Global inbox has entries I didn't create

DEVONthink
1

I have an indexed database that I occasionally use “Update Indexed Items” on to be sure it stays current. Now I see my Global inbox has over 3000 entries that I didn’t (intentionally) create. That is about the size of my database, and looking through the inbox it seems these are duplicates of the database.

What did I do wrong to create this, and how do I best remove these from inbox?

Thanks

2

did you always import items into your databases by going through the global inbox? if so, i had the same problem and still sometimes do. if/when i am trying to move the entries from the global inbox into the databases, i get an error complaining about the UUID already being present.

if that is the case, i normally just delete the items from my global inbox and empty the trash

3

Welcome @sailaway43

What are the unexpected entries?

4

Nope, I don’t use inbox for this database. I had been using ScanSnap plus Hazel to file household receipts, bills, etc. before I started using DT. So in creating this database I simply used indexing.

I have another database that I do import into, but only a few items at a time.

I will admit that I may have some missteps in my workflow, but I’m not sure why it just started after a couple of years, at least.

Curious.

Still like Devonthink, tho.

5

Hello,
This database started as a collection of documents that originated as scans on ScanSnap and filed by Hazel rules. They were structured by type (household purchases, auto service, insurance, etc.) Since I had this format for awhile, I let Devonthink create a database by indexing the base “document” folder and its subfolders. For example, there would be “documents>auto insurance>(my current insurance company name)>2019”.

For the example above, the items in the inbox already appear in the database. The inbox shows the same folder>sub-folder>sub-folder structure as the database.

I guess I could trash the inbox since this shouldn’t affected the indexed files.

Thank you in advance

6

Did you index the Documents folder into the Global Inbox?

7

Not intentionally. I use the menu item, “File->update indexed items”.

What would I have done to “index the Documents folder into the Global Inbox”? I guess my understanding of indexing is imperfect.

8

Chosen File > Index Files and Folders and selected the Documents folder while in the Global Inbox.

Can you post a screen capture of the unwanted entries? If you want to handle this more privately, hold the Option key and choose Help > Report bug to start a support ticket. Please include a screen captue

9

(per Bluefrog’s request, I submitted the screen captures as instructed. I am posting his emailed response in case anyone else has this or a similar issue)

It just looks like you indexed the Document folder into the Global Inbox as well.

Control-click the Documents group in the Global Inbox and choose Move to Trash . Select DEVONthink 3 > Empty Trash . You should get a warning about some items being indexed. Choose Only in Database . You should then be all set.

I do have a couple of questions still

  1. What did I do to index the group into the Global inbox?
  2. Is it even necessary to manually update the index? I have used finder to add PDFs to the documents folder, and Devonthink 3 seems to add to the database without my intervention.

Thank you again to Bosie and Bluefrog for assistance.

10
  1. You can index via the File > Index Files and Folders command or Option-dragging into DEVONthink from the Finder. I’m guessing you may have accidentally done either, more likely the first.
    2 Generally, no you shouldn’t need to manually update the indexed files.

Indexing is discussed in the Help > Documentation > In & Out > Importing & Indexing, especially the Indexing and the file system section. That way you understand how actions in DEVONthink can affect files in the file system.

11

Helpful as always.
Thank you,

12

You’re very welcome :slight_smile: