Currently, there is no option to include/exclude groups or databases in search results/smart rules. It would be great to have this.
This was another feature along with ability to search folders in Sorter that I thought “it is so obvious that you don’t even have to ask for it” but apparently I’m wrong again.
So, I’ll appreciate if you consider this.
The request is noted but no promises. It’s not something so simply done.
I vote for this as well.
There are already two options:
Groups & documents can be excluded from the search (and smart groups/rules) via the Info > Generic inspector
By specifying a search scope it’s possible to limit the results to a certain database/group (and optionally its subgroups).
Especially the second option is more powerful than it might appear, e.g. by replicating a bunch of groups to a new group and then setting the search scope of smart groups/rules to this new group it’s possible to limit the results to the replicated groups.
Thanks for the reply.
For #1: Until I make a search I don’t know which groups I should include or exclude. So, unfortunately this does not help me.
For #2: I knew that I could select search scope for databases and groups, but I can’t do that for smart groups or smart rules. Please let me know if I’m mistaken.
Thanks again.
See Search in pop-up menu in smart groups/rules editor.
I know that I can select a single group, but what I need is selecting multiple groups from different databases. Can I do that?
No, that’s not possible. Only multiple groups in one database by replicating the groups to one new group.
Another possible workaround is to enable inherited tags (see File > Database Properties), then add a unique tag to the groups you want to search (no matter in which database) and finally use a smart group/rule condition for this tag.
These are good suggestions, and they will work for me. Thanks for that.
But I don’t think average users search and find those suggestions and use them in their workflows, so I believe DEVONthink should implement my suggestions if they want to provide good UX.
It’s indeed planned for future releases.
