="true"]+dl {border-left: 3px double #090;} dt>h3[unfiled_bookmarks_folder="true"]+dl {border-left: 3px double #f00;} </style>

If you convert a JSON backup using the following page, these will be added by default: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/bookbackreader.html

Note: the page has a performance issue, so after you save the export, you probably will want to close it immediately. Hopefully I can track that down.

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jscher2000 said

bhdavis said
cor-el said
If you create an HTML backup then you can open this file in any browser or text editor to see the description field.
Yes you can do that. You can even then copy/paste it into a Word.doc for reference. However aside from the inconvenience this method runs all the text on into one long difficult to decipher paragraph.

HTML hides line breaks. To force them to appear, you can insert a style rule into your HTML file. For example, this will preserve line breaks in the descriptions (first rule) and indent folders (next 3 rules), making it a little easier to follow:

<style> dd {white-space: pre-wrap;} dl>dt>dl {margin-left: 1em; border-left: 1px solid #444; padding-left: 1em;} dt>h3[personal_toolbar_folder="true"]+dl {border-left: 3px double #090;} dt>h3[unfiled_bookmarks_folder="true"]+dl {border-left: 3px double #f00;} </style>

If you convert a JSON backup using the following page, these will be added by default: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/bookbackreader.html

Note: the page has a performance issue, so after you save the export, you probably will want to close it immediately. Hopefully I can track that down.

before going back to 61 after I had updated to 62 I tried opening the json and html bookmark files in Wordpad.. a jumbled mess... don't need the aggravation so I am staying with the older FF 61 version... what craziness after all these years some guy decides to eliminate the Descriptions tab.. what a dweeb.. and if he came on here I'd tell him as much.. makes no sense the beginning of the end for FF is what I say  :(

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Well I just downloaded Firefox 62.0esr as suggested above and it looks good. DESCRIPTION window is there with all my information.

Hopefully this settles the issues. For all those above as annoyed as I was I'd suggest checking into the ESR version.

Thanks for all the help. BH

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I just came across that article also in other words FF is telling its long time users -- go pound salt .. eventually it'll bite them back... looking for an app to still make use of Descriptions... guess it's not gonna happen.. oh well .. Chrome is looking better and better and works seemlessly across all platforms for me.. wow.. sad  :(

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stakeouttoo said

looking for an app to still make use of Descriptions... guess it's not gonna happen..

What do you have in mind?

Have you considered reference tracking software like Zotero? https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1232863#answer-1151534

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The way Firefox handles bookmarks, and particularly the description field, is the one and only reason I've stuck with it all these years. To throw this feature away -- this unique feature which distinguishes FF from all other browsers -- is simply incomprehensible to me.

What an utterly senseless decision that shows indifference to your users. What are you guys thinking about?

Let me know when/if you bring the descriptions back. When/if you do, I'll be using Chrome when I find out about it. In the meantime, I'll be busy fishing all this valuable information I've compiled over a period of many years out of a cryptic JSON file.

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Hi Zperson, you can more easily fish out the descriptions if you convert your cryptic JSON file (bookmark backup file) using this tool:

https://jscher2000.github.io/Firefox-File-Utilities/bookbackreader.html

Or use Firefox's HTML export: Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks.

I don't understand why your solution is to use Chrome instead of a version of Firefox that will support bookmark descriptions for 10-12 more months?

On the more general issue, it's unlikely this feature will return, but if you want to give feedback to Mozilla, you can use one or more of the following (depending on whether you want a suggestion box or a discussion):

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Zperson said

In the meantime, I'll be busy fishing all this valuable information I've compiled over a period of many years out of a cryptic JSON file.

But why can't you just use an addon to keep your desc/notes in Firefox?

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/bookmark-notes/

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jscher2000 said

Hi Zperson, you can more easily fish out the descriptions if you convert your cryptic JSON file (bookmark backup file) using this tool: https://jscher2000.github.io/Firefox-File-Utilities/bookbackreader.html Or use Firefox's HTML export: Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks. I don't understand why your solution is to use Chrome instead of a version of Firefox that will support bookmark descriptions for 10-12 more months? On the more general issue, it's unlikely this feature will return, but if you want to give feedback to Mozilla, you can use one or more of the following (depending on whether you want a suggestion box or a discussion):

Wow jscher2000, thank you. That worked and it saved me hours and hours.

And yes I downloaded that ESR release, it works, but I don't want to rely on a lame duck browser. Time will pass, I'll forget it's lame duck, and then suddenly it'll be gone. I'd rather fend for myself out-of-band for this description information. I prefer a product that's good enough but lacks certain great features over one that gets you relying on great features and then suddenly and inexplicably snatches them away.

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