New user here, just can’t wrap my head around best practices for WebDav sync. Spent this morning looking at other posts and could use a clear answer.
Setup: DT 3 running on 2 different Mac computers. I set up WebDav on my Synology NAS. Everything is working as expected.
Background: My laptop is my main machine and then I have a desktop at home. I am noticing that if I have DT open on my laptop and on my desktop, I get the warning that the database is already open and conflicts could occur. I did some testing and yes, the conflicts did occur. Not good.
Question: I am not in the habit of closing applications on my laptop before going to my desktop. In my scenario, is it the case that I have to consciously think about closing the DT database on my laptop each time before going to my desktop and vice versa? If so, I will have to learn that. 
Follow-Up: Are there any other sync methods that don’t need this and can do a true sync while both are open at the same time? If not, that’s ok.
Welcome @SeePlanet
Please elaborate on this.
No. WebDAV worjs just fine if several instances of DT/DTTG are running simultaneously, with the same databases open. You should provide more details, eg the kind of conflicts you noticed, if you’re using imported or indexed data etc
Thanks for the replies. I should have elaborated. With both databases open on the 2 computers, I got the warning from DT that it already seems to be in use and that there might be corruption if I have them both open. I then added a file to the desktop database and it didn’t show up on the laptop one. I then closed them both and reopened them and the file was missing on both machines. Am I doing something wrong?
I got the warning from DT that it already seems to be in use and that there might be corruption if I have them both open.
This has nothing to do with syncing. How did you get the database on both machines?
I then added a file to the desktop database and it didn’t show up on the laptop one. I then closed them both and reopened them and the file was missing on both machines. Am I doing something wrong?
Actually missing, because that would be unusual and abnormal.
I’m probably using the wrong terminology. Here is the sync settings for the desktop machine which is I guess set as the “remote” machine given that the databases were born on the laptop?
- My laptop has the personal database open.
- When I open up the personal database on my desktop I get the warning that I mentioned.
- If I bypass the warning and then have both “personal” databases open, I drop a file into the desktop “personal” database…nothing shows up on the laptop. Expected behavior?
The main way that it seems to work for me is if I only have one open at a time, do the work that I need, then close and open up on the other machine. Everything works fine then. So then back to my question around how can I have both open at the same time?
Just to clarify the basics - does each computer have a its own copy of the database on a local SSD /HDD? You are not storing the database on the NAS or on a cloud drive, correct?
Both machines have a copy on their local HD’s, the databases are both the same size on each computer. I then have WebDAV sync set up. Correct.
Ok, getting closer. I forgot that I was using Synology Drive which syncs my files between each computer and that included the DT databases. That is why they thought it was open and a conflict. I excluded that folder and now I can have both databases open at the same time.
What I then did was to drop a file in on my desktop machine, but I am not seeing it sync to my laptop. Is that expected behavior?
I forgot that I was using Synology Drive which syncs my files between each computer and that included the DT databases. That is why they thought it was open and a conflict. I excluded that folder and now I can have both databases open at the same time.
A bad idea but you corrected it.
As is noted in several places, both on these forums and in documentation, when you have a sync issue the first thing you should check is Window > Log in DEVONthink or the sync icon in the bottom toolbar in DEVONthink To Go.
Ah ok! Its now working as planned. I then went back into my settings and the database was not checked to auto sync. Once I did that, its now syncing across. Sorry for the silliness! Sometimes it just takes thinking it out. 
Have a great day!
No worries! Do remember, DEVONthink and DEVONthink To Go are heavily documented so there’s no need to guess at things. And assumptions or preconceived notions often lead to unnecessary frustration.
