Organizing Edge Bookmarks#

Treat the live browser bookmark model as the source of truth. The raw Bookmarks file is a fallback artifact, not the preferred write path.

When to Use#

✅ USE this skill when:

• The user wants Microsoft Edge bookmarks/favorites reorganized
• The result must survive reload or restart
• Previous bookmark edits were reverted, appended, or emptied after restart/sync
• The user wants priority folders such as AI, Investing, Social, Tools, Resources, or Archive

❌ DON'T use this skill when:

• The task is generic browser automation unrelated to bookmarks
• The user wants a plugin/extension instead of direct bookmark organization
• The target browser is not Microsoft Edge

Core Principle#

If a live-profile path exists, use it.

Avoid raw Bookmarks JSON edits by default because Edge can rebuild the visible tree from its live model and sync state.

This skill is for local, same-machine execution only. If the agent is not running on the same Mac as the target Edge profile, stop and switch to a manual checklist instead of inventing a remote control path.

Runtime Preconditions#

• Validated target: local macOS host with Microsoft Edge installed
• Use this skill only when an approved local control path has already been proven in the current session
• Acceptable proven control paths include:
  • a live browser bookmark API already verified against the visible tree
  • a local browser automation tool already present and authorized
  • a browser-native scripting path already demonstrated to work in this session
• If the control path is not already proven, do not infer one from this skill
• If the task would require undefined remote access, stop and switch to manual operator instructions

Required Workflow#

1. Identify the exact target
   • Confirm the exact Edge profile by name/path.
   • Confirm whether the scope is the bookmarks bar, other bookmarks, or both.
   • Confirm whether nested folders are in scope.
   • If profile or root scope is ambiguous, ask before moving anything.
2. Turn the request into explicit buckets
   • Convert vague priorities into named folders such as AI, Investing, Social, Tools, Resources, Archive.
   • Default assumption: AI, Investing, and Social are top-level priority folders unless the user says otherwise.
   • Use deterministic tie-breaks for multi-category bookmarks: primary purpose first, current user priority second, otherwise move to Archive or Review.
3. Create a rollback point before mutation
   • Capture a baseline snapshot/export of the live bookmark tree.
   • Record total bookmark count and target root counts.
   • Record a dry-run move plan or mutation ledger before the first write.
   • If a safe baseline cannot be captured, stop.
4. Require explicit consent for intrusive actions
   • Before quitting Edge, relaunching a profile, attaching to a live page, or running in-browser bookmark mutations, confirm the user explicitly approved those intrusive steps.
   • If the user did not approve browser restart or live profile control, downgrade to manual instructions.
5. Do not start with raw file edits
   • Do not use Bookmarks JSON as the primary path.
   • Do not mix file edits and UI/model edits in one pass.
   • If a prior file edit already rolled back, treat that as proof the path is unsafe.
6. Prefer the live browser model
   • Operate inside the real Edge profile if possible.
   • Enforce a single-writer rule: fully close other Edge instances/background writers before a controlled relaunch of the same profile.
   • If needed, capture current tabs, relaunch the same real profile in a controllable mode, and attach to it.
   • Prefer browser-native bookmark APIs such as chrome.bookmarks.
   • Select and move bookmarks by stable node IDs plus parent/root context, not by titles alone.
   • If the browser-native API is unavailable or does not match the visible bookmark state, stop treating it as authoritative.
7. Use UI automation only as fallback
   • edge://favorites/ may expose weak accessibility structure.
   • If the UI is not semantically controllable, stop instead of guessing with destructive clicks.
   • If UI automation is used, reconcile the result against the live bookmark tree afterward.
8. Verify persistence
   • Inspect sync state before mutation; if sync state is unclear or the tree is still changing, wait or stop.
   • Re-read the live bookmark tree immediately after applying moves.
   • Compare the intended structure against the actual structure, not just counts.
   • Reload the favorites page and verify again.
   • Restart Edge normally, reopen the same profile, and verify again.
   • If sync is enabled, allow one sync reconciliation cycle and verify once more.

Safety Rules#

• Never delete on the first pass unless the user explicitly asks.
• Never assume browser restart or profile takeover permission just because the user asked for bookmark organization; intrusive control needs explicit approval.
• Prefer Archive or Review for uncertain items.
• Preserve counts unless deduplication is explicitly requested.
• Do not deduplicate, merge, or remove duplicates on the first pass.
• Do not rename bookmarks or folders on the first pass unless explicitly requested.
• Do not assume Apple Events JavaScript support is working just because a menu item exists.
• Do not assume a valid Bookmarks checksum means persistence is safe.
• Stop immediately on profile mismatch, unreadable bookmark tree, structural diff mismatch after apply, count mismatch after apply, or sync reversion.

Credentials and Dependencies#

• This skill does not require external API tokens or cloud credentials.
• It assumes access only to the user-approved local Edge profile and already-approved local automation tooling.
• If your intended path depends on a binary, extension, debugger port, or automation runtime that is not already present and verified, stop and document that dependency explicitly before proceeding.

Common Mistakes#

Editing Bookmarks directly first#

Why it fails:

• Edge may rebuild the visible tree from live model state or sync metadata.

Better:

• Use the live browser bookmark model first.

Trusting edge://favorites/ accessibility blindly#

Why it fails:

• The page may not expose stable drag-and-drop controls.

Better:

• Probe control surfaces first and downgrade to manual instructions if the page is opaque.

Treating sync as an afterthought#

Why it fails:

• Correct in-session state can still be overwritten by restart or sync reconciliation.

Better:

• Inspect sync before mutation and verify again after restart and sync settlement.

Moving by visible title only#

Why it fails:

• Duplicate titles and repeated folder names can send items to the wrong place while counts still look correct.

Better:

• Move by bookmark node ID with root/path context and verify with an exact structural diff.

Assuming an undefined automation toolchain#

Why it fails:

• High-impact browser actions become unsafe when the skill implies capabilities that have not been proven on the current machine.

Better:

• Prove the local automation path first. If you cannot prove it in the current session, stop and fall back to manual operator instructions.

Quick Reference#

• Persistent bookmark reorganization → inspect profile/sync state, then prefer live bookmark model
• Prior file edit rolled back → do not retry raw file editing as the primary path
• Category cleanup → define deterministic top-level buckets first
• Uncertain bookmark → archive/review, do not delete
• Existing folders already exist → reuse or merge deliberately, do not create blind parallel folders

Reference#

• references/edge-bookmarks-workflow.md