Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line

OneTB · 10-13-2008, 08:58 AM

Hello All!

I am doing a bit of scripting regarding bookmarks and I hope someone will be able to assist me with this. I have done a bit of searching and have not yet turned anything up.

Here is where I am:
I have an executable built from an eclipseNSIS script. Previously, our users have had a set of bookmarks installed by us and with new system changes, we are now updating our bookmarks to fix broken links. The new executable prompts if the user wants to install the bookmarks, the old are overwritten with the new, and upon successful install, an OK prompt is presented. This is only done for IE.

I would like these bookmarks to also be added into Firefox, if it is present. The first issue I see with this is that Firefox profile folders are uniquely named, whereas IE pulls its favorites from an exact location. So it seems to me it would be easier to force FF to import its bookmarks from IE. So that is where I stand. I am hoping that I will be able to do this silently, perhaps from the command prompt, once the installer has checked for the presence of FF 2.0.

If anyone needs more elaboration or anything at all, let me know.
Thanks

**sobeit** · 10-13-2008, 09:12 AM

claificatiion- do you realize the following???

msie - one file per bookmark - each individual bookmark stored in favorites folder
firefox - all bookmarks in one file - bookmarks.html

OneTB · 10-13-2008, 09:24 AM

Yes, I realize that. That is why I hoped that I might be able to force FF's import through the command line.

OneTB · 10-16-2008, 08:47 AM

Or, perhaps, could about:config be made to auto import IE Favs on start?

**wmorri** · 10-16-2008, 12:00 PM

Are you wanting to do this every time that you start FF. Because I know that the first time you start FF it asks you if you want to bring all your information over. Another thing is you are using Linux it uses FF and Opera, not IE so I am slightly confused, as to why you are so concerned.

Cheers!

OneTB · 10-16-2008, 12:42 PM

OK, to clarify. This is a scripting assignment for work. I use Ubuntu at home, but Windows xp and vista at work. I know firefox asks when the program starts, but I would like for it to be done silently.

**sobeit** · 10-16-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmorri

Another thing is you are using Linux it uses FF and Opera, not IE so I am slightly confused, as to why you are so concerned.

Cheers!

linux can use msie because I do have it installed -It runs through wine.

OneTB · 10-16-2008, 02:23 PM

I have no issues on Linux, only on Windows XP & Vista

**wmorri** · 10-16-2008, 06:12 PM

Sobeit, I am not saying that Linux can't run IE, but it just didn't make sense that he would need a bookmark converter for Linux. Thats all.

Cheers!

OneTB · 10-17-2008, 08:21 AM

Ok, so I have some updates on what I need. I did manage to find an existing program that does what I want it to. It is located at http://www.gpsoft.com.au/lss/Default.asp?page=ftbab . This was a great find, because not only does it convert from Favorites to Bookmarks and vice versa, but it also allows the user to select merge rather than overwrite. It works excellently. However, it does not work with FF 3. Though we have until now not supported FF 3, we need to begin packaging for the newer software. Does anyone know of a similar program to this which will allow for the conversion of IE favs to FF bookmarks and will also merge rather than overwrite? I can make it silent if need be, I just need the functionality.

liuxianren · 12-05-2008, 01:32 PM

Guys,you can find a python script deal with this issue. It transfer IE favorites folder with all it's subfolders and .url files into Firefox format Bookmarks file,which is a html file.

THis script is especially useful when you transfer from Windows to Linux(ubuntu), and just copy the IE favorites folder without export them to a html file, which can then be import to Firefox bookmarks.

I transfer from windows Vista to Ubuntu two weeks ago. One of the many problems is I couldn't use the Favorites collections of my IE. Firefox itself just give us an option to import the IE Favorites folder(bookmarks in FF) from the same operation system. This is my first python code and based on a piece of code from http://insom.me.uk/hacks/favs2html.html. since I just learn it for one week,please ignore my coding skill. it's tested with Python2.5,python3.0 in both windowsXP and Ubuntu. hope it useful for guys of my same situation.

the link: Solution http://liuxianrenterry.spaces.live.c...7177!193.entry

10-13-2008, 08:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
OneTB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Xubuntu 8.04 (Desktop), Ubuntu 8.04 (Netbook), OS X (Alt. Desktop), WinXP SP3 & Vista SP1 (Work)	Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line Hello All! I am doing a bit of scripting regarding bookmarks and I hope someone will be able to assist me with this. I have done a bit of searching and have not yet turned anything up. Here is where I am: I have an executable built from an eclipseNSIS script. Previously, our users have had a set of bookmarks installed by us and with new system changes, we are now updating our bookmarks to fix broken links. The new executable prompts if the user wants to install the bookmarks, the old are overwritten with the new, and upon successful install, an OK prompt is presented. This is only done for IE. I would like these bookmarks to also be added into Firefox, if it is present. The first issue I see with this is that Firefox profile folders are uniquely named, whereas IE pulls its favorites from an exact location. So it seems to me it would be easier to force FF to import its bookmarks from IE. So that is where I stand. I am hoping that I will be able to do this silently, perhaps from the command prompt, once the installer has checked for the presence of FF 2.0. If anyone needs more elaboration or anything at all, let me know. Thanks

10-13-2008, 09:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line claificatiion- do you realize the following??? msie - one file per bookmark - each individual bookmark stored in favorites folder firefox - all bookmarks in one file - bookmarks.html __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

10-13-2008, 09:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
OneTB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Xubuntu 8.04 (Desktop), Ubuntu 8.04 (Netbook), OS X (Alt. Desktop), WinXP SP3 & Vista SP1 (Work)	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line Yes, I realize that. That is why I hoped that I might be able to force FF's import through the command line.

10-16-2008, 08:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
OneTB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Xubuntu 8.04 (Desktop), Ubuntu 8.04 (Netbook), OS X (Alt. Desktop), WinXP SP3 & Vista SP1 (Work)	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line Or, perhaps, could about:config be made to auto import IE Favs on start? Last edited by OneTB; 10-16-2008 at 09:15 AM.

10-16-2008, 12:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,814 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line Are you wanting to do this every time that you start FF. Because I know that the first time you start FF it asks you if you want to bring all your information over. Another thing is you are using Linux it uses FF and Opera, not IE so I am slightly confused, as to why you are so concerned. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-16-2008, 12:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
OneTB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Xubuntu 8.04 (Desktop), Ubuntu 8.04 (Netbook), OS X (Alt. Desktop), WinXP SP3 & Vista SP1 (Work)	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line OK, to clarify. This is a scripting assignment for work. I use Ubuntu at home, but Windows xp and vista at work. I know firefox asks when the program starts, but I would like for it to be done silently.

10-16-2008, 02:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
OneTB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Xubuntu 8.04 (Desktop), Ubuntu 8.04 (Netbook), OS X (Alt. Desktop), WinXP SP3 & Vista SP1 (Work)	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line I have no issues on Linux, only on Windows XP & Vista

10-16-2008, 06:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,814 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line Sobeit, I am not saying that Linux can't run IE, but it just didn't make sense that he would need a bookmark converter for Linux. Thats all. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-17-2008, 08:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
OneTB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Xubuntu 8.04 (Desktop), Ubuntu 8.04 (Netbook), OS X (Alt. Desktop), WinXP SP3 & Vista SP1 (Work)	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line Ok, so I have some updates on what I need. I did manage to find an existing program that does what I want it to. It is located at http://www.gpsoft.com.au/lss/Default.asp?page=ftbab . This was a great find, because not only does it convert from Favorites to Bookmarks and vice versa, but it also allows the user to select merge rather than overwrite. It works excellently. However, it does not work with FF 3. Though we have until now not supported FF 3, we need to begin packaging for the newer software. Does anyone know of a similar program to this which will allow for the conversion of IE favs to FF bookmarks and will also merge rather than overwrite? I can make it silent if need be, I just need the functionality.

12-05-2008, 01:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
liuxianren Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1 OS: ubuntu	Re: Import Bookmarks to Firefox with Command Line Guys,you can find a python script deal with this issue. It transfer IE favorites folder with all it's subfolders and .url files into Firefox format Bookmarks file,which is a html file. THis script is especially useful when you transfer from Windows to Linux(ubuntu), and just copy the IE favorites folder without export them to a html file, which can then be import to Firefox bookmarks. I transfer from windows Vista to Ubuntu two weeks ago. One of the many problems is I couldn't use the Favorites collections of my IE. Firefox itself just give us an option to import the IE Favorites folder(bookmarks in FF) from the same operation system. This is my first python code and based on a piece of code from http://insom.me.uk/hacks/favs2html.html. since I just learn it for one week,please ignore my coding skill. it's tested with Python2.5,python3.0 in both windowsXP and Ubuntu. hope it useful for guys of my same situation. the link: Solution http://liuxianrenterry.spaces.live.c...7177!193.entry