Hi Tony, Firefox stores bookmarks in a database file that also stores history (bookmarks and history share a table of URLs). It is not safe and perhaps not possible for two instances of Firefox to share that file simultaneously.

But what about Firefox Sync: How do I set up Sync on my computer?

You can limit the sync'ing to Bookmarks.

I'm trying (with significant lack of success) to set this up. To recap - I am trying to sync the Administrator profile on my desktop (named Iota - it's kinda small) with my 'ordinary' profile (tfurnivall).

I enable syncing, via the Sync Now option on the account icon. (White on black, so it's working - right?). Then there is this deceptive little link "Connect another device". I've already learned that I can connect a device or a profile, so I mentally think "Connect another profile". I'm greeted with "Open the scanner on your Firefox App and show code when ready". Huh? Firefox seems to think I want to connect a phone. I don't I want to connect a profile. How do I do this?

Turns out that the claim to be able to sync to a different profile on the same machine is , ahem, not exactly true. support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1268361 says:

You can't achieve this with one single Firefox Account, you need to use separate accounts, on for work and one for home (private) to keep this data separate. When you use Sync with a specific Firefox Account then all data from connected devices is synced to all other devices connected to this account. There is no master for sync and you can't specify what to sync within a specific engine like bookmarks.

Rats. At least I was able to find the apparently true situation, but it seems to me that a Whole Load More requirements and analysis is needed before foisting this situation upon a relatively unsuspecting user community. At the very least the Use Cases should be published(so I can easily find out if what I want to do is even possible).

A for effort (thanks) D for accomplishment

Tony

Hi Tony, the other thread is about how to avoid mixing data. You want to combine data; at least, I think you want to combine data. So you can disregard the other thread.

In your second profile, log in to the same Firefox Account. Sync can only occur in a profile while Firefox is running in that profile, and it's not instant. You will need to allow time for data to move to and from the server.

Yes - but there was also the phrase "There is no master in syncing". So given that I have two (theoretically) synced profiles, and one of them is very full and one of them is very empty - which one decides the state of every little data item.

What I want is for the empty area to be filled with data from the "full" area. What I am afraid of is that the emptiness from the second profile will propagate itself to the first profile, and wipe it all out.

That, of course, is assuming that I can actually connect the profiles!

I hope you understand my concern - this seems like it's a basic Use Case, and yet there is no clear, easy set of instructions on how to do it. And what's even more frustrating is that I have to switch between User Accounts in order to rid myself of some software which has gone crazy, and refuses to allow me to de-install it. (TMI, I know, but every real-world situation has an antecedent...)

Tony

The general design is to combine, not to replace one with another. However, it is completely understandable to be nervous and you can back up your profile now (and from time to time) to protect against data loss. Suggestions in this article:

Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles