Hi Doug, what extension requires you to navigate over and over? If it triggers the Firefox download dialog, that usually would continue to use the last folder you downloaded to.

In Firefox 57+ extensions are limited in where they can auto-save. They can manage folders under your default Downloads folder. So for example,

C:\Users\doug\Downloads\screenshotter

The extension can create (sub)folders there and auto-save as you work. However, it can't auto-save outside of your default Downloads folder.

(The one I use can auto-save to Downloads; it doesn't curate its own subfolder structure so it might not be useful for your needs.)

Hi jscher2000,

1st, EVERY "Screen Capture" "Extension" that I have installed/deleted required repeated navigation to the directory where the user actually wants to save the image - this is with the FireFox "Options>Files and Applications>Downloads>Always ask you where to save files" set.

Having to go to the idiotic User/Download directory and hope that you have selected all pertinent "captures" and manually moving them to the correct directory, on another drive, is not remotely user friendly or even useful.

Destroying "Screengrab (Fix Version)" WHICH WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST SCREEN CAPTURE FOR FIREFOX, was extremely obnoxious, and shortsighted and NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR USERS.

NOW, EVERY SINGLE SIMILAR "EXTENSION" IS USELESS TO NEARLY EVERY LONG TERM USER.

Forcing users to save all screen captures within "C:\Users\doug\Downloads\screenshotter" IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE SINCE 57+ ALLOWS USERS TO CONTINUE TO SAVE "PRINT TO PDF (ALTHOUGH FF CANNOT PROPERLY PRINT MANY PAGES), AS WELL AS SAVING SEQUENTIAL DOWNLOADS TO THE SAME LAST DIRECTORY THAT WAS USED THIS SAME SESSION.

What is the reason that made saving screen captures the same way impossible?

IF "SAVE" FILES AND USELESS PDF PRINTS in the same directory already specified with the last FILE SAVE and PRINT SCREEN DOES NOT CREATE A SECURITY ISSUE, HOW DOES LETTING "SCREEN CAPTURE" EXTENSIONS DO THE SAME THING CREATE ANY MORE OF A SECURITY RISK.

MOZILLA IS FORCING ALL USERS HOW DOCUMENT THEIR BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS, TO EITHER CONTINUE TO USE FF 56.0.2, WHERE "SCREENGRAB" WORKS PERFECTLY OR TO SEARCH FOR A BROWSER THAT THE "DESIGN" GROUP HAS SOME SENSE WHEN IT COMES TO LISTENING TO THEIR USER NEEDS.

Mozilla seems to be on a major decline in usefulness - the Android app is so slow that it is now useless - and it looks like the PC version "Extensions" are destroying this version.

MOZILLA NEEDS TO STOP TALKING NONSENSE ABOUT NON-EXISTENT SECURITY ISSUES, AND RESTORE THIS "Screen Capture" last directory FUNCTIONALITY BACK TO FIREFOX, as it exists elsewhere in v67+.

Hi Doug, I use the "Always ask you where to save files" setting and if I'm taking multiple screenshots in a row, Firefox keeps using the same folder.

Maybe that setting isn't working properly on your Firefox? Firefox should use the folder listed as the browser.download.lastDir in about:config. Is this value getting updated when you change folders:

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

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

(3) When you save to a different folder, check this tab to see whether browser.download.lastDir was updated to match

If you're interested, I use this extension with the below settings: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/savescreenshot/

Hi jscher2000,

1. I also use the "Always ask you where to save files" setting (in FF Quantum 68.0.1 (64-bit)) - that is not working, it always stays in the "C:\Users\doug\Downloads\" Directory, regardless of navigation to another directory, C:\Users\doug\Downloads\ is always "remembered";

2. I opened about:config;

3 lastDir is not in my config;

4. I then searched for browser.download , which returned 13 entries (it is attached as browser.download_MISSING_.lastdir.JPG) - I had to create this image via Windows Snippit - MOZILLA allows no screen captures or print in many Mozilla windows including about:config

5. Is the browser.download.lastDir entry for FF Quantum 68.0.1 (64-bit)?

6. If it is, how do I add another entry to about:config and what should be entered in each of the 3 parameters;

7. I tried https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/savescreenshot/ , but it is severely limited in what can be "captured" (no "Save Selected" and only saves to the C:\Users\doug\Downloads\;

8. I have tried "Nimbus Capture" (and other Web-Extentions) as well as Mozilla's own "Take a Screenshot, both try to save consecutive files in C:\Users\doug\Downloads\

9. Additionally, I have found NO EXTENSION that includes a useful date & timestamp as part of the filename, even if the directory selection worked.

10. The reason that I am forced to continue maintaining a separate FF v56.0.2 installation is that i MUST have the documentation quality capability of the AWESOME Screengrab (Fix Version).

Please let me know if & what should be added to the config. (And where it should be entered.)

Thanks

Hi Doug, the lastDir preference is created and updated automatically. I'm having trouble guessing why yours is missing completely and failing so miserably. When Firefox makes a download in a private window, it doesn't update the preference; otherwise, it should.

I realize https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/savescreenshot/ does not have selection saving, but was it able to save in the same folder over and over or did it have the same issue as the others you tested?

Hi jscher2000,

I just got a reply from Nimbus Web Inc N. regarding the same question.

Their brief response included "...Firefox doesn't allow it..."

Hi jscher2000,

I have been running in "Private" mode forever. Does FF v 68+ require that I turn it off in order to even get a rudimentary screen image.

As I said in #7 above, "7. I tried https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/savescreenshot/ , but it is severely limited in what can be "captured" (no "Save Selected" and only saves to the C:\Users\doug\Downloads\;"

Do I need to add an entry for browser.download.lastDir to my about:config as a "Preference Name" what should the entries for Status, Type and Value be?

Doug said

I have been running in "Private" mode forever. Does FF v 68+ require that I turn it off in order to even get a rudimentary screen image.

The issue is not whether you can capture a screen image. The issue is whether Firefox retains the history of where you saved the last download.

Are you closing/opening different private windows when capturing documents in the same business transaction? If I test using the same private window -- either the same tab or a second tab -- Firefox caches the last download directory in memory so I can keep saving into that directory until I close that window. This does not carry over to other private windows in the same session (or of course in a new session).

Doug said

Do I need to add an entry for browser.download.lastDir to my about:config as a "Preference Name" what should the entries for Status, Type and Value be?

In my tests, the starting directory in a private window before I change it is the default download directory (browser.download.dir), not the lastDir.

With that in mind, how about changing your approach a bit?

When you need to select a folder for a sequence of downloads, flip your preference on the Options page:

Under Downloads, select the bubble for "Save files to" and select the folder for the project.

When you're done and want to save things in random locations, switch back to "Always ask you where to save files".

Hi jscher2000,

First, your comment, “The issue is not whether you can capture a screen image. The issue is whether Firefox retains the history of where you saved the last download.”, is not entirely true. Mozilla WILL NOT ALLOW any screen capture or print to save any of the Mozilla screens – not config, options, forum entries, etc.

That being said, BECAUSE OF THIS BUG, I was forced to use the Windows Snip-it utility to produce the earlier about:config image with all but the sub-set of browser.download filtered out. I have attached another “Snip-It” of my current settings after I made two changes, as described below. (Config.JPG)

My FFQ 68.0.1 about:config did not contain entries for either browser.download.lastDir or browser.download.dir.

So, I created both as “strings.” I added browser.download.lastDir with string value D:\ and browser.download.dir with string value D:\Temp.

Today, when I went back into config, and the browser.download.lastDir had been deleted. I restored it to the above value.

A “Print” (Cntl-P) SAVING AS A *.pdf or *.xps”, of any non-Mozilla webpages, ALWAYS remembers the last “Print” file save locations – even from session to session (although Mozilla does not always allow “printing” to a file with the complete set of the screen.)

I tried https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/savescreenshot/ , but it is severely limited in what can be "captured" (no "Save Selected" and ONLY saves to the C:\Users\doug\Downloads\ directory.)

I have tried "Nimbus Capture" (and other Web-Extensions) as well as Mozilla's own "Take a Screenshot”, both try to save consecutive files in C:\Users\doug\Downloads\.

I even contacted the Nimbus tech support, and as I have said in another comment, their answer was simply "...Firefox doesn't allow it...".

THAT WAS ALSO THE RESPONSE OF OTHER DEVELOPERS WHEN THE POORLY THOUGHT OUT "EXTENSIONS" BEGAN ROLLING OUT WITH V57+ - FIREFOX DOES NOT ALLOW IT.

THAT IS A PRETTY DEFINITIVE ANSWER - THE FAULT LIES WITH MOZILLA'S STUPID CHOICES REGARDING RESTRICTING THE H**L OUT OF "EXTENSIONS".

Since NO ADD-ON will allow saving consecutive screen prints to the navigated directory. So, basically EVERY Screen Capture “tool” is incapable of remembering the last directory FOR SCREEN PRINTS. The “File” download of any other type of action, REMEMBERS THE LAST DIRECTORY USED – FROM SESSION TO SESSION.

The problem is SIMPLY THE FAULT OF FIREFOX’S “WEB-EXTENSIONS” RESTRICTIONS ON SAVING SCREEN CAPTURES.

THE STUPIDITY OF KILLING WHAT WAS THE ABSOLUTE WORLD’S BEST, MOST FUNCTIONAL “SCREEN CAPTURE” ADD-ON (ScreenGrab – Fix Version), MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO LOGICAL SENSE, SINCE EVERY OTHER “SAVE” IN FIREFOX WORKS CORRECTLY.

Why is Mozilla blocking an entire set of tools (including its own "Take a Screenshot”) as well as ALL SCREEN CAPTURE ADD-ONS from doing the same action as downloading any standard file, perfectly saving each file in the last directory used – including from session to session.

If those files are safe to set the directory, until it is changed by the user, WHY DOES MOZZILA REFUSE TO ALLOW SCREEN CAPTURES THE SAME USER FREEDOM.

Your suggestion of constantly changing the save directory under options, would be extremely tedious, time consuming and SHOULD NEVER BE REQUIRED TO SIMPLY SAVE ALL FILES WHERE THE USER WANTS THEM STORED. IT ALSO IS NOT PRACTICAL TO USE A SUB-DIRECTORY UNDER C:\Users\doug\Downloads\, AND THEN MOVE MANY FILES TO THEIR CORRECT LOCATIONS.

This is a major flaw with Mozilla FF 57+.

There is NO LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THIS DISCREPANCY.

UNTIL MOZILLA FIXES THIS NONSENSE, I HAVE TO KEEP 56.0.2 (64-bit) JUST IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT EVERY BUSINESS TRANSACTION – WHICH I KNOW IS NO LONGER SAFE TO USE – BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE DUE TO THIS INTENTIONAL BLOCKING OF USER CONTROL OF FIREFOX.

ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT DOWNLOADED ALL “SCREEN CAPTURE” TYPE OF “WEB-EXTENSIONS” – I HAVE LOOKED AT MOST OF THEIR DESCRIPTIONS.

NO SO-CALLED “EXTENSION” ALLOWS SCREEN CAPTURE TO BE CONSECUTIVELY SAVED TO THE SAME DIRECTORY – WITH NO REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE.

PLEASE REQUEST THAT THIS BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY.

Note that you do not need an extension to take a full page screenshot. The builtin Firefox screenshot feature is able to do this as well.

You can find items like "Take a Screenshot" and the Bookmark Star in the drop-down list that opens if you click the "Page actions" button (3-dot icon at the right end of the location/address bar). You can right-click an item in the "Page actions" drop-down list to add its button to the location/address bar for easy access.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-screenshots

Hi Doug, the reason I can download repeatedly to the same folder and you cannot is that you are using automatic private browsing ("I have been running in "Private" mode forever"). That prevents Firefox from saving the lastDir for downloads. If you don't believe me, try it.

These points are not relevant to the problem:

• Ability of your PDF printer driver to remember the last folder -- the directory is selected outside of Firefox by the PDF printer driver
• Inability to screenshot about:config -- WebExtensions do not work on most internal pages
• Inability to screenshot Mozilla Support -- WebExtensions are blocked on several Mozilla sites that have elevated access to private information
• How legacy extensions worked -- legacy extensions are not coming back

@cor-el,

I have addressed the problems with "Take a Screenshot" multiple times.

As I said in my last comment "I have tried "Nimbus Capture" (and other Web-Extensions) as well as Mozilla's own "Take a Screenshot”, both try to save consecutive files in C:\Users\doug\Downloads\." ""Take a Screenshot"" is not useful for documenting financial transactions.

@jscher2000,

Yes, I always use private browsing.

Think about the stupidity of having to TURN OFF "PRIVATE BROWSING", MAKING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL, MEDICAL, ETC., PAGES VERY DANGEROUS.

THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON TO BLOCK ALL REASONABLE SCREEN CAPTURE "EXTENSIONS" IN "PRIVATE BROWSING." THOSE ARE ESSENTIAL TO USING "MOZILLA."

Without the ability to create screen captures, with the level of the incredibly well developed legacy "ScreenGrab (Fix Version"). THERE IS NOW NO EXTENSION THAT EVEN COMES CLOSE TO IT'S USER FLEXIBILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY.

FIREFOX IS NO LONGER FAST, SAFE OR USEFUL.

These points are not relevant to the problem:

• Ability of your PDF printer driver to remember the last folder -- the directory is selected outside of Firefox by the PDF printer driver
• Inability to screenshot about:config -- WebExtensions do not work on most internal pages
• Inability to screenshot Mozilla Support -- WebExtensions are blocked on several Mozilla sites that have elevated access to private information
• How legacy extensions worked -- legacy extensions are not coming back

Yes, some of them are relevant to this problem. Specifically WHEN THE BROWSER "PRINT" FACILITY, FOR ALL FILE TYPES (I.E. PDF, XPS), UPDATES SOME LAST SAVE LOCATION - IT IS ALSO SET IN THE BROWSER'S BUILT "SAVE IMAGE" - WITH EITHER SITUATION AND USES, THE BROWSER DOES "REMEMBER" THE LAST DIRECTORY USED FOR BOTH OF THESE BROWSER FEATURES.

Also, it is very arrogant of Mozilla to block all "Printing" or "Capturing" of Mozilla pages - THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MANY USERS.

YES, I KNOW THAT LEGACY "ADD-ON'S" ARE NOT COMING BACK.

However, removing all useful capacity for consecutive screen captures, from Firefox v 57+ WAS A VERY STUPID DECISION.

So, I guess that Mozilla's decision to remove all useful "Screen Capture" Add-ons, means that in order to use a Firefox Browser that can actually do all of the basic functions that a browser should, I'll need to keep FF v56.0.2. in addition to v68+, JUST TO BE ABLE TO DO ADEQUATE SCREEN CAPTURES.

AFTER USING "NETSCAPE" AND "FIREFOX" FOR MANY YEARS, MOZILLA IS NOW MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT IN THE USER'S BEST INTEREST.

If Mozilla does not fix this idiotic "Web Extention" restriction issue soon, I will begin looking for a browser that allows their users to make the choices that supports the way the USER WANTS TO USE IT.

I have stopped recommending any version of Firefox past 56.0.2.

BY BREAKING THE ONLY FUNCTIONAL WAY TO SAVE SCREEN CAPTURES (Private or Public), MOZILLA HAS NEARLY DESTROYED FIREFOX'S USEFULNESS.

IT IS WAY PAST TIME FOR MOZILLA'S "WEB-EXTENSIONS" DICTATORS TO FULLY CONSIDER WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS TO BASIC BROWSING ARE, WITH THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS ARROGANCE - THOSE IMPLICATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXAMINED IN THE VERY EARLY DEVELOPMENT STAGE.

PLEASE STOP DEFENDING THIS DEFECTIVE CHOICE IN THE 57+ FIREFOX VERSIONS. THIS CHOICE IS INDEFENSIBLE - AND THE "WORK-AROUNDS" ARE NOT PRACTICAL FOR REPETITIVE LONG-TERM USE.

THIS INTENTIONAL "CRIPPLING" OF THE BROWSER NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY.

By forcing many of us to maintain Firefox v56.0.2, just to save consecutive, useful screen captures, in the directory chosen by the user, we no longer have any faith in the coding of Mozilla's Firefox, going forward.

If the developers can not code Firefox to mitigate any of the developers alleged (and likely imaginary) security concerns related to remembering where the last screen shot was saved, perhaps they should be replaced, by developers who are competent enough to safely accommodate screen captures of the quality of those created by the legacy ScreenGrab.

As a mainframe programmer / analyst since 1982, I do recognize administrative arrogance and BS. This is not a difficult issue to correct.

The screenshots are stored in the default download folder as set in Options/Preferences that you can modify if you (temporarily) select the first "Save files to" choice. Options/Preferences -> General -> Files and Applications -> Downloads

cor-el said

The screenshots are stored in the default download folder as set in Options/Preferences that you can modify if you (temporarily) select the first "Save files to" choice. Options/Preferences -> General -> Files and Applications -> Downloads

You have not read this lengthy chain - I have already said, in multiple replies, that I have already done that. My Options/Preferences -> General -> Files and Applications -> Downloads HAS ALWAYS (as far back as I remember - INCLUDING 56.2.0) BEEN SET TO "Always ask you where to save files".

NEXT, it does not save consecutive screenshots in the "Choice Directory" that the user selected.

THAT IS THE DA*N PROBLEM WITH ALL SCREENSHOT FEATURES OR EXTENSIONS - MOZILLA'S ARROGANT DECISION TO ELIMINATE THE "MEMORY" OF THE LAST DIRECTORY USED FOR A SCREENSHOT, MAKES SAVING CONSECUTIVE SCREENSHOTS SO OUTRAGEOUSLY DIFFICULT (TIME CONSUMING) TO EVEN USE IN 57+.

AS I HAVE ALSO SAID, SAVING ANY OTHER TYPE OF FILE, FROM ANY OTHER WEBSITE, FIREFOX DOES REMEMBER WHERE IT LAST SAVED A FILE, EVEN FROM SESSION TO SESSION,

THE FORCED VIEWPOINT that remembering where a screenshot was last stored, is so incredibly dangerous, that Mozilla had to remove it from the browser, seems very disingenuous.

Yet Mozilla allows other, non-screenshot, images to be stored consecutively to whatever directory the user last chose to save a file, displays a bit of hypocrisy.

Mozilla developers need to pull their heads out, and look at how ridiculous this approach is - THEY QUITE SIMPLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE USER'S INABILITY TO USE THEIR COMPUTERS (yes, the browser is a critical part of a computer) AS THEY SEE FIT.

FORCING USER'S TO LEAVE PRIVATE BROWSING (FOR BANKING, SHOPPING, MEDICAL, etc. SITES), JUST TO SAVE CONSECUTIVE SCREEN PRINTS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

Doug said

@jscher2000, Yes, I always use private browsing. Think about the stupidity of having to TURN OFF "PRIVATE BROWSING", MAKING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL, MEDICAL, ETC., PAGES VERY DANGEROUS.

Why is it dangerous??

The unique feature of private browsing is that history from your session -- visited URLs, cached pages, cookies, and other locally stored data -- is stored in volatile memory instead of being written to your hard drive.

Firefox doesn't limit you to choosing between either (A) saving history for all sites or (B) using automatic private browsing for all sites.

For example, you can start Firefox normally. When you want to visit sites without Firefox saving any history, visit those sites in a private window. Two options for how to do that:

• Launch a new private window first, then go to the site
• Use right-click > Open in New Private Window for a link or bookmark to the site

Then Firefox would work normally for the business transaction you want to capture -- it would remember the last download site automatically.

jscher2000 said

Doug said

@jscher2000, Yes, I always use private browsing. Think about the stupidity of having to TURN OFF "PRIVATE BROWSING", MAKING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL, MEDICAL, ETC., PAGES VERY DANGEROUS.

Why is it dangerous??

The unique feature of private browsing is that history from your session -- visited URLs, cached pages, cookies, and other locally stored data -- is stored in volatile memory instead of being written to your hard drive.

Firefox doesn't limit you to choosing between either (A) saving history for all sites or (B) using automatic private browsing for all sites.

For example, you can start Firefox normally. When you want to visit sites without Firefox saving any history, visit those sites in a private window. Two options for how to do that:

• Launch a new private window first, then go to the site
• Use right-click > Open in New Private Window for a link or bookmark to the site

Then Firefox would work normally for the business transaction you want to capture -- it would remember the last download site automatically.

No suggestion posted has worked.

Please have someone more familiar with the poorly thought out "Web Extension" restrictions CONTACT ME.

Preventing all screen captures, either built in or 3rd party from being able to capture CONSECUTIVE PRINTS IN THE SAME DESIRED DIRECTORY, was a completely stupid method of "making the browser safer.

Castrating all usefulness from the browser does not make it "SAFE".

As far as the danger of using non-private windows - that is a matter of opinion.

For the several years of Mozilla telling your users that it was unsafe to continue to use FF v56.0.2 - When that user has already contacted "Extension" developers only to find out that MOZILLA IS THE REASON THAT THEIR "ADD-ONS NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY.

IF MOZILLA CAN NOT PRODUCE A FUNCTIONAL BROWSER, THAT ALLOWS SAVING CONSECUTIVE SCREEN PRINTS SCREEN PRINTS IN THE SAME DESIRED DIRECTORY - MOZILLA IS FORCING THOSE OF US WHO WANT AND NEED A FUNCTIONAL BROWSER, TO CONTINUE TO USE FF 56.0.2, SIMPLY DUE TO MANAGEMENT ARROGANCE.

AGAIN, PLEASE PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE MAJOR FLAWS.

Hi Doug, what was the "closest" WebExtension you found in your testing, that has everything you need except ability to re-use the last download folder?

Meanwhile, you can contact the Add-ons team on their forum here:

https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/add-ons