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This page should be replaced by Firefox complete profile re-creation

This page was created for the Firefox 4 beta series.

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Synchronizing two profiles ∞

TODO: Find and update or synchronize existing notes on this topic. Also search for existing instructions out on the net.

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Imagining that Profile A is regularly used and has all the correct add-ons and preferences. Profile B is rarely used and needs to be updated without destroying its bookmarks, saved passwords and other such things.

TODO

• Flash cookies/data?

• Proper links in this list

  • Proper official links too

Planning

• Identify any extra addons in B . Install them in A .

  • Don’t forget to check your Greasemonkey scripts and Stylish styles, if you use those add-ons.

• Identify any themes in B . Install them in A .

Prepare A

• TODO: Check (on disk) and reinstall all Add-Ons which are unpacked. Firefox 4.0 keeps add-on data in its original packed .xpi format.

Prepare B

• Backup bookmarks.

  • Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Export HTML
  • TODO: How does the existing backup stuff work now? It was mangled from its original pure HTML form. I want to automatically save revisions of HTML backups.

• Backup externalized add-on data.

  • For example, ScrapBook (ScrapBook X) and Zotero have folders containing all their saved materials.

• TODO: Backup saved passwords.

Action

• Copy A into B .

• Purge and import from backups

  • e.g. delete bookmarks and restore from backups

Cleanup

• Double-check symlinks if you manually symlinked externalized add-on data.

  • For example, ScrapBook (ScrapBook X) and Zotero.

Teardown

• If you installed any new addons and themes in A , check the list and decide if you want to disable any of them. Don’t uninstall them, just disable them.

• Check the addons and themes lists in B . Were any new addons from A introduced which should be disabled? Don’t uninstall them, just disable them.

Unfortunately themes cannot be disabled, only removed. =(

User Preferences (prefs.js) ∞

unchecked

The preferences within the regular preferences dialogues is located in prefs.js.

about:config customization is located in prefs.js .

How to migrate your passwords between installations ∞

This may be very old, v2 or even v1.5!

In the profile directory, it is these files:

signons*.txt
key3.db