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Losing older downloads/history entries in Library despite "Remember history" setting

  • 4 replies
  • 5 have this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

BeepsAndBoops
BeepsAndBoops
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I noticed that Firefox is deleting some of my older history and download entries that are about 5-6 months old. I've set my options to "Remember history" when I first created the profile. Used the SQLite Manager to check places.sqlite and I'm not anywhere close to places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages.

In comparisons with some backups, I've noticed that the missing records in places.sqlite's moz_places table had NULL values in favicon_id. They're getting auto-cleaned at some point, which is counter to what is expected with the "Remember history" setting. I don't think it's a max_pages issue because there are still moz_places table records much older than the lost entries.

Is there a preference I can set in about:config to avoid this?

I noticed that Firefox is deleting some of my older history and download entries that are about 5-6 months old. I've set my options to "Remember history" when I first created the profile. Used the SQLite Manager to check places.sqlite and I'm not anywhere close to places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages. In comparisons with some backups, I've noticed that the missing records in places.sqlite's moz_places table had NULL values in favicon_id. They're getting auto-cleaned at some point, which is counter to what is expected with the "Remember history" setting. I don't think it's a max_pages issue because there are still moz_places table records much older than the lost entries. Is there a preference I can set in about:config to avoid this?

All Replies (4)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-firefox-latest-version 50.0.2

Places Maintenance {web link} Allows to run Maintenance tasks on the database that drives Places, the bookmarks and history module behind Firefox.

Open the Add-ons Manager. Locate the add-on and press the Options button. Then follow the directions.

BeepsAndBoops
BeepsAndBoops Question owner
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I've updated to 50.1.0. I ran both Places Maintenance and "Verify Integrity" in about:support. Everything came back without errors both times.

I'm thinking there's a bug or unintended behavior with the "Remember history" setting.

I can duplicate the issue by downloading a file where the record for it has a NULL favicon_id, setting the system clock ahead about 5 months, then leaving the browser idle for a while. I end up losing the record for the file in my download history, but earlier records remain. This is on a new, clean profile so there's no way I could've hit a page limit.

Is there an about:config preference to prevent this? Or is this a potential bug?

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox. A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh).

Is the problem still there?

Type about:support in the address bar and press Enter. Under the main banner, press the button; Copy Text To Clipboard.. Then in the reply box at the bottom of this page, do a right click in the box and select Paste. This will show us your system details. No Personal Information Is Collected.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Note that favicons have an expiration date as you can see in the moz_favicons table.

Note that you can backup the download items with the SQLite Manager extension with the places.sqlite database (Execute SQL). 

SELECT content AS Filename, datetime(dateAdded/1000000,'unixepoch','localtime') AS dateAdded, url AS Location, moz_anno_attributes.name AS Annotation
FROM moz_places, moz_annos, moz_anno_attributes
WHERE (moz_places.id = moz_annos.place_id) AND (moz_annos.anno_attribute_id = moz_anno_attributes.id) AND (moz_anno_attributes.name LIKE 'downloads/destinationFileURI')
ORDER BY dateAdded DESC

Modified by cor-el