I noticed one of the groups in my Index had a -1 suffix (Synopsis-1). I don’t believe I added the suffix. I checked OS and its folder also had the same name as the group (Synopsis-1). I then opened that group this AM and did some editing of a .rtfd file in it, clicking on the photo in the file .
When I was done editing, I noticed that there were now 2 groups with the same name (Synopsis-1). I did not create the second group.
When I checked OS there were also 2 folders, the original with the -1 suffix and a new one with a -1-1 suffix. The only difference I could tell was in the Added and Modified dates of the .rtfd file. in the -1 folder the Added and Modified dates were today’s date, while in the -1-1 folder the Added date was October 29, 2024 and Modified date was January 12, 2022.
I’ve attached screenshots of the duplicates in DT3 (one with the edited version and one with the original RTFD) as well as Mac structures.
Any ideas or suggestions?
I would be surprised if DEVONthink or macOS is duplicating these files “on its own”.
I did a test, and when copy/paste using DEVONthink 4 and Finder, a “[space]Copy[space]-[integer]” is appended to the end of the copied/duplicated folder. Something putting “[space]-[integer]” at end of name.
Something does lurk in my memory about “[space]-[integer]” suffixes. Can’t remember what app/process creates that.
Where are these indexed files stored? In a synced folder, NAS, SMB share, memory stick?
You have checked for DEVONthink “Smart Rules” or some sort of external processes, e.g. Hazel, scheduled bash commands, etc.?
Do you need those folders/files in indexed locations? Have you done a “verify” on the database? Updated the indexed folder in DEVONthink? Anything shown in the DEVONthink Log about what it might have done?
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At least Finder does it when you copy something with the same name into a folder. Usually, it asks you if you want to overwrite, stop copying or keep both files. In the last case, it appends a number.
I presumed that DT3 was the culprit since I was using DT3 when I noticed the behavior. I’m not aware of any other external processes at work (Smart Rules, Hazel, etc.)
The files are stored in a directory on my Mac, not NAS, shared, memory stick, etc.
I do require these folders/files to be in an indexed location. The information I’ll be managing approaches 1.5TB and I need to be able to allow others to access the data without a proprietary interface.
The log does not show any related activity.
I verified the database yesterday and no errors.
At your suggestion, I tried to Verify and Repair, but those options were grayed out. See Screenshot. I did run Check File Integrity and it reported Invalid File Integrity for a file, see screen shot,
and as I investigated I found another of the -1 suffix groups, The -1 contains an additional file while the group without the suffix does not show the file. OS reports the Date added as the same, but different creation and modification dates, See Screenshot and by the way that error did not show up yesterday when I verified.
In an effort to Verify and Repair, I tried to close the database, but it was grayed out.
I’m going to have to shut down and restart. I’ve never had this happen.
For me, on macOS 15.5, it adds a “copy” suffix. On second copy, it adds “copy 2” suffix. I haven’t the foggiest idea where there is a setting for the convention on suffixes. Somewhere in my recollection is seeing “-1”, “-2”, etc. suffixes. I suspect Hazel but have no time now to test.
I have something like
Abrechnung.pdf
Abrechnung 2.pdf
in an iCloud folder. Those are account statements, which my bank offers for download as “Abrechnung.pdf”. So, the " 2" is appended to the second one with the same name (after I’ve said that I want to “keep both”). That is with macOS 15.5 and the “Sharing” dialog in an app,
I agree, but I didn’t go through that process. These things just appeared. Perhaps something latent?
This could all be related to things I did a few days ago. I’d been having a lot of trouble with the indexed folder not replicating to DT3. Went through a lot of gymnastics. Update Indexed Items didn’t update DT3. Went through all the Help and ended up, as a last resort restoring the database to a time before I was having all the issues, a couple of months ago. That seemed to work fine, I was able to update all the indexed items. Maybe all of these -1 files happened during that process and I just didn’t realize it???
Not really helping the OP, but when I download with Safari same file from my bank,
: Statement.pdf
: Statement-2.pdf
: Statement-3.pdf
Whatever.
Gymnastics always hurt me. Could be anything and probably impossible, especially for us, to debug this.
My unanswered questions above still apply …. do you really need indexed files? Verify ok? do you have other apps running like Hazel, etc. etc. Maybe what I ask has nothing to do with the issue if “gymnastics” involved.
Thanks for your efforts. To the best of my knowledge, I’m not using Hazel. I’m running 15.6 and I confirm that when I copy a file and paste it in the same directory, it appends the file with “copy”
Sorry I didn’t answer properly. Your questions are appropriate.
I believe I need the index files option to handle a 1.5TB data set and provide a non-proprietary format for of my content. An index of the files, with content appropriate RTF’s for dialog and links created by DT3 seems best for my purposes. But I’m realizing that working within the indexed files is fraught with pitfalls.
I don’t know why the option to Verify and Repair was Grayed out at my previous post. But after quitting DT3 and restarting my Mac, I was able to verify and Log reports “Successfully Verified”.
As far as I know, I do not have any “other” apps like Hazel running.
Unless you have a reason to Index … don’t’. It works. But … you have to be aware.
1.5 TB awfully big.
Still did not answer all my questions.
I don’t think that I am syncing to any devices other than my Indexed Mac folder.
I’m attaching a screenshot of my Sync Locations and Databases. Looks like Conflicts is set to Duplicate Documents. But I don’t know what that means.
Sorry for that. I thought I answered all your questions. What did I miss? I covered what I know about Smart Rules and external processes. I covered my need for using indexing. I’ve covered Verification. I’ve covered the state of my Index Log.
You have a sync location, but you do not sync any databases? Perhaps turning off “Duplicate documents” helps.
I’m not competent on the “Sync” options. It looks like the options to conflicts are either “Duplicate documents” or “Use Latest Documents”. I don’t see an option to turn them off. I could turn off the Sync to “Local Sync Store” but I don’t know the implications. I do want DT3 to sync to my local index folders.
Do you even have other machines you could sync to?
Is there another application controlling or syncing the 1.5TB of data on the external drive ?
It seems you have fundamentally misunderstood some things.
Sync is for synchronizing a database between different computers (macs or iOS devices). You don’t need a sync location for indexing.
I don’t really think you did:
You say that you believe you need this – but you don’t explain why.
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