I never used this feature, although I’m a longtime user of DT, I wasn’t aware of it, actually. Then I found this discussion. And now I used it in DTPO2 to pre-group the articles I collected in my database-inbox over time and – it works really nice. So, I don’t understand why the guys left it in DT3. Would be really a nice feature to help ordering the inbox mess.
That’s a bit much IMO And might scare people away needlessly from using the feature. I would think a clear explanation together with pointing out that it can be easily undone would be enough. But whatever… I would be ecstatic if it just comes back.!
It has been my opinion all along that there are many more users that either use this feature or could use it profitable if they were aware of it. Let’s hope the devs are paying attention because so far only Deafening silence
While I can appreciate your frustration that a feature that you depend on has been depreciated, to say that the devs have been silent is disingenuous. They have commented in this thread, and you mentioned earlier that they have communicated with you off the board. The fact that they have not told you what you want to hear doesn’t mean they have been silent.
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Perhaps I wasn’t specific enough, I should’ve said “recently silent“ because since the rather abrupt comments (or at least I found them so) there have been suggestions made on how to deal with what they say is the problem with the feature and other users have joined the thread to say that they are also hoping the feature returns. I think it would’ve been a gesture of good faith to perhaps comment briefly on the suggestions made. After all they did take the time to single me out in order to allege that I was trying to make another user feel uncomfortable… all I was hoping for was a word or two, not a PhD dissertation on the issue, Just something to acknowledge that they appreciated the depth of the frustration. To repeat, I find the reaction to have been callous and seemingly unconcerned… Sorry but that’s the way I feel And if it was my company I would not want my customers, any of them, to feel that way
Also, I must say I find this comment uncalled for. I was simply requesting a response to the suggestions, one way or the other. , As I said just an acknowledgement…
And finally:
“Do unto your customers as you want to be treated when you are a customer.** That is the whole of customer service. The rest is commentary.”
I will let them decide if this is “golden rule” is being followed.
t is clear you were being supportive… I never thought otherwise! Just giving you my initial impression of your suggestion that’s all. But thanks for the support again
Even if you were to get the response you are after it wouldn’t solve the problem. Which is that a feature / benefit of DT that you use regularly won’t be in the new DT.
In my experience of software which is only as a user is that it is not at all unusual for developers to discontinue features in new versions that were useful to existing customers. Apple do it all the time with the OS, introducing so-called design changes that are in practice pointless.
As a long time DTOP user who probably only uses a fraction of its capabilities, an awareness that has been brought home to me as I experiment with DT3.3 and realise that something isn’t new and DTOP already does it, I have always found the devs and others really helpful. I have only used Autogrouo once because I then spent a disproportionate amount of time manually relocating items to where I wanted them. But I can understand why when a user such as yourself is content for DT to process thousands of inputs it would be extremely frustrating to have to come to terms with the possibility that ‘an old friend’ has been killed off because an unspecified number of other customers have had issues with it and the devs conclude it doesn’t work as expected. On that point, it is presumably not working as expected for you, but how it is working is to your liking?
As a result of this thread I cannot help feeling that one possibility for you not getting an acknowledgment is that the devs are working on a solution.
The response I am after is some form of indication that the complaints (not only mine) are being taken seriously and/or that suggestions made are being considered. Clearly a response alone is not adequate
In my experience of software which is only as a user is that it is not at all unusual for developers to discontinue features in new versions that were useful to existing customers.
In over 40 years of computing, I personally cannot remember a single time when any software that I used, and this a lot, had a featured removed that was so useful to me and which was working properly (the sole concern being that it was misunderstood by some users.)
Apple do it all the time with the OS, introducing so-called design changes that are in practice pointless.
I have been using Apple since the Apple II. Again, I don’t remember any major functionality ever being removed, examples?
it would be extremely frustrating
Change frustrating to devastating.
how it is working is to your liking?
I have had and have no other complaints.
one possibility for you not getting an acknowledgment is that the devs are working on a solution.
If true great…then why not a single word to that effect?
This has been my experience with DT support most (not all) of the time.
“This things doesn’t work the way one would expect it to work.”
“That’s how it’s designed.”
This thread reminds me of one of my favourite rock songs.
(We have all had our share of frustrations, I think).
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This feature is one of the things that attracted me to DT years ago. In the end I really don’t use it though I still love the idea. I learned early on that for my purposes taking the time to set up proper groups for my areas of research and manually placing documents etc in them greatly facilitated search and see also, which are the top features for me. That said a new and improved, or perhaps reconceptualized version of this functionality could prove really useful when intaking a large number of documents. Perhaps make it a stand alone inspector? I really like the inspector approach in dt3.
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I really like the inspector approach in dt3.
Thanks! Considering the increased horsepower in DEVONthink 3, the Inspectors are a great way to use minimal space while still allowing quick access to these powerful features 
Is it (Auto group) back in DT 3 b5?!
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If so, than WOW! Kudos.
It is.
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Now you will become ecstatic.
While reading this (though somewhat hidden) in the release note I had a kind of a “one more thing” moment.
Though well hidden in the menus, it works like expected.
Thanks!
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I am, as expected, quite ecstatic 
and kudos to the Devs for what I clearly believe to be a sensible business decision and for listening to our concerns. Also I offer my apologies to anybody, including the Devs, who were peturbed by my vehemence on this but it is impossible for me to describe how truly screwed I was without this feature. Anyway, all’s well that ends well and I am just glad it it’s back finally. Much thanks to those who supported me on this quest.
Also, I love the new name (wink, wink).
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Another for my track-record of accurate predictions! 
I shall experiment using the feature so as to experience what the fuss has been about.