Hello
I’m new to DEVONthink. I have a question:
If the database is stored in a NAS share,
Can 2 Mac with DEVONthink access it simultaneously or do you have to use the synchronizations offered by DEVONthink (Local Sync Store for example)?
Thanks
I wouldn’t do that.
And no one should try to do that. DT is not a multi-user, multi-tasking software. I’m fairly certain that it has no provisions to lock a database, and if it had, what would the person not having the lock do meanwhile?
Much less than a global lock on a database will DT have locks on individual files.
JUST DON’T DO THAT
Instead, have the databases installed locally on the two machines and use a sync mechanism, eg WebDAV on your NAS. No, not a local sync store because that is – shockingly – local. You need something that can be accessed by both machines.
And please: Avail yourself of the search function in the forum, since your questions have been raised and answered before. Like many others. Then there’s the manual, which explains sync in detail and the different approaches to it. And there are also the extras (4th tab in the left sidebar) with their Tips & Tricks etc. There’s for example one from March 25 explaining the differences between local and non-local sync.
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Thank you for the quick reply.
So either the database is on Mac n°1 and I add a local store synchronization on the 2nd mac
Or the database is on the NAS and I add a WebDav synchronization on each Mac?
Re-read @chrillek’s post and see the information in the DEVONthink Manual. Database on each machine, with both running DEVONthink. Sync to a mutually accessible device, which in your case is the WebDAV on your NAS. Or if both machines on same local network, Bonjour sync method is reliable and quick.
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Neither nor. You put the databases on Mac 1 and set up sync (via WebDAV or Bonjour or whatever) on both machines. Then you activate sync on the 2nd Mac for those databases you want to use there. Every Mac must have the databases locally.
Again: the manual is the friend. It explains all that in detail.
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Babgond, @chrillek and @rmschne answers are super clear.
What I do: Main Mac has the databases, and they are synced to copies in my NAS device via WebDav. The sync is set to “automatic” - every time there is a change in a database, it will soon be synced to the NAS copy (you can see it happening at the left bottom of the DT main window).
If I had another Mac, it would be set to be synced FROM the NAS copies. I do have an iPad, and this is what happens.
Same with my iPhone.
In addition to that, you can also sync via Bonjour - same thing, I connect either iPad or iPhone to the USB-C port, and update the copies on the databases in both from the ones on the Mac. This happens independently of the NAS & webDav, and is useful when I need to go on the road and do a quick full sync on my devices.
Notice that DEVONthink is smart and knows if some record was changed more recently, anywhere. There is a setting for either replacing the old record version with the newest one, or adding a copy besides the old one.
Guys, please chime in if I misrepresented anything, thanks!
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Okay, I found it on page 101. I will try to understand.
It’s all there - but, if you’re like me, there’s always some questions. It took me a while a few years ago, to process the different ways of syncing, and I read the relevant section(s) several times, also looked at a bunch of youtube videos from my NAS manufacturer, Synology. I did get there - Jim (a.k.a @BLUEFROG ) helped a lot. Nowadays, I have 3 dozen databases (there’s also been a lot of discussion in the forum about having many, or having just a consolidated few, or just one). But that’s what I chose, and both WebDAV and Bonjour work perfectly, and at every iteration of DT and DTTG, faster. Hven’t had issues for a long time. My main issues are device GB space, and the NAS sometimes resetting due to a brownout/blackout. Oh, also, here in Portugal, sometimes the provider changes the assigned IP, and the first time it happened it drove me nuts. But then I figured, and now I am smarter 
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And then there’s
You should, btw, use DDNS with your Synology if your IP changes. Fairly reliable.
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great tip - thanks Christian