I’ve been using DEVONthink for a few weeks and even bought the Pro version. However, I found a serious weakness in it. Actually not in it, but in the way I have to use it.
My main computer at home, where I have DEVONthink, is a Mac Mini that just gave up. It’s a 2011, so it’s not surprising. Got a system backup that just a few hours old, so there’s no trouble there. The problem is that I don’t know when I can afford to repair/replace it and I don’t have another Mac. I’m using a PC from work and will be for a while.
Obviously, that means all my data in DEVONthink is unavailable until I can afford to get another Mac. I’m glad I didn’t get rid of Evernote after I did a data import, since most of mt stuff is still there. I’ve got a lot of recent information that I’ll have to do without…UNLESS somebody can suggest a workaround. I’ve got DEVONthink backups, but the file structure is not readily usable.
Option A: Find a friend who owns a Mac and borrow some time on it? Within 30 minutes you could install DEVONthink, copy over the backup database, open it and export everything (File > Export > Files and Folders)
The internal file structure is optimized for database speed, and not intended for human browsing. Option B: However, all of your files are intact in those folders, and not intended for direct access – that’s why DEVONthink has export features. However, you could duplicate the database, open the package in the duplicate, move the Files.noindex folder some place else, then (very slowly and painfully) use Windows Explorer to search for what you need and move the files to a more human-friendly hierarchy.
Option A: Find a friend who owns a Mac and borrow some time on it? Within 30 minutes you could install DEVONthink, copy over the backup database, open it and export everything (File > Export > Files and Folders)
As luck would have it, my boss came to work with a brand new Macbook Air today. He’s a bit of a computer illiterate, so he asked me to take t home and get it set up the way he wants it. So, I booted it onto a backup drive and ran the export you suggested with my system. Worked great.