Firebox

Firebox FAQs

I plugged my iPhone in, but I can't get it to sync with the desktop app!

Firebox syncs using WiFi, not USB. Just make sure your Mac and iPhone are on the same wifi network, and everything should work.

Ok, they are on the same WiFi network now, but I still can't sync.

Firebox on your Mac and iPhone use Bonjour to find each other. Some routers will not forward Bonjour between different parts of the network (subnets). It is fairly common for large corporate networks to block it completely. Your only options are to use a different network, reconfigure your router, or make an ad-hoc network directly between your Mac and iPhone.

Why doesn't Firebox delete all the user data after some number of failed password attempts?

Because this is a bogus feature, that wouldn't protect your data, but would inconvenience a lot of people.
If someone wants your data, they aren't going to guess passwords by tapping them into the phone. If your password is so poorly chosen that someone can guess it in a few tries then you shouldn't be using Firebox; just keep your information in a text file. If someone really wants access to your information, they will take the database file off the phone, and use a computer to try millions of passwords per second.
The people who would get their data erased by this feature are the people who let their friends, or worse, their toddlers, fiddle with their phone. I don't want to get those angry emails.

Where is the password generator?

The password generator button appears on the Record editing page next to any Field you have declared of type 'Password', which is right where you need it. You can assign types to Fields by editing the Folder they belong to.

Does Firebox sync with a desktop application?

Firebox Desktop 2.0 is available on the Downloads page. It has direct syncing over wifi, full editing, archiving, and import/export.

Although a full Windows desktop app is not available yet, Firebox Extract for Windows is available on the Downloads page. It recovers any Firebox database(s) from the iTunes backup of your iPhone, and copies them to your desktop. You can then use Emergency Restore in Firebox on your iPhone to get your data back.

I lost my phone! What do I do?

First, take a deep breath. The Firebox database on your iPhone is safe. Assuming you used a good password, (you did, right?), it would take many thousands of hours of computer time to crack it.
Second, after you get your new phone, you can easily put your data back onto it. If you are using a Mac, and you have been syncing with Firebox Desktop, then you can just sync your data onto the new phone in seconds. If you have not been using Firebox Desktop, then go get it, and choose "Recover data from iTunes" from the menu. That will let you open the database that was backed up the last time you synced with iTunes. Now sync it to your phone.
If you are a Windows user, then get Firebox Extract, and use that to recover your Firebox database from iTunes, and use Emergency Restore to get your data back on the phone.

Ok, how does Emergency Restore work? I can't figure it out.

Emergency Restore overwrites whatever database is on your phone with a replacement database it downloads from another computer. Please note that Emergency Restore is not how you sync or backup your data.
The replacement database, which you have most likely recovered from iTunes using Firebox Desktop or Firebox Extract, can be shared in a variety of ways from almost any computer. As long as you can access it with a URL, it will work. For example, File Sharing or Web Sharing on the Mac, (afp:// or http:// URLs), Simple File Sharing on Windows (smb:// URLs), or several other methods.
However, I have found that the easiest way is to install DropBox, from www.getdropbox.com, and put the database in your free public folder there, then right-click on it to get the url. You can type it into Firebox on the phone, or even easier, mail it to yourself, and then copy/paste it into Firebox.
When you are finished, you can take the database back out of your DropBox. DropBox keeps a log and a copy of the file for your convenience, so if you wish to be thorough, you should delete if from DropBox's log.

Is my Firebox data backed up in case my iPhone/iPod is lost or needs to be restored?

You can backup and synchronize your Firebox data at any time using Firebox Desktop for Mac.
In addition, when iTunes backs up your iPhone/iPod, it also backs up all your third-party application data, including Firebox.

Is my Firebox data stored directly on the iPhone/iPod? Or is it stored on an internet server?

Your information is only stored on your iPhone/iPod, and the computer you sync it with. In both places it is securely encrypted. It is never stored or uploaded to the internet.

Help! I've forgotten my password! How can I recover my data?

It's not possible to recover your data without the password. That is the primary purpose of Firebox! You will need to delete Firebox from your iPhone/iPod; this will also delete the database. Then reinstall a fresh copy of Firebox.

I made a new Folder, but how come I only have one Field in the List View?

By default, the first Field you add to a new Folder will be put into the List View, and any additional ones are put into the Detail View. But you can move them easily back and forth between List and Detail views, just by dragging them where you want them. Press and hold on the "List Reorder" control on the row you want to move. (It looks like 3 horizontal bars) The Field will lift up, and you can drag it where you want it.

Can the Records in a Folder be sorted?

Yes, tap the 'Edit' button in the Folder list, or on any Record list and sorting buttons will appear at the bottom of the page. In addition, you can drag entries in either list into any arbitrary ordering you want.

Is there some way for me to import data from another application so I don't have to retype it into the iPhone/iPod?

Yes, you can import data into Firebox Desktop using the CSV format. The import format is identical to the export format. Rows with text in column 1 define a Folder and fields, and then every row after it with nothing in column 1 defines a Record in that folder. See the help page for more information.

Can I use Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Russian/etc. in my Database?

Yes, Firebox supports Unicode in all Folder names, Field names, and Field contents. You can keep all your data in your preferred character set.

I wish Firebox had a way to dial phone numbers, or launch Safari with URLs I've entered.

That is fully supported. Edit your Folder, and edit the Field in question, and change its Type to 'Phone' or 'Web'. It will now appear as a link in every Record.

What is the maximum number of Fields that can be added to a Folder?

In theory, unlimited.

What is the maximum number of characters in a Field?

In theory, unlimited. There is a limit to how much will be displayed on the iPhone, ~500 lines, due to memory concerns.

If a new Field is added to a Folder later on, do existing records get it too?

Yes, all Records, including previously created ones, get any new Fields you add to that Folder. Be aware though, that if you delete a Field from a Folder, that value is lost from every Record in the Folder.

Can I rename a Folder, or a Field, even after I have entered data? What about reordering Fields?

Yes, you can rename or reorder Folders or Fields at any time without affecting your data.