Hi there, I have a Folder of screenshots divided into folders and possibly subfolders courtesy of Apple Photos. I’m trying to import using the Import via OCR tool in the trial mode I’m in and it won’t let me select all the folders to do a batch. I can’t drag the main folder into DEVONThink either. How do I get these screenshots into DT3? Do I have to individually copy each file into the app?
Welcome @fe2_o3
The application you’re dragging from and the one you’re dragging to have to provide and understand the data being passed, so such drops aren’t guaranteed to work (regardless of the app).
Dragging multiple photos, as well as albums and folders, from Photos.app will be supported in the next maintenance release.
Thank you so much, I guess I don’t know where I need to drag the folder which contains subfolders of PNGs to get them to import. Maybe such an attempt won’t work at all?
But my other effort (file>import>images) doesn’t allow me to import all of them either. I have to select a screenshot or plural inside each folder.
I made an Import OCR smart rule but haven’t been able to get that to work either.
You’re welcome! 
I guess I don’t know where I need to drag the folder which contains subfolders of PNGs to get them to import.
Drag the album or folder to the Downloads directory in the Finder, then import that folder.
I made an Import OCR smart rule but haven’t been able to get that to work either.
Do you actually need to perform OCR on the pictures?
Wouldn’t I import from the Downloads the same way?
Do I need OCR, good question, maybe? My screenshots are mostly text and I was hoping DT3 would be able to categorize them by topic or word contained on them and bundle them with neighboring similar screenshots – or at least allow me to do keyword searches.
Say climate appears on one of the screenshots inside a subfolder. Would DT3 enable me to pull up those shots together?
Wouldn’t I import from the Downloads the same way?
You can’t drag directly into DEVONthink at this time, so drop the folder from Photos to the Downloads folder (for cleanliness’ sake).
And yes, you could use File > Import > Images (with OCR) on the images in a group, but you can’t select a group on its own.
Say climate appears on one of the screenshots inside a subfolder. Would DT3 enable me to pull up those shots together?
No. That would require OCR.
Thanks all the files are copied into subfolders of the only folder in the Mac’s Downloads. Is DevonThink monitoring that folder? It doesn’t seem to be doing anything with the files in that folder or subfolders.
Is DevonThink monitoring that folder?
No. DEVONthink has no idea about it at all. †
It doesn’t seem to be doing anything with the files in that folder or subfolders.
That’s correct. As I said previously… you could use File > Import > Images (with OCR) on the images in a group.
† While having a folder watched by DEVONthink is possible, it’s not within the scope of what you’re asking here.
Okay, that hasn’t worked for me, It won’t let me Import the one folder containing subfolders I think because it contains subfolders. So what you’re saying is I have to basically merge all the screenshots from the subfolders into one folder?
Ad i said, you can’t select a folder.
Just drop the folder of images from the Finder into DEVONthink. Then do OCR on the images after importing.