Profile Migration
Ben Goodger (11/17/2003)Status: PROVISIONAL
This document describes the user experience for Profile and Data Migration for Firefox. This document is incomplete. Full functional details are not yet provided. E-mail the author with questions.
Goal
The Goal of Profile Migration is to harvest as much data as possible from the user's current browser to make the transition to Firefox as seamless as possible. Currently we have the capacity to import some, but not all, data from other browsers the user may have.
Data to Migrate
Netscape 4.x
- bookmarks.html
- cookies.txt
- cert7.db
- key3.db
- prefs.js
- secmod.db
Mozilla 1.5/Netscape 7.x
Internet Explorer
- Favorites, Links to Personal Toolbar.
- Home Page
UI for First Run
When the user picks one of the options in the following dialog, the procedure(s) described in the pseudocode below are performed and the application is started.
Figure 1, Migration Start dialog:
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Getting Started with Firefox |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| |
| It looks like you're running Firefox for the |
| first time. Let's take the time to import |
| settings from your old browser... |
| |
| Which browser were you using? |
| |
| (*) Microsoft Internet Explorer |
| ( ) Netscape Navigator or Mozilla |
| ( ) Something else |
| |
| (( Next > )) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
Logic in pseudocode:
if
user chooses IE:
else if
user chooses Netscape or Mozilla:
Look for Profile Registry in:
Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Mozilla\
If present,
show PROFILE SELECTOR if > 1, else IMPORT PROGRESS
else
(Windows):
look for registry key:
My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\Netscape Navigator\Main
if present,
show PROFILE SELECTOR if > 1, else IMPORT PROGRESS
else
show FAILED MESSAGE
(Linux):
look for ~/.netscape
else if
user chooses "Something Else"
Show SOMETHING ELSE dialog
The user's default browser is the one which is initially checked.
Figure 2, Profile Selector dialog:
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Which Netscape Profile? |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Firefox discovered more than one Netscape |
| profile. Which one do you want to import |
| settings from? |
| |
| +----------------------------------------+ |
| | @ ben | |
| | @ dave | |
| | @ blake | |
| | @ scott | |
| | | |
| +----------------------------------------+ |
| |
| (( Next > )) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
Figure 3, Import Progress dialog:
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Importing... |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Your Internet Explorer Favorites are being |
| imported. This might take a few minutes... |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------+
Figure 4, Import Failed dialog:
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Netscape/Mozilla Import Failed |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Firefox could not find any Netscape or |
| Mozilla settings to import. |
| |
| [x] Import Favorites from Internet Explorer |
| instead. |
| |
| |
| |
| (( Next > )) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| |
| [ ] Import Favorites from Internet Explorer |
| instead. |
| |
| Click Finish to start Firefox now. |
| |
| (( Finish )) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
Figure 5, Something Else dialog:
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Importing Settings from Other Browsers |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Firefox can only automatically import settings |
| from Internet Explorer and Mozilla or Netscape. |
| |
| To import settings manually from another |
| such as Opera, please read the Help topic: |
| "Importing Settings Manually". |
| |
| Click Finish to start Firefox now. |
| |
| (( Finish )) |
+--------------------------------------------------+