251016 - cannot choose cache location in firefox

Status: VERIFIED INVALID

(Firefox :: Settings UI, defect)

Description

[bol]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; fr; rv:1.7) Gecko/20040626 Firefox/0.9.1
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; fr; rv:1.7) Gecko/20040626 Firefox/0.9.1

Testing Firefox after a long use of Mozilla Suite, i did'nt find a button to
change the cache location in firefox whereas it is possible in the mozilla
suite. This is important for people who want to setting up their temporary files
in an independant harddrive for example.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Tools
2. Options
3. Private
4. Cache

Actual Results:  
Only sizemax settings for cache

Expected Results:  
location button to set where cache will be saved.

Comment 1

[(not currently active) Ted Mielczarek]

I'll save some time here and just mark this INVALID.

The pref still exists in Firefox, you can set it using about:config

See http://texturizer.net/firefox/tips.html#oth_cache

This will never be exposed in the prefs dialog.

Comment 2

[Mike Connor [:mconnor]]

INVALID or WONTFIX, doesn't really matter.  Good call. :)

Comment 3

[Jo Hermans]

*** Bug 265944 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 4

[:Gavin Sharp [email: [e-mail]]]

*** Bug 277613 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 5

[Jamie Diamond]

*** Bug 260625 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 6

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

*** Bug 296238 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 7

[Robert Inder]

I think the resolution fo this bug in inadequate.

The mechanisms for an adequate solution are in place.
BUT I could not FIND the way to do it.

Obviously, it "should" be set through the "prefs" dialogue --- it USED to be,
back in the days of Netscape, I'm sure.  

But if doing that is going to require disproportionate effort, then the
browser.cache.disk.parent_directory variable does the job.  And "about:config"
gives a perfectly reasonable way to set it.

BUT ONLY IF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEM!!!

At the very least, Help/Options/Privacy/Cache should have a paragraph that
says "you can control where Firefox keeps the cache by setting the
browser.cache.disk.parent_directory preference" and a pointer to somewhere
that mentions "about:config" and the "prefs.js" file.  That would have done. 
I'd have known that there was a way there to be found.  

And (much) better still, arrange for browser.cache.disk.parent_directory to
appear in about:config!  Then the help text need only say "you can set this
through 'about:config'.  It won't be QUITE as good as a pointy clicky file
browser.  But it will be a 95% solution that people can find and understand for
themselves.

I am the 5th person who has created a duplicate of this bug.
I won't be the last, unless you do something like this!

Comment 8

[Geert Poels]

I fully agree with <a
href="https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=251016#c7">Comment #7</a>.
I'd prefer my Firefox profile to be in my homedirectory, all but my cachefolder.
The cache belongs in a temp folder.
The property exists in the prefs.js, why not align the GUI to modify it ?

Comment 9

[Geert Poels]

Attachment: GUI change proposal

I'm currently using Deer Park Alpha1.
The UI of the Preferences has been vastly improved and is much user friendly
IMHO.
My cudos to the developers !

I've Photoshopped the UI to add the preference.
I honestly cannot find any reason not to add it.

Comment 10

[:Gavin Sharp [email: [e-mail]]]

*** Bug 303258 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 11

[Dave Townsend [:mossop]]

*** Bug 348424 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 12

[slm]

Some comments:
-the link http://texturizer.net/firefox/tips.html#oth_cache in comment 2004-07-12 does not work.
-in about:config there is no browser.cache.disk.parent_directory by default. You have to add it yourself. But after that it indeed works.

Comment 13

[Geert Poels]

At least the entry in about:config needs to be there.

To Ted : 
In theory, every option could be put in the about:config.
There's a reason why this was not done; it's called usability.

PS : Even IE has this option.

Comment 14

[Mike Connor [:mconnor]]

sorry for bugspam, long-overdue mass reassign of ancient QA contact bugs,
filter on "beltznerLovesGoats" to get rid of this mass change