As it stands there is no simple way to create a MD note in DT on all platforms. Even on the mac it takes 6 clicks minimum and at least 1 context switch. DraftsApp 2 - sometimes less. Is there anything new on ways to integrate DraftsApp as note creation platform into DEVONthink ( I have also asked the DraftsApp folks too). Drag and Drop. Access to Inbox. Something super clever?
I have tried most of the Actions about a year ago. Tried the links.. etc.
Even on the mac it takes 6 clicks minimum and at least 1 context switch.
I have no idea what six steps you are referring to here. You haven’t provided enough information to respond to and making a Markdown document is a very simple thing.
Three steps…
And one click when using a custom hotkey…
for me it is one click only as I have customized the toolbar (clicking on the # creates a new markdown file in my inbox)
I was looking for information on changes in the way DEVONthink integrates with DraftsApp and if anything has changed.
There is no specific integration with Drafts.
Indeed and a nice built-in option as well. 
6 Clicks.
1 + context switch to focus Devonthink.
1 to hit the new document button.
1 to select markdown.
1 click and a return to add a file name.
1+ to focus the cursor (and remember you have to click in the center of the typing area because there is a bug currently that doesn’t give focus until you click within the margins).
Drafts
1 click on toolbar icon.
1 click on new draft.
It wasn’t meant as a p***ing contest. I am trying to use both tools.
AND.. I am talking about ALL platforms.
I don’t why you guys are so sensitive about note-taking. It is not DThink’s strength. Look at all the threads on this topic.. Instead of it works for me… you could ask yourself can we improve on this..
Drafts is specifically a note-taking application. DEVONthink is not. So it’s not a 1:1 comparison.
And the three DEVONthink-specific examples show it takes less than 6 clicks. With the custom shortcut or toolbar button it would be two with the click into the view/edit pane to start typing.
PS: Some modifications to document creation are coming to DEVONthink To Go in the future.
I don’t know if anyone is “sensitive”. They just demonstrated that it’s far less than “6 clicks”. The context switch if unavoidable, of course.
And why not use Drafts and send the note to DT when it is and you are ready?
A downside of Drafts—in my opinion the downside—is that its notes are locked in a database. So there is no access from the outside.
I had asked the developer about this and he made it very clear he has no intentions to change it.
Despite of that I am using Drafts heavily because to my knowledge there is no other app that is only half as convenient for note taking as Drafts, first of all on mobile devices and the Apple Watch. (On the Mac I use a keyboard shortcut when I am writing a note and the Popclip extension when I am copying, both is faster than clicking in the menu bar.)
I am using my own actions to get the notes from Drafts into DEVONthink. In general, there are two ways to approach this: 1. Sending a note directly to DT or 2. send a bunch of them later.
I prefer the latter. Naturally, that does not give me the notes right away in DT but it saves clicking because I can batch apply the actions to the notes. The simple trick I use is to tag the notes to indicate their destinations or labels later in DT. The action sends them all to the Global Inbox (more precisely: The Finder folder connected to the Global Inbox) where a Smart Rule distributes them by their tags and removes those tags afterwards.
Of course, this is a one way street. I can’t work on notes that are already existing in DT with Drafts. I could send them the other way, but those would be copies. And if I sent them back, those would be copies again. For me, that’s okay. As long as they are in Drafts I can work on them there, and later of, if necessary, in DEVONthink.
Set a shortcut key for Take Notes in Preferences > Sorter…
As you can see, I use cmd-opt-shift-n. As long as I have DT running, I can create a new note from any other application by typing that shortcut, in exactly the way that the Drafts global Quick Capture shortcut works.
Both mechanisms get a quick note into the main application, where you can use the full features, but DT’s Take Note also allows you to file it directly and add tags and labels as well (and you don’t need to set a filename – one is created automatically if you don’t override it.)
Does that help?
Or if you find the Sorter/Take Note window too small, you can use AppleScript. Example:
-- Create & open new markdown note in DEVONthink, ready to type
tell application id "DNtp"
set newNote to create record with {type:markdown} in inbox
open tab for record newNote
activate
end tell
There are many ways to run a script with a keyboard shortcut, for example Keyboard Maestro or Raycast.
Create script command. Template: AppleScript.
Wrap the script in on run / end run.
Find the command under Settings > Extensions. Assign a hotkey.
#!/usr/bin/osascript
# Required parameters:
# @raycast.schemaVersion 1
# @raycast.title New MD note (DEVONthink)
# @raycast.mode silent
# Optional parameters:
# @raycast.icon đź“ť
# Documentation:
# @raycast.description Create markdown note in Global Inbox and open it ready to type
on run
tell application id "DNtp"
set newNote to create record with {type:markdown} in inbox
open tab for record newNote
activate
end tell
end run
Mac and iOS are obviously different platforms. I shared an example with Shortcuts here. You can just delete the “Ask for input” action if you want to skip that.
Or just a shortcut to the script in DEVONthink’s Scripts menu while you’re in our app.
The point was to make the shortcut work from anywhere 
Or just add a new note button, that opens a new note, to the SORTER!
When the button is pressed, create a note, open it preferably in its own window, and place it in the global inbox or in the global inbox with the cursor focused and ready to type. Create a settings panel that allows the user to pick the type of note (Markdown or RTF). Though 99.9% of the time it will be a MD and where to place it if that matters for people.
You can also do this for iPad and iOS. Voila, you have just made Drafts redundant for all those who simply want to make notes and put them in DEVONthink.
I don’t understand Devon’s resistance to making their users’ lives a little easier. It has been a decade that people have been begging you to make note-taking easier.
There is NO reason I can see that you could not have similar options on the sorter.
There is nothing - for me - magic about DraftsApp other than its accessibility.
Scripts, and ShortCuts are just bandaids. They are often fragile and rely largely on the OS to be good..
Come on.. a button.. a window and cursor.. please!!!
I am not comparing it. I am well aware of what Drafts is. I am aware of the decisions that developer has made as he has built that app. Obsidian too. They do way more than I need and would say way more than most would need. I get DEVONthink. I know what you guys have built.
I am just begging Devon to make a small step into the 21st century modern UI. I have owned the app for a looooooong time.. I love it.. I WANT to use it more.. I just bought it for my son who is off the Uni in the UK. A button.. please..
You really think that’s a fair characterization?
What is wrong with @brookter’s suggestion?
By the way, I don’t dictate development or their decisions. However, there are mechanisms in place that are also valid options to discuss. That’s not a p***ing contest or being sensitive. None of the responses in the thread are to belittle anyone or throw shade at Greg over at Agile Tortoise (or anyone else), but a sincere attempt to assist you.
PS: I actually use the Sorter’s Take Note (Control-Option-N for me) function daily. And since it remembers its content, even across relaunches, I often use it as a scratchpad and save the contents at a later date.
Please don’t be defensive. I imagine my tone is a little off. But before I started this thread, I went back and reread many of the threads over the years about editing and notes and how to use various editors with DT, and the trend is the same. People ask. Loads of people suggest “workarounds," and the conversation goes south.
I really wanted to keep the focus on friction around creating a document and how to reduce it.
I’ll take a look at the suggestion and respond separately.
No defensiveness involved at all. Just clarifying the boundaries of my role and intentions of the replies.
And don’t forget, friction is not an objective term. Some people think the Terminal presents friction; others find it liberating just like some people love to change their own oil, brakes, etc. on their vehicles, while others don’t. Just something to think about.
PS: I’m not just an employee; I am a daily user of our applications as well. I have worked here almost 13 years and there are things I wish for that I’ve never gotten. And given how much work gets done by this very small, talented team, I’m okay with it
