Formhistory not saved and/or empty database?

Saturday, November 25, 2017 | 16:41

Data not stored?

If you experience problems regarding form history not being saved, please check if you have cookies enabled.
This add-on uses IndexedDB to store its information and according to this issue (see bugzilla) disabling cookies will prevent data being stored. So please check the Privacy and Security preferences of the browser and make sure that cookies are accepted or Form History Control will not be able to store your data.

Also note:
Some websites use advanced techniques and frameworks involving javascript that make it virtually impossible to capture user input in a generic way. On request I can add workarounds for popular websites/frameworks, please submit an issue and let me know for which website(s) capturing entries does not work (see Known Issues and github issues)

Empty database?

This add-on now uses the new mandatory WebExtensions API which no longer offers access to Firefox's built-in formhistory database. To overcome this limitation this add-on will create and maintain its own private formhistory database which initially will be empty.

There are two ways to get the formhistory data from the old version back into the new version:
  1. If you have an export file from the old version, you can simply import that file into the new version. The exportfile is compatible with the new version.
  2. If you have no importfile, you can use a standalone Java application that can export the formhistory data from the old version. You can find this program plus Instructions on my Githib page: https://github.com/stephanmahieu/formhistory-export

Still not working?

Despite rigorous testing on many websites and being a heavy user myself, it is very likely some issues have been overlooked or slipped through. So if you think this add-on is not saving the text you type on a particular website despite the fact you have cookies enabled let me know!
I will gladly investigate any problem you experience and try to figure out what the problem is so I can fix it and improve this add-on. By providing me with feedback you not only help yourself, it will also benefit other users who might run into the same problem.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I had this issue on two PS's. After refreshing Firefox everything came back. Other solutions didn't help.

Anonymous said...

nage History and I get part of the Firefox menu toolbar. I reinstalled the extension and it remains disfunctional. Yes, my cookies are enabled and Yes this has worked for years just fine and I reallly appreciate this extension when it works. I have the latest version as of Dec 1 2017.

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS COMMENT AS SCENARIO. I am Raleightom ;)

Anonymous said...

I am Raleightom not anonymous. I see not way to put my choice in the profile box. My last message was terribly truncated. Firefox 57. Worked fine in the past. Now not at all.

Stephan Mahieu said...

Can you send me a screenshot, and maybe the not truncated version of your message (formhistory@yahoo.com)?

Anonymous said...

Just installed this with the latest firefox to view my entire saved form data and it shows nothing at all in the list. Perhaps my expectations are out or whack, I expected to see all saved form data.

Stephan Mahieu said...

Hi Anonymous,
The update by Mozilla to the WebExtension-API made it impossible for add-on developers to access the formhistory datastore, therefor this add-on will start collecting its on formhistory data from scratch as is described in this Post.
You can import the Firefox formhistory into this add-on with the help of an external program I developed, I edited this post to include the link to this application.

matt00112233 said...

Great add-on but it doesn't always store entries

Stephan Mahieu said...

Some websites use advanced techniques and frameworks involving javascript that make it virtually impossible to capture user input in a generic way. On request I can add workarounds for popular websites/frameworks, please submit an issue and let me know for which website(s) capturing entries does not work (see Known Issues).

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