Massive accidental deletion of files: Only backup is unpackaged...?

DEVONthink To Go
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Yikes! I discovered that thousands of files across multiple databases have somehow been deleted in a random manner, and aren’t restorable from Time Machine. When I go to my other backup service, I get an unpackaged version of the databases. A screenshot is attached.

Any tips on how to restore from these? Much appreciated!

Screenshot 2025-03-27 at 8.40.09 AM
Screenshot 2025-03-27 at 8.40.09 AM323×434 13.5 KB

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  1. What was the issue with Time Machine backups?
  2. What “other backup service”?
  3. You should take time to determine what caused the deletions. Files don’t randomly delete themselves and my first thought is, “Are these indexed files?”
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  1. The disk doesn’t contain backups far enough back.
  2. iDrive does the other backup. It uploaded the database file as a folder that shows the packaged contents. When I restored the database, it came into my computer as a folder with files in it. I need to repackage it, true? That’s all I can think of.
  3. I made a brilliant, complex, but slightly flawed Smart Rule that deleted thousands of files. I discovered the Put Back command too late, so I saved the files but they would have to be sorted one a time into hundreds of folders. The more I know, the bigger my mistakes can be…
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  1. Gotcha.
  2. How did you settle on iDrive? I don’t see that’s it’s supports package files. Are you using a scheduled backup?
    Select the folder in the Finder and add .dtBase2 to the end of the folder’s name, okaying the addition. Then double-click it to open it and see if it opens without incident.
  3. Ahh… at least you’re learning. Education always has a cost :slight_smile:
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Where I come from, education is free. And even at the highest level, it doesn’t cost much. The idea behind it is that everyone should have access to everything if they are intelligent enough. :smirking_face:

That doesn’t work, of course, but I like the idea :slightly_smiling_face:

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  1. Brilliant! I renamed the folder and it opens flawlessly in DT. After 1.5 hours on the phone with iDrive, you have the answer in a sentence.

Much appreciated. Pay raise for you, I think.

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why did you delete all the additional imformation in your previous posting?

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Because I realized I needed to do a little more investigating about its accuracy.

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Cost ≠ money necessarily. It includes: time, effort, failures, etc. :slight_smile:

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sure :slight_smile:

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@vinschger I was hoping I deleted the post before anyone saw it – sorry if I wasn’t quick enough.