I’m on a Mac. In DROPBOX, I have an Apps folder; inside of that is a DEVONthink folder.
Inside of that is a folder called DEVONthink Packet Synch. It contains one particular GIANT file called “DevonMasterData.dtCloud” (336.8 GB) that was modified on Nov. 5, 2020 and created on Sept. 8, 2018.
When I open my “General Database” in DevonThink, it shows me that it is located safely on an external drive (GENERAL DATABASE.dtbase2), and merely 12gb
I need to make room on my Mac - - is “DevonMasterData.dtCloud” a “relic file” from some older, outdated synch, or something integral to the app? I’d love to get 336.8 GB back!
.dtCloud is a DEVONthink (local?) “Sync Store”. 336.8 GB indeed seems very big compared to your database. But keep in mind that sync locations/sync stores can be used to sync multiple databases. Are you still using Dropbox for sync?
Maybe it would help to check the manuals section on sync: In & Out > Sync
Also, if you search the forum for .dtCloud Dropbox, these are the first 2 results:
Thanks so much for your attention to my confusion.
I went on my laptop and opened DEVONthink there. In the SYNC window under SETTINGS, there is a LOCATIONS bar. In DROPBOX, there are FIVE databases listed - NONE checked; they say “not yet synchronized” beneath each one.
When I select ICLOUD (CLOUDKIT), THE SAME FOUR DATABASES are there, but ALL CHECKED. They say under them “Last Synchronization: Today at 2:13:33 PM”)
Below that, there is a list of REMOTE databases; none checked.
When I change the name of a file or folder on my laptop, I see it change within a few moments on my desktop mac.
Meanwhile, in the “DEVONthink Packet Sync” folder on my Mac (in Dropbox), the file called “DevonMasterData.dtCloud” remains unchanged (and 323.47 GB!) and dates are still Nov 5 2020 (date modified) and July 25, 2016 (date created)
Seems like I could trash “DevonMasterData.dtCloud”, right?
That answers the original question, but still leaves the OP with 300 GB in his Dropbox account. If the sync store is no longer active, it should be safe to delete from the Dropbox server as well, but how can one tell?
There are two different things going on here: One is about space on the Mac, the other about space in the Dropbox account.
The 300GB in his Dropbox account has no bearing on the Mac’s space if our instructions are followed.
If there is still an active Dropbox sync, then it’s appropriate to have that data in the account, just not on the Mac. The data doesn’t need to be on the Mac, nor should it be. You don’t even need the Dropbox application installed on the Mac to sync.
@johnruexp1: Are you still syncing via Dropbox or wanting to?
As long as my info is still accessible in DevonThink afterward (I’ll report back)
The sync data has nothing to do with what’s in your databases. Sync data is not your database contents.
I actually didn’t even read that quickly, but somehow my brain got stuck on something growing in size – that is: data, a thing, not empty space – and I was very confused. Maybe it was the word “climbing”
@johnruexp1, you don’t actually say what you did. Did you just exclude the DEVONthink Packet Sync folder like described on p. 68? If you don’t want to sync with Dropbox, you probably also want to remove the databases/clean the sync location. If there has been no activity since 2020, I assume this is the case.
The very beginning of the Sync chapter advises you to check out the Settings > Sync part of the manual, where the sync window itself and its options are explained. If you skipped this, I suggest you read it.
