Need help with an export script

DEVONthink Automation
1

I’m trying to create a script that will export the current database files (a mimic of File>Export>Files and Folders) to a specific folder.


tell application "DEVONthink Pro"
	try
		if not (exists current database) then error "No database is open."
		set this_database to current database
		set database_name to name of current database
		set this_date to do shell script "date +%Y-%m-%d"
		set export_name to this_date & " | " & database_name as string
	end try
end tell
tell application "Finder"
		make new folder at alias "Macintosh HD:Users:user:Desktop:" with properties {name:export_name}
end tell
tell application "DEVONthink Pro"
	export data of this_database to "Macintosh HD:Users:user:Desktop:"
end tell
end tell

A few things I’m having trouble with:
Getting the right syntax for DevonThink Pro to export the files and folders of the current group…

I’d like to export the content to a new folder I created, but how would I reference that folder?

Sorry, but my AppleScript knowledge is bare, so I appreciate any help you can send my way.

Thank you.

2

Seems to me it would be simpler to use the DEVONthink actions in Automator and build a workflow to do this. Those actions include selecting databases, groups, exporting, etc.

3

I’m having a few issues with Automator.

For example my Receipts Database

I can create a folder with Today’s date in My Documents>Receipts Exports
I can export my database, but how to I select the folder that has not yet been created during the workflow?

4

Hi!

This script might be what you’re looking for.


tell application "DEVONthink Pro"
	try
		if not (exists current database) then error "No database is open."
		set this_database to current database
		set this_root to root of current database
		set database_name to name of current database
		set this_date to do shell script "date +%Y-%m-%d"
		set export_name to this_date & " | " & database_name as string
	end try
end tell
try
	tell application "Finder"
		set this_folder_properties to the properties of (make new folder at alias "Macintosh HD:Users:ndouglas:Desktop:" with properties {name:export_name})
		set this_folder to folder (name of this_folder_properties) of (container of this_folder_properties) as string
		set this_path to POSIX path of this_folder
	end tell
	tell application "DEVONthink Pro"
		export record this_root to this_path
	end tell
end try

Does that help? Let me know if you have any problems, and thanks for your post :slight_smile:

5

YES!

Thank you so much for your help! This script is finally finished!

6

Note that the script posted above is hardcoded to the specific structure of Nathan’s machine. You’ll need to adjust the “set this_folder_properties …” statement to the desired destination on your machine, or tell Finder to open a file dialog and select a destination.

7

Good catch, korm. The same is true for the script from which I adapted it.

8

Hi,

I’m trying to rig up a version of this script. How do I adjust the “set this_folder_properties …” statement so that it saves to a folder on an external HD? Also, where would I save this script? To DTP’s Scripts folder? Somewhere else? Excuse my ignorance w/ AppleScripts…