Is it correct that delete a stand-alone index file does not delete the file in Finder?

ngan · July 13, 2020, 12:43pm

Just want to confirm my observation/understanding.
Is it correct that if I only index a single file from Finder into DT, deleting the index file from DT does not affect the file in Finder at all? That’s what I observed from tests.

Thanks a lot!

cgrunenberg · July 13, 2020, 12:50pm

Actually an alert should be displayed (if not suppressed) offering various options.

ngan · July 13, 2020, 12:51pm

I don’t see an alert for a stand-alone index file. I’ll check my setting. Thanks.

cgrunenberg · July 13, 2020, 12:52pm

Is an enclosing folder of this file indexed to one of the opened databases?

ngan · July 13, 2020, 12:53pm

No. Just a stand-alone file in desktop. Just checking some of my script and come across this.
I did not delete the file by script, I did it manually.

cgrunenberg · July 13, 2020, 12:55pm

Moving to the trash doesn’t show the alert but emptying the trash should. You could try to reset the warnings (see Preferences > General).

ngan · July 13, 2020, 1:00pm

My original settings:

I unchecked the “Enable reminder alarms”, close and re-open DT, enable the option, then close and reopen DT. Receive no warning. I index a test folder, same situation. Perhaps I need to sent a support ticket.

cgrunenberg · July 13, 2020, 1:01pm

Did you try Preferences > General > Alerts > Reset? Is your desktop synchronized via iCloud Drive?

ngan · July 13, 2020, 1:02pm

I don’t see this “Alerts>Reset” option in DT preferences?

cgrunenberg · July 13, 2020, 1:03pm

See your screenshot, right above Check for Updates.

ngan · July 13, 2020, 1:04pm

I’m blind…!

Update: After reset the Alerts, I receive the correct warning message to only delete the stand-alone file in DT or to also delete the file in Finder.

Thank you very much.

halloleo · July 22, 2020, 5:47am

To understand it better: Using Move to Trash (the normal function to take an item out if normal use) keeps the indexed in place in the filesystem and just removes it from normal view in DEVONthink right? Only Emptying the DEVONthink Trash takes the indexed file from its place in the filesystem away, correct?

cgrunenberg · July 22, 2020, 6:22am

That’s right.

halloleo · July 23, 2020, 1:11pm

Thanks Christian.

Where do indexed files go when I empty the DEVONthink trash. In the OS trash?

cgrunenberg · July 23, 2020, 1:32pm

They’re moved to the Finder’s trash if the volume supports the trash, e.g. network volumes usually don’t.

halloleo · July 23, 2020, 11:51pm

Thanks. That explains it fully.

OAL · February 5, 2021, 4:57pm

In my case the reset option is not active and I don’t get any prompts

@cgrunenberg

BLUEFROG · February 5, 2021, 5:51pm

Check out the Help > Documentation > In & Out > Importing & Indexing > Indexign and the filesystem about behavior when deleting files.