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View Full Version : Import Bookmarks from ΙΕ/Firefox into Opera Mobile 9.5


joannaex
12th October 2008, 04:27 PM
I've noticed many users asking how to sync their IE/Firefox bookmarks on their PC with the Opera Browser included in the latest devices. I decided to look into it a bit and see if I could find a quick and easy way of doing it. First of all there is no way to Sync with the device because ActiveSync/WMDC only supports IE Bookmarks and of course Microsoft will neve aknowledge the existence of any other browser.

OK, so the idea is pretty simple. We convert our bookmarks from whatever browser we use, into Opera browser format and then we move them to the device:

1. First step is to download this very nice, open source, and free programme called BookMarkBridge (http://bookmarkbridge.sourceforge.net/downloads.html) and install it on your PC.
2. Open up the application:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6234/93130573bz4.png

You will notice it contains a source browser section and a destination browser section.

3. If the browser you wish to use is not on the list, simply click on Add in the corresponding section to add it. Needless to say that if you want to remove a browser from the list, you have to select it and click on delete:

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/1129/75564659am5.png

In the exaple below I have selected Firefox as my source and Opera as my destination browser.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8378/68275532mc5.png

4. Click on the settings button on the program's main page to change the settings for each browser. There you will be able to modify the bookmark file paths.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8537/86337704xs3.png

You do not need to have Opera installed on your machine to make this work. Simply create a new text document in the folder of your choice and rename it to Opera6.adr. Then simply select this file as the Opera bookmark File.

You will also notice that right underneath the bookmark file path is an option that will prevent this file from being edited. What this program actually does is combine/merge the bookmark files. First it will read all bookmarks contained in the source browsers and then combine them in one list. It will then save that list in the correct format in the destination browser's bookmark file. For example, if the source browsers are IE and Firefox and Opera is the destination, it will create an Opera6.adr (in the select path) that will include the bookmarks from both browsers.

5. Clicking on the View button on the program's main page, you can see a list of the bookmarks contained in the source browsers and you can select to ignore the ones you don't want moved to the destination browser.

6. Last but not list, clicking on Merge will begin the process. Once completed, all you need to do it take the Opera6.adr from the folder you selected in the settings, and copy it to the \windows\Opera9 folder in your device.

An alternative application:

vbBKM (BookMark Manager) (http://bkm.sourceforge.net/en/vbbkm.html) Not hard to use either, includes import and export features.

matthewf01
30th October 2008, 06:05 PM
This is GREAT info, preparing to get my in-transit XPERIA X1 all synced up, and getting my Firefox bookmarks into Opera was one of my to-do's! Thank you!

joannaex
30th October 2008, 08:18 PM
You're welcome :)

matthewf01
4th November 2008, 07:40 PM
Question: so I exported my bookmarks into the adr file, and I see the existing adr in the /Windows directory (there is no Opera folder...), but it doesn't let me delete it. How do I go about replacing the file itself?

joannaex
5th November 2008, 08:09 AM
IF this is the opera addressbook file, you could copy the one you created on your PC to the storage card and use either Resco Explorer or Total Commander to overwrite the file (in case it doesn't allow you to do so with the built in File Explorer).

matthewf01
5th November 2008, 04:59 PM
Ah, I was copying to the wrong location.
There's an opera6.adr file in \\Application Data\Opera -- THAT's where it goes.
But now I'm seeing only the first three bookmark folders I had, and they are being duplicated twice. The rest of the folders are missing -- if I open the adr file on my PC using notepad I see all the bookmarks are there, but the device isn't showing them.
Does Opera have some kind of limitation as to how many directories can be displayed?

joannaex
5th November 2008, 07:38 PM
I honestly can't tell you. I noticed a problem like the one you're describing when I was trying out different converters. I've tested the ones above on my HTC Diamond. Which device are you using?

matthewf01
5th November 2008, 07:52 PM
Xperia X1.
I opened up the opera6.adr that the browser was creating, not the one the converter was creating, and noticed it looked very different... I dont think these apps are exporting into a format Opera Mobile is looking for?

joannaex
5th November 2008, 07:54 PM
Well if they weren't would it be working on my Diamond? Can you tell me which version of Opera you are using? Which converter did you use? Is there any chance you could send me the adr file to check it on my HTC?

matthewf01
5th November 2008, 08:05 PM
Opera 9.5, build 2141 - the built-in Xperia version

I tried this with both converters.

awm
13th November 2008, 11:12 AM
Opera 9.5, build 2141 - the built-in Xperia version

I tried this with both converters.

joannaex - thanks for posting this, I've been looking for a way of doing this too, but had similar trouble to matthewf01.

I had a look at the file the bookmark bridge generated and compared it to the original one from my Diamond and there is a difference in the file format. I got it working in the end my manually editing the file, from memory (at work now, was doing this at home) there were a couple of missing attributes ID and CREATED and rather than URL= it had URL== with a double equals sign, same was true of the other attributes.

I keen to have this automated, so I might crack open the Bookmark Bridge source (it's on Sourceforge) and add a new option for the Opera browser that's on the Diamond.

Joannaex - now idea how it works on yours? maybe you have a different ROM and hence a different version of Opera?

joannaex
13th November 2008, 11:30 AM
I have the original Shipped 1.93 ROM. I will try and do some tests on the Touch 3G and HD and report back.

teanam
1st December 2008, 09:45 PM
hello

i managed to put it on my x1

you need to install opera 9 on your pc
import bookmarks from in my case mozila to opera save it anywhere
copy/replace that file to app/opera on your mobile
that's it
job done

Good luck

chaoscreater
10th July 2009, 01:17 PM
Ah, I was copying to the wrong location.
There's an opera6.adr file in \\Application Data\Opera -- THAT's where it goes.
But now I'm seeing only the first three bookmark folders I had, and they are being duplicated twice. The rest of the folders are missing -- if I open the adr file on my PC using notepad I see all the bookmarks are there, but the device isn't showing them.
Does Opera have some kind of limitation as to how many directories can be displayed?

I have the EXACT problem too!! I can only see one folder and it's duplicated 4 times. I don't see my other bookmarks at all. When i go into the folder, i can only see "SOME" of the boomarks in it, e.g. if i have a list of 100 bookmarked links in it, i can only see about say 30 or 40.

I'm using HTC Touch Pro running Windows Mobile 6.1 and running Opera 9.5 build 15306.

I haven't done any modding or hacking to my phone at all, everything is running at stock or default.

kakarothusain
12th July 2009, 04:09 PM
ya i was looking for some info like this...
thanks for sharing this info with us....http://www.pppcm.com/138l1302.jpg

wg5566
12th July 2009, 05:32 PM
Another way found in this page (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=486502&page=16):
The desktop version of Opera is able to import its Bookmarks from IE's Favorites, which are stored in file 'Opera6.adr' at 'C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Applications Data\Opera\Opera\profile" on your PC. Just copy this file to the Opera directory in your PPC. You see, I don't have Opera Mini installed on my 9502, but I think it should work.

If you want PIE's Favorites instead, just sync them with your PC, prior to importing Opera's Bookmarks.
Just my 2 cents..Cheers!
Carlos

In addition, if you are using the official non-branded version like Opera Mobile 9.51B2 or the latest 9.7B1, it has the buildin function to Import PIE Favorites on First Launch. In case you want to syncronize after first launch, in opera address bar, type: opera:config and hit enter, then in the config page tap Install, then in the extended list, check the box for 'Browser First Time Launch', then hit Save. After exit & relaunch Opera, the bookmarks from PIE will be syncronized.

Some other way is to use Opera Link (http://link.opera.com/).

vivalamoza
24th September 2009, 03:35 PM
joannaex - thanks for posting this, I've been looking for a way of doing this too, but had similar trouble to matthewf01.

I had a look at the file the bookmark bridge generated and compared it to the original one from my Diamond and there is a difference in the file format. I got it working in the end my manually editing the file, from memory (at work now, was doing this at home) there were a couple of missing attributes ID and CREATED and rather than URL= it had URL== with a double equals sign, same was true of the other attributes.

That's what I had to do to get it working after many trials with many bookmark syncing tools but nothing worked, in the end I opened up the 2 bookmark files (the one the tool generated and the one opera mobile was using initially) and compared format and did alot of find/replace, but it worked it end :)

Baluliloe
8th October 2009, 03:23 PM
I have a different problem.

I choose Firefox as source browser -> OK
than I click on "View bookmarks in source browsers" and I see non of my bookmarks but several default bookmarks from that browser?!?

Can anybody help?