For over ten years, I relied on Evernote, but it became nearly unusable for my needs. The thought of switching felt overwhelming, so I kept putting it off.
A few days ago, I downloaded the trial version of DEVONthink and was immediately impressed by its flexibility and power. I’ve just purchased the Pro version.
Since I’m still new to DEVONthink, I have quite a few questions:
I’ve read that storing the database in iCloud is not recommended, but if I understand correctly, Dropbox is a safe option. Is that correct?
When I travel, I use my MacBook, which doesn’t have a lot of storage. If I store my database in Dropbox, will everything be downloaded to my MacBook, or can I keep it in the cloud and access only what I need?
How can I sync DEVONthink To Go with my iPhone and iPad? Can this be done via Dropbox, or does it require WebDAV?
I’d appreciate any insights from experienced users. Thanks in advance!
You can’t store databases in a cloud location. DT will not allow that. You can use Dropbox for sync. (Or WebDAV or Bonjour)
All issues have been discussed often here. Please avail yourself of the search function to find out more about them.
DT approaches this a little more transparently, which can also seem a bit more confusing if you’re thinking in what’s now become the dominant storage model.
DT’s database sits on your Mac.
The conduit through which syncronisation is performed is something else.
If you’re looking at a lot of services which store your data ‘in the cloud’, DT does not do this. It’s on your machine. Your machine.
If you have your database in Dropbox, you have multiple pieces of software likely to edit it simultaneously, which is why it is not advised. Same for storing the database in iCloud.
DT manages sync on its own terms. You can choose to use Dropbox, but as it’s a mac ecosystem, CloudKit and Bonjour make the most sense. This allows a sync with anything else that understands the DT protocol and structures - which, at the moment, is another copy of DEVONthink, or DEVONthink To Go.
In answer to ② You need enough space on your machine to hold the full database, and potentially spare space for however the synchronisation infrastructure works. For ③, you can do this through CloudKit, so you’ll need the same amount of iCloud space as your database consumes to have full, reliable, no-thought sync. If you use WebDav, as I understand it, you’ll also need the same amount of space. Bonjour does not need separate online storage, but both machines syncing will need to be able to see each other on the network, and there’s no way to sync up missing or changed files until this situation comes around.
I successfully set up CloudKit sync between my Mac Studio and MacBook Pro, and it works perfectly.
@uimike: My MacBook’s SSD (250 GB) was completely full, so I moved a lot of data to an external drive first. Now, I have enough space.
I have one more question about backup strategy. I’d like both a local and a cloud backup. I understand it’s not a good idea to store the database itself in the cloud, but a backup is a zip file—would that be safe to store in the cloud?
For the old “belt and suspenders” backup approach, I’ve generally depended on Backblaze for cloud backup, Time Machine to an external drive for local backups, and SuperDuper! for a nightly clone each M-F.
A good tip is to verify that whatever backup regime you’ve chosen to follow, actually works.
BELT
Like others on here I use CCC and ARC(similar to Backblaze) for various work reasons. I know my DT databases are in those backups somewhere as well as the Global Inbox, my DT settings and any customization I’ve done to settings. Very Very useful for when I migrate to a new computer or (once) had to rebuild a repaired computer.
SUSPENDERS
But my working backups for DT I generate by closing DT completely, then making ZIP archives of each DB, add a date to each ZIP and uploading those to Dropbox. I do this mostly once a week.
For my own peace of mind I pull some ZIP archives out of the new bunch and restore it to a hard drive and check it against the original. Specifically the ones that are most active/valuable.
I find myself totally confused by this - I confess I have never taken the time to learn the full ins and outs of DT but I do file a lot of stuff in there for future reference. But from the start (going back to DT2 in 2018) as far as I can see my DT databases have always been stored in users\myhome\dropbox\apps\DEVONthink Packet Sync.
Have I been doing this wrongly throughout? And if its not in Dropbox or similar, how does sync with DT to go work?
So where do I look in DT’s settings to find where they are held and how can I move them to the recommended location \myhome\databases?
Sorry, probably dumb questions but any help would be appreciated
First, confirm the location: Menu: File → Database properties then look at top.
Second, make an archive zip backup Menu: File → Export → Database Archive … for “just in case” something goes wrong. Remember where you put this backup. ~/Backups would be good.
Then if indeed it is in an unacceptable location (as in the Packet Sync folder would be), then use macOS Finder to move it. Drag and Drop. Apple’s macOS Finder Help can explain.
See the DEVONthink Manual, page, 11 3.9.8 version for recommended location, and while there see the “Note” (in Teal colour) about erroneously putting databases in folders that are synced.
See page 68 for setting up Dropbox sync (including excluding the Packet Sync folder from synching).
See the DEVONthink ToGo Manual for how to setup sync with the Dropbox location.
Not dumb, just incorrect.
If your databases were located in any cloud-synced folder you would be warned when you opened them, including when DEVONthink launches. The dialog would offer the choice of you moving them or DEVONthink moving them for you.
