Hi, I would say since it was never posted it was never saved and so does not exist.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile

• bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
• bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
• cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
• formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
• logins.json (passwords) and key4.db (58+) or key3.db (57 and older) (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
• if you only have key3.db then make sure to remove an existing key4.db
• cert9.db (58+) or cert8.db (57 and older) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
• if you only have cert8.db then make sure to remove an existing cert9.db
• persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
• permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
• sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)

Once you leave the page then data you typed in a form is lost. If there is a problem with sending form data then a refresh/reload via F5 might work to recover this data via the Network Monitor (check the request headers). If the refresh or back button isn't triggering the resend then you are out-of-luck.

For the future, an extension like the following might help reduce data loss from forms that time out:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/form-history-control/

Pkshadow said

Hi, I would say since it was never posted it was never saved and so does not exist.

Thanks, I'll have a good read through that link later. I'm assuming that when I took a backup (just a folder copy) it is 'the same as' a copy of an old profile.

cor-el said

Once you leave the page then data you typed in a form is lost. If there is a problem with sending form data then a refresh/reload via F5 might work to recover this data via the Network Monitor (check the request headers). If the refresh or back button isn't triggering the resend then you are out-of-luck.

I guess it all depends on what is in the backup I took. Thanks

jscher2000 said

For the future, an extension like the following might help reduce data loss from forms that time out: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/form-history-control/

Thanks, I'll look at that.

Hi oygle, if you have a copy of recovery.jsonlz4 and recovery.baklz4 from the sessionstore-backups directory, try decompressing each of them using my page here:

https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/scrounger.html

Use the Save Uncompressed JSON button and give the file a .json file extension so when you open it in Firefox you can use the structured viewer. Does the JSON data have your form input?

(The Scrounge URLs button doesn't fish out any form data, just URLs, so ignore that button.)

Hi jscher2000,

jscher2000 said

Hi oygle, if you have a copy of recovery.jsonlz4 and recovery.baklz4 from the sessionstore-backups directory, try decompressing each of them using my page here: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/scrounger.html Use the Save Uncompressed JSON button and give the file a .json file extension so when you open it in Firefox you can use the structured viewer. Does the JSON data have your form input? (The Scrounge URLs button doesn't fish out any form data, just URLs, so ignore that button.)

I just checked, and yes, I have both of those files in the 'backup', so will try your instructions, thanks.  :)

I'll have to read up on how to drag/drop, as I'm using Linux/Kubuntu (not windows)

oygle said

I'll have to read up on how to drag/drop, as I'm using Linux/Kubuntu (not windows)

Oh. I tend to assume everyone has a mouse and resizable windows. If I need to add a file browsing button to that page, I could do that, but maybe not immediately.

jscher2000 said

Oh. I tend to assume everyone has a mouse and resizable windows. If I need to add a file browsing button to that page, I could do that, but maybe not immediately.

Yes I do have a mouse and can resize, so I'll do that, thanks. I guess working on a laptop all the time, all windows are maximised, so I don't usually drag/drop at all.

Sometimes the unfamiliar can 'seem like' a hurdle. :)

@jscher2000

So, I have used your software to drag/drop and save uncompressed data for both files and given them an extension of .JSON

When I open the files in Firefox, what tab do I use. I used the 'raw data' tab and it's not really recognisable format.

Then I used the 'pretty print' feature, but can't find the post.  :(

Not a solution for your current issue, but see this add-on for the future. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/textarea-cache/

Pkshadow said

• formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data

I opened that file from the backup and exported everything to a CSV, but when I view it, it only contains values from very short form fields, nothing there for this long form.

the-edmeister said

Not a solution for your current issue, but see this add-on for the future. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/textarea-cache/

Thanks  :)

In regards to those 2 .JSON files that were recovered from the backup.

I ran a script to convert them to XML and viewed the files, but couldn't find the (lost) post at all.

Thanks everyone for your help, much appreciated.

Hi oygle, unfortunately I can't think of any other place to look for the form content.

jscher2000 said

Hi oygle, unfortunately I can't think of any other place to look for the form content.

Hi jscher2000 - no worries, thanks everyone for all your help.

In future, if I'm doing a large post anywhere, I will prepare it in a text editor first. A small lesson for me.