From 4238e19980ca36473f4f23479ec0cecf45cd69e6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Thorin-Oakenpants Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:09:43 +1300 Subject: [PATCH] Updated 1.2 Backing Up (markdown) --- 1.2-Backing-Up.md | 12 +++++++++++- 1 file changed, 11 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/1.2-Backing-Up.md b/1.2-Backing-Up.md index f6e0339..6909bc1 100644 --- a/1.2-Backing-Up.md +++ b/1.2-Backing-Up.md @@ -1 +1,11 @@ -Placeholder \ No newline at end of file +Hopefully you have read [what](https://github.com/ghacksuserjs/ghacks-user.js/wiki/1.1-Overview) a `user.js` is, what it does, and how it works. It goes in your profile directory and can have a profound effect on all your settings and data. The ghacks user.js is pretty comprehensive, and no one size fits all. It is highly recommended that you backup before using it (or use a new or copied profile for testing). + +The complete and easiest way to backup is to copy your entire `profile` directory when Firefox is closed. This directory contains many items that a user.js, with certain preferences, can wipe, such as cookies, site specific settings, saved passwords and login names, browsing + download + form history, disk cache, offline website data, active logins and even the favicons on your bookmarks, to name a few. + +Your profile directory also includes a `prefs.js` file, which contains many entries that are not related to your specific changes from about:config or imported from the `user.js` (such as internal firefox settings and specific add-on entries). Backing up just this file is not foolproof, but that's not say that if you know what you're doing, you can do otherwise - just do not expect this wiki to cover it. + +To find your profile directory, go to `about:profiles`. This will list all profiles, and allow you to create a new one. Alternatively you can use the menu item `Help>Troubleshooting Information` (which will load an `about:support` page) and search for `Profile Directory`. This method will only show the current profile, with extra information. Either way, you will see an `Open Folder` button. + +When copying your profile directory, it is advised that Firefox be closed. Rename your copied folder to something meaningful, and keep the original name (for an easy rollback). For example, if the profile folder is called `jiu9k8gm.default`. A backup copy might be called `jiu9k8gm.default-2017-03-22` or `jiu9k8gm.default-pre-ghacks-userjs`. + +Be aware, that this is your entire profile. So rolling back will not keep any new cookies, saved passwords, bookmarks, extension changes and the like. The next wiki section, [Implementation](https://github.com/ghacksuserjs/ghacks-user.js/wiki/1.3-Implementation), outlines some methods you could use to test out the `user.js` and preferences, such as using your existing profile, or a copy of it, or a new one and whether to implement piecemeal or whole hog. \ No newline at end of file