Firefox 15 (+26!) Can't disable download history separately!

Discussion of features in Mozilla Firefox
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Soulhunter123
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Firefox 15 (+26!) Can't disable download history separately!

Post by Soulhunter123 »

EDIT: FIREFOX 20.0.1 ISSUE IS BACK

EDIT 2: FIREFOX 26 ISSUE IS BACK AGAIN - WORKAROUNDS NOW INEFFECTIVE. NICE ONE MOZILLA!

I recently upgraded to Firefox 15 and have noticed a very frustrating change: the "download history" and "browsing history" options - which used to be separated - are now combined into one.

I can't think of a developmental reason this was done but regardless, is there a way to change it so that firefox *doesn't* remember download history but *does* remember web history?

Here's a comparison of Firefox 12 vs. Firefox 15:
  • Image
  • Image

Cheers
Last edited by Soulhunter123 on January 28th, 2014, 6:39 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Soulhunter123
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Joined: November 23rd, 2005, 3:18 pm

Re: Firefox 15 change: can't disable download history separa

Post by Soulhunter123 »

Answering my own question having just tried some stuff:

To disable download history separately of web history in Firefox 15 (and probably above), navigate to about:config, and change the following values:

EDIT: DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE IN FIREFOX 20.0.1.
EDIT 2: Kind of does, if you also apply browser.download.useToolkitUI --> true, which restores the old-style DL manager.

browser.download.manager.retention --> 0
browser.download.panel.removeFinishedDownloads --> true

Done.

I also tried making the downloads.sqlite file in the Firefox profile folder read-only, but that didn't work and just bugged Firefox so downloads weren't even starting at all.

To the developers - why, oh why, did you deem it necessary to combine two options which were perfectly logically separated into one? Surely that goes against all good practices of software? Bah...
Last edited by Soulhunter123 on May 4th, 2013, 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
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dfoulkes
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Re: Firefox 15: can't disable download history separately SO

Post by dfoulkes »

I see that you don't have Clear history when Firefox closes active. If you activate that and then Click on settings another screen is displayed with Download history on its own... did you check into any of that?
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Bluefang
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Re: Firefox 15: can't disable download history separately SO

Post by Bluefang »

Download history is also stored in Firefox -> History -> Downloads or History -> Show All History -> Downloads. The preferences mentioned only control the download manager.
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Soulhunter123
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Re: Firefox 15: can't disable download history separately SO

Post by Soulhunter123 »

Firefox 20.0.1 and this problem is back with the newly skinned download manager.

Also, as Bluefang says, download history is always visible under "Show All History".

Mozilla... this is a HUGE step backwards. What are your devs even thinking?!

Look at my first screenshot and tell me what was wrong with that configuration?! ](*,)
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JayhawksRock
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Re: Firefox 15: can't disable download history separately SO

Post by JayhawksRock »

Soulhunter123 wrote:Mozilla... this is a HUGE step backwards. What are your devs even thinking?!

This is not Mozilla in spite of the similar name. http://www.mozillazine.org/about/
You can take your Rant here > https://input.mozilla.org/en-US/feedback
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the-edmeister
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Re: Firefox 15 (+20!) Can't disable download history separat

Post by the-edmeister »

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Mine has wandered off and I'm out looking for it.
Soulhunter123
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Re: Firefox 15 (+20!) Can't disable download history separat

Post by Soulhunter123 »

Thank you both, and sorry for my confusion and frustration.

In the meantime I have discovered you can force Firefox 20 to use the "old style" download manager by changing this in about:config -
browser.download.useToolkitUI = true

When you do this, the above about:config changes will work again. However, download history is still stored in "View All History".

As a kind-of workaround, you can check "Clear history when Firefox closes", and choose to clear download history only, therefore your DL history is completely cleared every time you close.

Personally I use Firefox Preloader with MemoryFox so my Firefox never actually closes. But it's better than nothing.
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dfoulkes
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Re: Firefox 15 (+20!) Can't disable download history separat

Post by dfoulkes »

Not sure if this will help out... don't use it so I can't comment on it...
Download Cleaner :: Add-ons for Firefox
As you can see she's (The CAT) always alert and on the prowl for Meoware !!
Soulhunter123
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Re: Firefox 15 (+20!) Can't disable download history separat

Post by Soulhunter123 »

dfoulkes wrote:Not sure if this will help out... don't use it so I can't comment on it...
Download Cleaner :: Add-ons for Firefox

Thank you, that seems useful. I'll give it a try.

Very interesting that one of the top reviews for the add-on states:

Download and browsing history should be two separate items by default, especially since I've set Firefox to clear downloads.


I really hope Mozilla take notice!
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dfoulkes
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Re: Firefox 15 (+20!) Can't disable download history separat

Post by dfoulkes »

I really hope Mozilla take notice!

I doubt it... that's why people create extensions... because Mozilla doesn't seem to notice real-life at times.

Hope that ext. works out for you.
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Soulhunter123
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Re: Firefox 15 (+26!) Can't disable download history separat

Post by Soulhunter123 »

Firefox 26, "useToolkitUI" and "downloadManager.retention" options now completely ineffective.

Keep on "improving" the browser, Mozilla. You're doing a bang-up job.
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Re: Firefox 15 (+26!) Can't disable download history separat

Post by LoudNoise »

"We" are not doing anything. See http://www.mozillazine.org/about/
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