I currently use my synology webdav as my sync store for iPad, iOS, and Mac. I export my entire database with all family documents into a shared Synology Drive folder with my wife about every month so the files are all accessible to her if she needs them (or anything happens to me). This obviously loses out on the extra benefits of DEVONthink (which I’m not 100% sure she would use to be honest), but I would love if she could add her own files rather than me having to do it. I tried using paperless-ngx in parallel for a while, putting a copy of all documents she might need into paperless, and while this works it’s also a huge pain to maintain 2 copies.
Does anyone have any options of how they share with spouses? I have considered putting DTTG on her phone since she normally accesses documents that way, but a little hesitant about her accidentally deleting my files (even though I have snapshots and incremental backups, still a concern). Devonthink server certainly seems complete overkill for just sharing with my wife, but the idea of working off the same database, her uploading files, and also not allowing her to delete files seems to solve lots of these issues.
Appreciate feedback from those of you who have done this before! TIA
Addendum:
Does DEVONthink server allow copying an item link and/or opening an item link? One thing I found nice about paperless ngx is I put the link of the document and then put it on our shared apple calendar and she can see the documents (aka kids sporting events, agendas, school forms, etc). I do this with all of my DEVONthink links for DTTG for work, and would love to do this via server if possible.
Copy Link is an available feature. However for some users the Copy Link option is grayed out. This was identified as a bug during Beta testing but has not yet been resolved (or at least not resolved for all situations).
Sharing links so they work for Web Server users has been promised as a future upgrade.
Thank you.
After posting I realized I can probably try server on beta 4 so I might just demo it myself and see how it goes.
The link sharing would be nice to have.
For documents that I share with family, I save them in iCloud Drive and index those folders.
NB: I am aware of the risks of indexing a cloud folder and have been bitten before.
To mitigate this risk:
- I turn OFF the Mac storage optimise setting (Store in iCloud).
- I have Backblaze + an additional daily snapshot backup system.
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Thanks. I don’t like the idea of sharing files in iCloud (or any cloud) for sensitive personal information when I have a NAS at home that can store it locally. I can see how this would work but not willing to compromise security.
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Same thing: Put your files in a directory on your NAS that you then mount (SMB, NFS) from all the machines that need the data. For DT, index the data (if you know what you’re doing).
Yes that should/could work.
It’s been years since I’ve had a NAS. I used to have a Synology and from memory the mount would often drop. If you are indexing a mounted drive and the mount drops, it could cause issues.
So your success with this approach would depend on how stable your NAS connection is.
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Fair point. While I have a good connection the Mac has always been finicky about mounting ngs share. Maybe I can try to fstab it how I do my proxmox box.
I use Automounter (the app) for it. It ensures that my SMB stay mounted.
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Thank you, will check it out
Why can’t you sync to your wife’s devices with Synology webdav? That seems like the best option. I host webdav on Linode and sync to the family Macs and my wife’s DTTG. Dropbox would be my second choice.
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Your funny thinking my wife is going to use DEVONthink to go to pull up anything. DTTG is about as far away from wife acceptance factor as exists. She is not tech savvy, and does not like her iPhone and looking to go back to android.
My goal is simple access for her. And even if she was willing to use the app (which is not even worth trying), without having a separate “user account” I don’t want her messing up my database. The access control or server seemed nice which is what started the thought of maybe using it.
Hey, if she is willing to use paperless-ngx or the DEVONthink web app, there’s hope!
I’ve worked with people that picky; if UI and simplicity on her end is everything, I would probably do either the Dropbox app or Readdle Documents synced to your NAS. You mentioned security is a high priority so Documents with webdav sync might be the best option. Another option could be SMB sync to Documents, but I’m not sure it’s worth trying to make that work on mobile outside of the house. Then either script a sync between NAS<->DEVONthink or index a mounted folder. I’d use a dedicated database just for the files relevant to her.
I have the same situation here, and actually came here to find a solution. I also think it just a little too expensive to buy the server version just for sharing critical documents with your spouse. I’d like to know, from the developers, whether it is possible to share a folder or DB with another instance of DT on the same computer, that is, on my wife’s profile? And without her being able so change the files? I think I already know the answer, but I just want to be sure this is not possible before going to find another solution.
I ultimately did not do server, and am staying with just exporting my folder structure to synology NAS on a shared drive for her to see. DTTG if they allowed to install on M model Mac as a iPad app might be an option (devs don’t currently allow) as the more “read only” type of option might solve it.
I am continuing to trial saving “family” docs need viewed in paperless-ngx in parallel so haven’t completely given up that idea.
I’m wondering if you can index the folder on the NAS in your database and set its permissions to read-only for your spouse. That would remove the need to regularly export the data.
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Considered this, but it opens up a lot of issues. Besides the obvious if loses connection part indexing doesn’t like it (had issues before when putting my obsidian vault on the share on NAS). Also, the in database simplifies my backup as compared to index. I also like the data portability of the “zipped backup.” Ultimately not the best for my workflow, and my data is more important that ease of her access when I have other ways to get it to her (even if more work for me).
At the end of the day DEVONthink really isn’t a tool for what I want to do with sharing, but it’s so flexible I can come close. Sometimes best tool for the job is better than trying to bend DEVONthink to do it.
This is very true. While DEVONthink is incredibly capable, it also has its core strengths and those are what we focus on.
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