Scenario: I’m an academic with two main Devonthink databases: a regular Devonthink one (with tons of information and files) and a second one that is only for indexing my Bookends library of about 6,000 records (98% pdfs). The main Devonthink database is synced through iCloud. Love it, love DT2Go, etc etc. My Bookeneds library is also synced through iCloud using Bookend’s preferred syncing method: an iCloud Bookends folder. That’s also great.
Issue: However, when I have both databases open in DT and I am searching or following links into the indexed Bookends database, I often get a second or a few seconds of spinning rainbow pinwheel while DT catches up.
Have others experienced this?
Possible solution: I’m wondering if the problem is that there is something about having the underlying Bookends folder in a synced iCloud folder that is adding a bit of delay to interacting with those files in DT. It is far more important that my DT is synced than my Bookends, so I’m wondering if simply un-syncing my Bookends and having all Bookends files directly on my computer locally will solve the issue. However, before doing that and committing to that approach, I’d like to get some confirmation that I’m thinking correctly about my situation.
Any advice or feedback from the good folks in the DT community?
Additional info: I’m running a MacBook Air M2 16GB Ram, 1TB hard drive.
As usual, DT has the BEST support of any app in the world. They responded to my ticket right away and offered the following solution to my specific issue:
Open DEVONthink’s Scripts menu > More Scripts.
Install the Fix Hidden Prefs script.
Select Scripts menu > Tabs > Open Hidden Preferences and a window will appear with DEVONthink’s hidden preferences.
Click the On link for DisableFileCoordination .
Quit and relaunch DEVONthink and see if the behavior persists.
I tried that today and so far, searching and navigating the Bookends indexed database is as snappy as my other database. So this appears to have done the trick. If I run into more issues, I’ll update this post. Consider trying this if you have an identical issue and let me know if it works for you.
Thanks for the kind words!
I have a suspicion what the issue could be but I need to look at your logs. In DEVONthink, hold the Option key and choose Help > Report bug to start a support ticket.
As it happens, I came here to report the same issue.
I have DT database dedicated to indexing the Bookends folder, which – like the OP – is an iCloud folder. The Bookends folder is 116 GB and the DT database is 21GB.
As far as I can tell, al the indexed files are always locally available. But, opening the Bookends folder in the iCloud Drive section of the Finder, I do see some of my very recent additions to the Bookends database (in the past two days) are have clouds next to them indicating perhaps that they have been uploaded to iCloud and removed from the drive?
I’ve just noticed that there is a “keep downloaded” contextual menu option, for folders in the iCloud Drive on the Mac. I have now chosen this for the Bookends folder, and will see if it makes any difference.
As usual, DT has the BEST support of any app in the world. They responded to my ticket right away and offered the following solution to my specific issue:
Open DEVONthink’s Scripts menu > More Scripts.
Install the Fix Hidden Prefs script.
Select Scripts menu > Tabs > Open Hidden Preferences and a window will appear with DEVONthink’s hidden preferences.
Click the On link for DisableFileCoordination .
Quit and relaunch DEVONthink and see if the behavior persists.
I tried that today and so far, searching and navigating the Bookends indexed database is as snappy as my other database. So this appears to have done the trick. If I run into more issues, I’ll update this post. Consider trying this if you have an identical issue and let me know if it works for you.
FWIW, you may consider posting a notice to the Bookends forum with a reference back to this post. You would cover the chance that some folks using Bookends do not consider or only tangentially pay attention to improvements to coordinate their Bookends libraries with DevonThink.
I wanted to follow up now that it has been a few days (now = 02/09/2025). The solution that the DT Genius Bar provided appears to have entirely solved the issue. That’s great, because it means I don’t have to move my Bookends files out of iCloud. Thanks again, DT!
