Places.sqlite: Difference between revisions

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(places.sqlite replaces bookmarks.html and history.dat in Firefox 3; it's also used for history only in SeaMonkey2)
(added editing information per discussion. Deleting places.sqlite will automatically import JSON bookmark backup)
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The file "places.sqlite" stores the annotations, bookmarks, favorite icons, input history, keywords, and browsing history (a record of visited pages).  
The file "places.sqlite" stores the annotations, bookmarks, favorite icons, input history, keywords, and browsing history (a record of visited pages).  


Places.sqlite is used in Firefox 3.0 instead of the older [[bookmarks.html]] and [[history.dat]] files (the older file are left in the profile folder for backward compatibility).  Starting in SeaMonkey 2,  places.sqlite is used to store browsing history (but not bookmarks). [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=382187]
Places.sqlite is used in Firefox 3.0 instead of the older [[bookmarks.html]] and [[history.dat]] files (the older files are left in the profile folder for backward compatibility).  Starting in SeaMonkey 2,  places.sqlite is used to store browsing history (but not bookmarks). [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=382187]


==Editing==
==Editing==
You can edit this file using [http://www.sqlite.org/ sqlite], however, you must close Firefox first in order to get a lock on the file. NOTE: Firefox opens the places.sqlite with a lock that prevents the user from updating the file when Firefox is open.  More information on sqlite locking can be found at [http://www.sqlite.org/lockingv3.html SQLLite Locking]
You can edit this file using either the [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/5817 SQLite manager add-on] or a specialized editor such as the [http://sourceforge.net/projects/sqlitebrowser/ SQLite Database browser], [http://sqliteadmin.orbmu2k.de/ SQLite Administrator] (Windows only) or [http://www.dehats.com/drupal/?q=node/58 Lita] (AIR based).  
 
NOTE: Firefox opens the places.sqlite with a lock that prevents the user from updating the file when Firefox is open.  More information on sqlite locking can be found at [http://www.sqlite.org/lockingv3.html SQLLite Locking]


You can selectively edit or delete records using sql syntax.  For example, to delete records of places you have visited, you can issue the following statement:
You can selectively edit or delete records using sql syntax.  For example, to delete records of places you have visited, you can issue the following statement:
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==Deleting==
==Deleting==
If you suspect that the file is corrupted, deleting "places.sqlite" will delete your browsing history, and a new, empty file will be created automatically.
If you suspect that the file is corrupted, deleting "places.sqlite" will delete your browsing history, and a new, empty file will be created automatically.  In Firefox 3, places.sqlite will be rebuilt using the latest dated JSON file from the [[bookmarkbackups folder]]; if no JSON backup exists,  bookmarks will be imported from [[bookmarks.html]], if found.


== Technical Information ==
== Technical Information ==

Revision as of 02:44, 10 April 2009

The file "places.sqlite" stores the annotations, bookmarks, favorite icons, input history, keywords, and browsing history (a record of visited pages).

Places.sqlite is used in Firefox 3.0 instead of the older bookmarks.html and history.dat files (the older files are left in the profile folder for backward compatibility). Starting in SeaMonkey 2, places.sqlite is used to store browsing history (but not bookmarks). [1]

Editing

You can edit this file using either the SQLite manager add-on or a specialized editor such as the SQLite Database browser, SQLite Administrator (Windows only) or Lita (AIR based).

NOTE: Firefox opens the places.sqlite with a lock that prevents the user from updating the file when Firefox is open. More information on sqlite locking can be found at SQLLite Locking

You can selectively edit or delete records using sql syntax. For example, to delete records of places you have visited, you can issue the following statement:

sqlite3 places.sqlite "delete from moz_places where url like '%REPLACE_ME%';"

where REPLACE_ME is the text in the URL you wish to delete.

To selectively deleted your input history you can use the following statement:

sqlite3 places.sqlite "delete from moz_inputhistory where input like '%REPLACE_ME%';"

Moving

This file can be moved to a different profile.

Deleting

If you suspect that the file is corrupted, deleting "places.sqlite" will delete your browsing history, and a new, empty file will be created automatically. In Firefox 3, places.sqlite will be rebuilt using the latest dated JSON file from the bookmarkbackups folder; if no JSON backup exists, bookmarks will be imported from bookmarks.html, if found.

Technical Information

The places.sqlite includes a number of tables as follows:

  • moz_anno_attributes - Annotation Attributes
  • moz_annos - Annotations
  • moz_bookmarks - Bookmarks
  • moz_bookmarks_roots - Bookmark roots i.e. places, menu, toolbar, tags, unfiled
  • moz_favicons - Favourite icons - including URL of icon
  • moz_historyvisits - A history of the number of times a site has been visited
  • moz_inputhistory - A history of URLS typed by the user
  • moz_items_annos - Item annotations
  • moz_keywords - Keywords
  • moz_places - Places/Sites visited - referenced by moz_historyvisits

An ERD Diagram is available.

See also

External links