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Sheep Systems
BookMacster, the Bookmarks Master for your Mac, is compatible with iCloud's Safari. Choose one, two, or all three:
- Manage Browser Bookmarks. Add alphabetizing and tagging. Verify, fix dupes, consolidate.
- Cross-Browser Syncing. Sync bookmarks of Safari Firefox, Chrome, and more among all your devices.
- Central Store. Keep your bookmarks in one central store, accessible within web browsers.
- Compatible with iCloud's Safari syncing, Google Chrome's
What's New
Version 1.21.2:
- More robust behavior when attempting to sync documents that OS X may have temporarily misplaced, while BookMacster is not running or document is not currently open. (When such a sync is initiated, if OS X fails to provide Worker with the path to the subject .bkmslf document, instead of only silently switching off syncing [deleting the document’s Agents], now re-requests the path 5 more times over the next minute, and only if all of these fail, switches off syncing, and creates and logs an Error (19004 or 19005) which informs the user of the switch.
Version 1.21.2:
- More robust behavior when attempting to sync documents that OS X may have temporarily misplaced, while BookMacster is not running or document is not currently open. (When such a sync is initiated, if OS X fails to provide Worker with the path to the subject .bkmslf document, instead of only silently switching off syncing [deleting the document’s Agents], now re-requests the more...
Requirements
Intel, OS X 10.6 or later
Intel, OS X 10.6 or later
BookMacster User Discussion (Write a Review)
Overall:
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(55)
| Downloads:55,265 |
| Version Downloads:928 |
| Type:Internet : Internet Utilities |
| License:Demo |
| Date:09 Apr 2014 |
| Platform:Intel 64 / Intel 32 / OS X |
| Price: $22.95 |
Overall (Version 1.x):  |
Features: |
| Ease of Use: |
| Value: |
| Stability: |
Displaying 1-10 of 49
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BookMacster, the Bookmarks Master for your Mac, is compatible with iCloud's Safari. Choose one, two, or all three:
- Manage Browser Bookmarks. Add alphabetizing and tagging. Verify, fix dupes, consolidate.
- Cross-Browser Syncing. Sync bookmarks of Safari Firefox, Chrome, and more among all your devices.
- Central Store. Keep your bookmarks in one central store, accessible within web browsers.
- Compatible with iCloud's Safari syncing, Google Chrome's Sign In, and Firefox Sync. Bookmarks added to Safari from BookMacster on your Mac will sync via iCloud to Safari on iOS devices.
- Import/export with Safari, Firefox, Chrome, iCab, Opera 11-12, Roccat, Pinboard, Delicious, Diigo, Google Bookmarks, and OmniWeb.
- Easily organize with Tags, Hierarchy, or both.
- Verifies bookmarks, fixes redirects and duplicates.
- Sort (alphabetize) automatically when bookmarks are changed. You control which folders you want to be sorted or not sorted, how to sort them.
- Supports multiple User Profiles in Firefox and Google Chrome.
- Scriptable to collect new bookmarks from NetNewsWire or similar apps.
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Mar6473 reviewed on 15 Feb 2014
The developer is also surprisingly helpful. He walked me through an issue I had and has even implemented a small feature that I was looking for in the update that was released today.
This is what I love about small third-party developers. Good ones listen and and dedicated to their work.
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Sleav reviewed on 24 Nov 2013
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Thank you for the review, particularly your words in the last sentence, "This great app".
***
Regarding moving bookmarks around… Yes, BookMacster displays your Content using the standard "Outline View" provided by Mac OS X, the same as Safari. And I share your dislike for what Apple calls "spring-loaded folders". But, in response to user feedback, BookMacster has a couple of slightly-hidden features to "ding the spring".
• To prevent folders from springing open while dragging over them, simply hold down the 'shift' key. There is actually a tooltip which pops up during dragging, which tells you this. Unfortunately, it's difficult to say that in less than a dozen words, and the same tooltip also reminds users about another trick, holding down the 'option' key to make a copy.
• For a completely better user experience, don't drag and drop. Instead, perform a "secondary click" (right-click or control-click) on the item, click the "Move to…" or "Copy to…" contextual menu items, then use the arrow keys to navigate directly to your destination.
We've gotten good feedback on these two features which I think really improve the Mac OS X "Outline View", while leaving in place the standard Mac behavior for those users that are familiar with it.
http://www.sheepsystems.com/movb
The first half of that 45-second video will make you an expert on Macintosh outline drag-and-drop, while the second half shows BookMacster's "Move to…" and "Copy to…".
***
Regarding the esoteric names, indeed BookMacster has a few of those. For example, we refer to "Browsers" as "Clients". We struggle with these names, but would rather err on the side of correctness than oversimplification. The reason for "Clients" is that, while "Clients" are usually "Browsers", they can also be external files, or web app accounts (Delicious, etc.).
***
More broadly, I know BookMacster can be challenging for the 85% of Mac users who muddle through their bookmarks and want a quick fix. We understand that some of these 85% would like a smaller, simpler solution for their specific use case, and are working on these. In the meantime, because I'm not satisfied with 3-star reviews, we're going to think about how to improve or replace that TLDNR (*) tooltip with something that makes BookMacster's great experience more discoverable.
Thanks again for the feedback.
Jerry Krinock
(*) "Too long, did not read" http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/TLDNR
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Mkay reviewed on 24 Oct 2013
It's great way to keep your bookmarks in (cross-browser) sync. Combined with iClouds Safari sync it even keeps your bookmarks in sync with your iOS devices.
Only downside (and probably what others meant by 'learning curve'): it's kind of un-macish.
Far too many options, menus and nested selects might give you MS Windows flashbacks. Keep it simple.
Setup is simple and straight forward though.
( ...unless you mess things up by getting curious and clicking all those checkboxes... ;)
Recommended.
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Gary30 reviewed on 07 Oct 2013
However I got Bookmacster as part of a bundle and it is a pleasant surprise indeed. It is absolutely mandatory to do a backup before running this app and manipulating bookmarks because there is a lot more to this app than you might think and the settings are daunting. That said, I found the initial settings understandable enough and (deep breath) trusted that my 1500 plus bookmarks would be exported from my default browser to my other browsers. They were, and duplicates were found. The bookmarks toolbars among my browsers were changed but not much. I only work with one machine so I don't contend with syncing computers. The syncing features and settings are many and complex.
I very much like that this is a third party app and not a bunch of browser plugins or system service. You run the app and the app works on the various bookmark files independently of the browsers. Once you get comfortable with running the app, you can run it as often as you like. Also, there are plenty of undo opportunities but I have not used them.
I suspect I would not have paid the street price of $23 for this app, but after using it for awhile I am thinking I might consider it. There is a lot of complexity in syncing bookmarks among browsers and computers and doing it right requires some pretty good programming chops I would imagine.
Since there is a demo, you can see for yourself. Just make sure you back up because you certainly can make a mess of things if you don't proceed cautiously.
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You can never have too many backups, so I certainly would not dissuade anyone from backing up as you recommend. Let me explain how to do it.
I believe what you are recommending is to back up the bookmarks files of the various browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) If you have a Time Machine or similar backup of your Home's Library, technically, you're done. But restoring these is more complicated. First, you have to know which files to restore. Second, you need to be careful that you don't upset any of the browsers' proprietary syncing mechanisms: Sign In to Chrome, Firefox Sync, or iCloud-Safari.
Actually, in a slightly-hidden feature, BookMacster creates an archive of the web browsers' bookmarks files prior to all imports or exports, and it retains (by default) the last five. We call these "Sync Snapshots". We have a support web page which explains how to safely restore from these snapshots, how to restore from the Versions Browser in Mac OS X (requires Mac OS X 10.7 or later), and how to restore from other backups. Your bookmarks are pretty safe with all of these backups. Finally, there is a link to contact us, which we recommend to any user that wants to restore, and has any doubts about what they are doing. You should get good attention because we've not had any assistance requests in this regard for several months :)
To get to that web page, visit our web site, click the "Support" tab, then "Support Articles", then "BookMacster", then "I lost all my bookmarks".
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Maclover1.1 reviewed on 07 Sep 2013
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start guessing if he found a girlfriend, lately he's very absent-minded :D
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Identifier: com.sheepsystems.BookMacster
Version: 1.14.10 (1.14.10)
Code Type: X86-64 (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [161]
User ID: 501
Date/Time: 2013-04-28 00:11:56.037 +0200
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.8.4 (12E36)
Report Version: 10
Crashed Thread: 0
Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000
Application Specific Information:
dyld: launch, loading dependent libraries
Dyld Error Message:
Library not loaded: @executable_path/../Frameworks/Sparkle.framework/Versions/A/Sparkle
Referenced from: /Users/helmo/Downloads/BookMacster 1.14.10/BookMacster.app/Contents/Frameworks/Bkmxwork.framework/Versions/A/Bkmxwork
Reason: image not found
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There is not enough column width in these comments to get into technical details. I just started a thread on our forum for this issue. I'm told I cannot post a link in here, so try replacing the in this…
http//sheepsystems.com/discuss/YaBB.pl?num=1367128100
If that doesn't work, please visit our website, sheepsystems.com and navigate to
Support > Forum > BookMacster > BookMacster 1.14.10
EIther that, or just zip and send me the BookMacster 1.14.10 which you have. I know this seems to be impossible, but the one I have here seems to be different than yours.
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as not working i trashed that one just before posting here my comment, so can't really send it back to you. Anyway redownloaded after reading you and it just launched... go figure.
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To check your Console as Helmo did, activate Finder and click in the menu: Go > Utilities. Launch Console.app, and type "BookMacster" into the search field to filter out other entries.
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Did you noticed your application has missing the icon.icns?
otherwise all seems fine
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Maclover1.1 reviewed on 01 Mar 2013
IN ANY CASE.. I finally dared turning on automatic Syncing (up to now I always did it manually.. afraid to mess things up) but the software keeps coming to the front to tell me what it is doing and asking me to approve this or that.. "Export and Save" etc.. which sort of defeats the purpose.. I just want it do do its job without bothering me.
So either I am not quite understanding how to set it up so it stops bothering me... and am doing it wrong (so many preferences etc).. or it really does this ?
So while this is the best that actually is sturdy (unlike Webbla for one) for large quantities of bookmarks.. it could be soooo much better and geared to basic humans..).
I want to give it 5 for what it does and could be and maybe a 1 for interface and ease of use.
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Regarding annoying warnings … BookMacster definitely errs on the side of being too careful with your bookmarks. But most of the warnings occur in two situations, which are easy to avoid…
(1) Once you turn on Syncing, BookMacster becomes very careful about any changes which could cause your bookmarks to get out of sync. If you have turned on Syncing and want to edit bookmarks, or change anything in BookMacster, click the Syncing button in the toolbar again, to *Pause* syncing, or if you see a *Pause* button in a warning, click it. This tells BookMacster, "Yes, I'm doing stuff. I am in control. Just relax until I am done." When you close the document or quit BookMacster, BookMacster will give you a kindly reminder to *Resume* syncing again if desired.
(2) If you are using BookMacster to *Sync* bookmarks among web browsers (Safari, Firefox, Chrome, etc.), as Maclover1.1 is, after you have set everything up, your should *Quit* BookMacster. For this use case, you do not need to run BookMacster while browsing the web. Do not add BookMacster to your Login Items. Leave it quit until the next day when you want to do bookmarks housecleaning or reorganization. (When you do, *Pause* syncing as described above.) BookMacster Agents will work silently for you, in the background. In BookMacster 1.13.6, we've reminded new users of this in a few strategic places.
For now, please click the *Screencasts* section section on BookMacster's web page and pick one of our short screencasts to see how to do what you want to. Also, we're happy to answer questions on our Forum or via email.
Thank you.
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I've prepared a short video to show how BookMacster can do what Bookit did, in 55 seconds. It's on our site. On the BookMacster page, under Screencasts, watch "One-Time Migration".
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Mykl.biz reviewed on 06 Feb 2013
• for geeks only
• high learning curve
• drab and sloppy interface
• some operations are slow and/or CPU hogs
• seems to handle 13,000 bookmarks, once they've loaded
• tag auto-complete is much faster than DeliBar
• buggy (e.g. functionality disappears)
• it crashes
• it's not a replacement for Pukka's handling of multiple Delicious accounts
side note: More impressed than ever with how well Justin Miller's Pukka worked (until it got orphaned, and his apologies for crufty coding notwithstanding).
Yes, what I really want is a replacement for Pukka. This isn't it.
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- Bookmarkshelf/Export(Safari) or File/One-Time Export/Safari (as well as Auto Export) always give me +320/-320 as mentioned earlier in this page
- File/Export Bookmarklet to/Safari instead gives the correct result (if no bookmark have changed) of +0/-0
I've searched a bit in the manual as I think there's a difference of scope between those functions but haven't found out...
Unfortunately, there's no shortcut for the command that works as planned.
It would be nice if the dev would explain clearly in the manual what are those two export commands for...
The least I can say is that it's not clear to me. ;-)
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I hope I understand someday how this "powerful" tool works!
For now, I give up.
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The other things you're doing…
• Bookmarkshelf > Export (Safari)
• File > One-Time Export > Safari if you choose "Normal"
• Auto Export all do the same thing
all do the same thing, which is why they all give the same result. They perform a "normal" export into Safari, which means that the Safari bookmarks are overwritten and arranged as much as possible like the content in BookMacster. This is what you need to do.
The result of +320/-320 means that 320 items are being replaced, probably with the same items. We call this "churn". It usually has no effect on the outcome, but it shouldn't happen, and can cause extra syncs if you switch on syncing. There is probably what we call an "edge case" – something out of the ordinary – in your bookmarks. But we're passionate about eliminating churn in *all* cases, and the best way to reproduce and fix the problem is to get your data. So we have built a tool which you can access from within BookMacster to send us your data. If you could, please, do this when you have a few minutes:
• Activate BookMacster
• Click in the menu: Help ▸ Trouble Zipper
Trouble Zipper may take a few seconds to download.
• For Question B (Bookmarks), answer "Include Bookmarks"
• In the list which appears, choose "Safari"
• For Question L (Sync Logs), answer "Don't Include Sync Logs"
• For Question F (Files), answer "Search"
• Send us the resulting .zip as instructed.
Let us know if you have any trouble.
Thank you,
Jerry Krinock
Chief Engineer
Sheep Systems
San José, CA USA
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One thing I've noticed is that once BM has exported once to Safari, it behaves as expected in the subsequent syncs.
Also, checking the content of my source bookmarks (Camino) against synced Safari bookmarks from Bookit, BookDog and BM shows differences in headings (ex. : 'title' instead of 'Title') or UUIDs.
So it's very likely that the bookmarks URLs are ok (I've seen no difference for one that was reported deleted/re-added) and only some other thing is changed.
I'm quite sure that it's more of a difference between how Bookit works (I don't use the sync but the 'migrate' function which indeed deletes all Safari bookmarks before writing the new ones!) and how BM is writing them.
Thanks again! :-)
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Do I understand correctly that you're still using Bookit to "migrate" to Safari? With all due respect to the legacy of Bookit, Apple has made several changes to the way Safari bookmarks are stored since the last Bookit update in 2008. If you're migrating from Camino thru Bookit to Safari, then importing to BookMacster and exporting back to Safari, although I'm still interested in knowing the root cause, I am not at all surprised to see 320 tweaks. It may just be that BookMacster is normalizing some URLs so that subsequent syncs among Chrome, Firefox and Safari will be churn-free. We've done a lot of study to get the correct formula for that.
I don't quite understand where "title" is being changed to "Title".
If you could explain to me why you're still using Bookit, I can probably tell you how to retire it. It might still be useable in your case, for other readers, using Bookit with iCloud-Safari syncing switched on will definitely result in disaster.
Finally, in case you have not heard, the developers of Camino are recommending that you don't use Camino any more. You can read about that at http://caminobrowser.org. In case the forum filters out hyperlinks, that's "caminobrowser-dot-org".
Anyhow, let us know what you find. I'm looking forward to getting this resolved.
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I was on PPC until recently and have used Camino as a repository of my bookmarks for years, hence Bookit, that was doing the job of syncing it to Safari once in a while.
Now I have to find an alternative.
It's quite a problem to me that I still have to sync my bookmarks with my PPC machine once in a while (I know there's a legacy version of BM but my trials have not been convincing).
I'll let you know. ;-)
Thanks again.
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BookMacster was used with verify and alpha sort bookmarks. No problems with either OS X 10.8.4 Mac with iCloud sync. However iOS 6.1.4 [10B350] iPads started crashing on launch due to a problem with the BookMacster-modified bookmarks on both iPads.
It has taken me a couple of weeks of work-arounds with Apple to recover, and claw my way back to where I started. Thankfully I had good backups of both iPads and my previous (unaltered) set of bookmarks.
Managing bookmarks with this developers products has always been simple, productive, and safe -- but my recent experience prompts me to interject a STRONG word of warning to anyone using BookMacster until this issue is vetted.
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Although it's impossible to go back and reconstruct what happened, with all due respect to Apple, I disagree with the finger being pointed at BookMacster as the cause of Safari crashing on iPads.
After exporting, BookMacster notifies iCloud's syncing agent on your Mac. The iCloud agent starts up, reads the changes, pushes them into Apple's server in the cloud, then the server processes the changes and pushes them to the iOS devices. If Safari on your Mac crashed, it would make sense to blame BookMacster. But there is so much that goes on between BookMacster and iPad. No software is perfect, and in this case it is iCloud which more likely did something wrong.
It is true that you should be careful of any non-Apple app manipulating Safari bookmarks. Older tools are not compatible with iCloud. But we spent a lot of time engineering BookMacster to play nice with iCloud, and we continue testing it.
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http://www.les-horaires.fr/75015/Paris-15e/La-Poste-Paris-Lourmel-38-Rue-De-Lourmel,13154.html
will transform in
http://www.les-horaires.fr/75015/Paris-15e/La-Poste-Paris-Lourmel-38-Rue-De-Lourmel%2C13154.html
for example.
... which Bookdog doesn't do!
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(+316, updates: 2, moves: 2749, 0, -316)
The + and - apparently being those crushed URLs.
(I don't know if there's a way to check the changes in Bookdog, but as long as I can tell, the resulting sync seems ok, there)
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To be precise, the import seems ok, but this behaviour occurs when exporting to Safari or Firefox (haven't checked other browsers).
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The links on the website pointing to the 10.5 versions have not been updated:
http://sheepsystems.com/files/support_articles/bkmx/OSX-10-5.html still points to Version 1.6.13 (2013-04-30) while it looks that a Version 1.6.14 (2013-05-15) exists...
Version 1.6.13 refuses to read 1.16.2 documents, as it seems, and marks them "unreadable".
(haven't tried 1.6.14)
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Andy-Hewitt rated on 12 Apr 2014
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Edeerly rated on 15 Jan 2014
-2
Djemp rated on 05 Jan 2014
+24
Istra rated on 08 Dec 2013
dhaff13 rated on 20 Nov 2013
1repguy rated on 19 Nov 2013
katlinquinn rated on 08 Nov 2013
+34
Moogan rated on 29 Oct 2013
-10
Insecure-Software rated on 28 Oct 2013
-5
cka3o4h1k rated on 17 Oct 2013