Read It Later Support

Foxmarks Causes Duplicates/Lost Items

• Nate

  @Alanjstr
  
  What version of Read It Later do you have?
  
  Also, can you open Firefox's bookmark organizer, locate two duplicates, right click them and select properties. Then copy/paste the exact urls of the duplicates and send them to me?

  Posted Nov 5 08 reply
  • Carbon14

    Did Xmarks or RIL update recently (as of Sept 1 2009)? Cause I've got them working together.
    
    I tried EVERYTHING here but it wouldn't work until I inadvertently left the sync checkbox ON in Xmarks, contrary to one of the workarounds. And it works.
    
    DISCLAIMER - There is one implication of this process - a one-time problem/complication to deal with, I guess.
    
    It SEEMS each time you add the XMarks/RIL combo, the RIL list gets wiped (well, turned to READ as we have discovered, not really wiped). Happens with the primary location. Then when you add the second location, the RIL list gets reset/read again. And when you add the third, same thing, and so on.
    
    So as long as you are prepared for this, then it all works out. Once XMarks/RIL is working with an empty ReadItLater bookmark directory at all locations, it works great and builds properly going forward; as I add from my 3 locations, everyone stays in sync.
    
    Now, if I were to add a 4th location, the RIL lists would again fall out of sync, some locations may have an error (just re-enter the RIL Sync account info to fix), but once reset across all locations, it will eventually begin working. Then just go the online list and add back any locations you might want to add back in.
    

    Posted Sep 1 09 Version: 0.9947 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
• Simon Wilson

  Fantastic add-in, use it everyday. One minor problem I have is I end getting 2 of each link in my list - think it may be down to having two computers (home & work) running at the same time and syncing across them.

  Posted Nov 24 08 reply
• Dev

  Some of my pages saved for later reading are disappearing and being replaced by duplicates of other saved pages. Hope I've made myself clear there :-) Great plug-in otherwise though !!!

  Posted Nov 28 08 reply
• Rafa

  I started to use Read it Later with the extension Foxmarks in two equipments with different Firefox language (Spanish and Catalan). I had to stop using it because entries are duplicated at Read It Later.

  Posted Dec 10 08 reply
• Nate

  Currently, when using Read It Later and Foxmarks together, you must take a few steps to prevent issues in syncing.
  
  Since your reading list is saved in a normal bookmark folder, Foxmarks will sync this folder. If you are using RIL’s built in syncing at the same time, problems will arise, such as duplicate entries.
  
  ----------------
  
  Best solution:
  
  Setup syncing profiles in Foxmarks:
  http://ideashower.com/support/read-it-later/foxmarks-causes-duplicates/#post-2558
  
  --------
  
  If you cannot setup syncing profiles and you do not use ReadItLaterList.com:
  
  If you do not manage your list on http://readitlaterlist.com, then the easiest solution is to disable RIL’s syncing and let Foxmarks sync your reading list. In your RIL options, open the RSS / Syncing tab and make sure Syncing is turned off. You can still save to the online list if you wish to.
  
  
  ----
  
  
  If you cannot setup syncing profiles and you do use ReadItLaterList.com:
  
  Changes made on the RIL website will need to be synced to your Firefox install. Foxmarks won’t be able to do this for you. This instance is the trickier of the bunch. There are a few workarounds that may or may not work for your scenario. For more information check out:
  http://getsatisfaction.com/foxmarks/topics/foxmarks_interacting_with_read_it_later
  
  
  ------
  
  
  If you cannot setup syncing profiles and you use the iPhone/iPod Touch App see:
  http://ideashower.com/support/read-it-later/foxmarks-causes-duplicates/#post-2204
  
  If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.
  

  Posted Jan 18 09 reply
• Dincer

  Hi,
  Instead of both way syncing, if there were an option just to "feed" to the RIL server, maybe it would work.
  
  I am not pretty sure about this because, maybe this time, bookmarks could be duplicate on the RIL server.
  
     Private comment hidden

  Posted Apr 10 09 Version: 0.9940 Browser: Firefox 3.0 reply
• ttrygve

  I'm using Foxmarks, so I'm currently leaving sync turned off, as recommended. But now I don't seem to be able to sync my list to my iPhone. Is there a way to do that that I'm not seeing?
  
  Also, is there any chance of this issue being resolved sometime soon?
  
  Thanks!

  Posted Apr 10 09 Version: Firefox extension 0.9940, iPhone App 1.0 Browser: Firefox 3.0 reply
  • Nate

    You can have Foxmarks, RIL, and RIL on the iPhone work together, there are just a few things you'll want to check to avoid any problems.
    
    Version 2.0 of the Firefox extension is under way and this issue is near the top of the priority list, so it should be a non-issue in the future.
    
    The issue is because Read It Later creates a Read It Later folder when installed, this can cause duplicate RIL folders since Foxmarks will see them differently. You just need to tell RIL which folder to use.
    
    After enabling syncing on Foxmarks and RIL, do a Foxmarks sync. Then on both computers go on and make sure there is only one copy of the folder called 'Read It Later'. If you have more than one, follow these instructions to fix it. If you have just one, skip down to the next step.
    
    1. Start on computer A.
    2. Make sure there are no duplicate RIL folders in your bookmarks.
    3. Sync your bookmarks to Foxmarks
    4. Go to computer B.
    5. Sync your bookmarks to Foxmarks
    6. If there are two RIL folders, go into the Read It Later options and choose which folder to use (should be the one that just came over from Foxmarks)
    7. Remove the duplicate.
    
    If you only have one RIL folder on both of your computers, log into the Foxmarks site and disable syncing for that folder.
    
    This should make everything work smoothly.
    
    If for whatever reason this does not work, If you notice any issue where items disappear, don't worry, nothing should be 'deleted', only marked as read. You will find any missing items in your 'read' list on http://readitlaterlist.com
    
    

    Posted Apr 11 09 reply
    • ttrygve

      Thank you, that was very helpful!

      Posted Apr 11 09 reply
• Chris

  I have no duplicate RIL folders yet I'm still getting duplicates.

  Posted Apr 14 09 Browser: Firefox 3.1 reply
  • Chris

    Never mind. I figured out how to exclude the sync on a folder in xmarks.

    Posted Apr 14 09 reply
• Dave

  So I just recently found out about your Javascript bookmarklets and online list viewing. Awesome! Especially in tandem with the offline app I can use on my iTouch.
  
  I had a suggestion, though, regarding the Foxmarks/Xmarks syncing bug. I recently experienced it myself b/c I use and love Xmarks. The way I got around this bug, however, was quite simple.
  
  Xmarks allows you \"syncing profiles\" which allow you to divy up parts of your bookmarks to certain profiles. So if you only wanna sync one folder, or all folders except one (hint hint) then it\'s quite easy to do so. Then, after creating your sync profile all you need to do is go into your local Xmarks settings and then choose that sync profile. As an example, my profile was called \"Read It Later Safe\" and I chose to sync all my bookmarks except the Read It Later folder. Now, in every browser in which I use Xmarks, I choose that sync profile and it all works beautifully!
  
  Thought you might appreciate this tip to include in the standard warning message about Xmarks and RIL syncing.
  
  Cheers,

  Posted Apr 20 09 reply
• Brad

  I can't get his to work... I'm working from multiple computers and i either get duplicates in RiL or nothing at all. I followed the instructions carefully, but I'm still having trouble. Any ideas?
  
  I created a xmarks profile and set it to sync everything but the RiL folder on all of my computers. Is there a step I'm missing?

  Posted May 2 09 reply
  • Nate

    Hey Brad
    
    Looks like you posted this over the weekend, did you have any luck or are you still having trouble? If you are, shoot me an email at RIL@ideashower.com and we can talk further.
    
    Thanks!

    Posted May 4 09 reply
    • Arthur Basbaum

      I'm having the SAME problem and I did what Dave wrote and doesn't work here...
      
      When I deselect the ReadItLater folder from XMarks syncprofile and them click to sync again it simply delete my local ReadItlater folder...
      
      Any ideas?

      Posted May 14 09 Browser: Firefox 3.1 reply
      • maca89

        i got the same issue. it seemes i will have to turn RIL synching off.

        Posted Jun 9 09 reply
    • Caryn

      Any ETA on this issue? I have the same problem: either duplicates in RiL or nothing at all. Nothing I've tried works.

      Posted Jul 10 09 reply
• Suki doo

  what about forcing an override of server data when syncing in xmarks? It's on the advanced tab there.
  Frankly, I"m more likely to disable foxmarks-- which I have done until I get a chance to work the workaround. I much more need my articles and sites available to me then my bookmarks.

  Posted Jun 29 09 Version: latest Browser: Firefox 3.1 reply
• Hal

  Well why do that Suki, since the stuff is stored for RiL in a simple bookmark folder you can just let XMarks sync that folder and open it later.

  Posted Jul 22 09 reply
• simfor

  same thing here...all my entrys in read it later are gone now...*grrr* :-( you should have mentioned that before, dave :-(

  Posted Aug 4 09 Version: 0.9947 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
  • Nate

    Hey Simfor
    
    In most cases the items aren't lost, generally they just get 'marked as read'.
    
    Check out this page for more:
    http://www.ideashower.com/support/read-it-later/ril-lost/
    
    Also, I'm finally making headway on version 2.0 which has this problem licked. I'll post here when a beta is out.
    
    Thanks!

    Posted Aug 6 09 reply
• AshishN

  I'm also having the same issue... I love XMarks, and I love the idea of RiL... I just wish they would work together properly....! Looking forward to the development of this, as both of these together would be brilliant.
  
  P.s. I love the google reader integration of Read it Later!!

  Posted Aug 16 09 reply
• simfor

  Nate,
  
  thank you so much for your input! i just checked http://readitlaterlist.com and logged in, and discovered the items i believed deleted under "read". thanks once again!
  
  simon
  
  PS: thanks for your great work on that amazing tool. keep up the good work!

  Posted Aug 17 09 Version: 0.9947 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
• Daniel

  Wait so I don't get it - IS there a solution for multiple computer xmark/RiL to work using the xmarks sync profiles? Or is there not? I definitely can't get it to work - have tried many combinations of options.

  Posted Sep 2 09 reply
• Nate

  Version 2.0 beta 1 with a fix for Xmarks incompatibility is available now!
  
  http://readitlaterlist.com/blog/2009/09/read-it-later-20-beta-1/
  
  Thanks again for everyone's feedback.

  Posted Sep 29 09 reply