Re: NS 7.2 Duplicating Bookmarks File.

Moz Champion (Dan) wrote:
> Rufus wrote:
> 
>> Moz Champion (Dan) wrote:
>>
>>> Rufus wrote:
>>>
>>>> Moz Champion (Dan) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Rufus wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Moz Champion (Dan) wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rufus wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> For some reason, NS 7.2 (under OS X - 10.4.3 to be specific) is 
>>>>>>>> duplicating my Bookmarks file on Quit.  Any suggestions on how 
>>>>>>>> to make it stop?  I've tried fresh installs and checking 
>>>>>>>> Permissions on the file.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Try this.
>>>>>>> Netscape OFF
>>>>>>> Remove the bookmarks.html file from the profile (and any duplicates)
>>>>>>> store it on the desktop
>>>>>>> Restart Netscape
>>>>>>> your bookmark file should be empty (or revert to default list)
>>>>>>> add one bookmark (just one)
>>>>>>> Quit Netscape.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If the bookmarks file was NOT duplicated on Quit, then
>>>>>>> with Netscape OFF
>>>>>>>      put the bookmarks.html file back into the profile, allowing 
>>>>>>> it to overwrite (replace) the 'newer' one already there
>>>>>>> Restare and quit again, let us know the results
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If it was duplicated, please report back
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That didn't work - in fact, now I'm seeing something new.  It 
>>>>>> looks as if a duplicate bookmarks file is being created and 
>>>>>> deleted (the file name bookmarks-1.html flashes up and is then 
>>>>>> removed)...I saw this on a startup, and also on a few exits.  I 
>>>>>> also saw it during navigation to new sites.  On shut down, the 
>>>>>> duplicate file sometimes was deleted, and somtimes was not.  It 
>>>>>> didn't seem consistant in the few attempt I tried this morning.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'll also add that I looked at a NS profile on a friend's machine 
>>>>>> and found the same (numerous) duplication of the Bookmaks file.  
>>>>>> He hadn't noticed because he mostly uses Safari.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> What do you mean 'didnt work'?
>>>>>
>>>>> I asked you to do something and then report back on the results.
>>>>>
>>>>> Remove the bookmarks file from the profile with Netscape OFF
>>>>> (and remove any duplicates as well)
>>>>>
>>>>> Restart Netscape and quit
>>>>> did the duplicate bookmark file get generated?
>>>>>
>>>>> Restart Netsceap and add one bookmark, then quit
>>>>> did the duplicate bookmark file get generated?
>>>>>
>>>>> This is not a 'fix' this is a test to determine where the problem lies
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yes - I did just what you described.  The problem/behavior still 
>>>> persists, with the additional observations I described above - that 
>>>> WAS the result of performing your suggestion.
>>>>
>>>> I've also had this input from another source - it's a Firefox bug 
>>>> report, but similar behavior:
>>>>
>>>> https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=294584
>>>>
>>>> I'll add to this that I already have (and have had) my Mozilla and 
>>>> Profile folders included in my Spotlight Privacy list.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Care to let us in on the results of the test?
>>>
>>> Did or did not the duplicate bookmark file get recreated on quit?
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes - it was recreated on quit.  But not consistantly.  (I ran several 
>> tests.)
>>
>>> With the default bookmark file?
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>>> With the modified (add one bookmark) file?
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>>>
>>> Answers for each step would be appreciatted.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> AND - in addition, it was also being duplicated during transitions 
>> between web pages, which is something I hadn't seen before.
>>
> 
> ah. 'but not consistantly'...
> 
> try to ascertain the changes made that caused the bookmark duplication 
> to take place.  If it doesnt occur EVERY time then there must be some 
> variable that is contributing to the event, and tracking down that 
> variable is the key.

...and that's precisely the problem.  I had changed nothing when all 
this started.  The new behavior happened after I tryed your suggestion, 
and the duplication after navigation to different web pages was a new 
observation.  I'll add that I've since seen the duplication on startup 
as well...AND I've also seen it in two different Profiles under the same 
install where  the only difference is the size of the Bookmarks file 
(number of bookmarks).  I've also seen it on a fresh, pristine install 
on a new machine.  So it's really random.

> 
> A computer program is, in essence, a really 'dumb' thing. It will do 
> something over and over again, always the same way, if nothing changes. 
> So the fact that the duplication DOESNT occur at times indicates that 
> there is some variable in your setup that is contributing to the problem.

I evaluate operational aircraft system software for a living, and from 
my experience with conditional branching in near-realtime assembly 
language (and C++) programs - yes, programs can produce seemingly random 
and difficult to duplicate behaviors.  But I digress...this is a 
different program.

Hence tracking down the bug report I cited.  I think it's also 
interesting that I've seen it on multiple machines - two of my own, and 
one that isn't.  It's definately a known NS-Mozilla bug, but no one 
seems to have squashed it yet.

-- 
      - Rufus