Basically, my DT hold two types of information, archival reference pdf’s and daily notes. I’m looking for a stand alone notetaking app that stores files that can be indexed by DT4.
I’m interested in Bear, but that appears to have their files stored using SQL. I tried Drafts, but their notes appeared to be stored in one large file.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Larry
You can take your notes in Drafts and then easily save them in Devonthink using a Drafts action.
Why don’t you take your notes in DEVONthink To Go and sync with DEVONthink your Mac?
For reasons I have never fully understood - the sync in Drafts “just works” but the sync in DTTG is less reliable or requires consciously opening/re-opening the DTTG app.
Maybe that is an unfair comparison because my DT database(s) are much larger than my Drafts data store. But if I only do a thin sync or only sync a selected database(s) then that’s another task to keep track of when using DT. It seems a lot simpler to me to simply use Drafts to take a quick note and then a Drafts action to upload the note to whatever DT database/Group I wish.
Drafts is not doing what DEVONthink does from syncing. Part of the clue is it’s using a SQL store for its data. Advantageous for a quick sync via iCloud Drive? Sure. But also presents other technical challenges for some users.
But if I only do a thin sync or only sync a selected database(s) then that’s another task to keep track of in DT.
Why would you have to “keep track of something” in DEVONthink?
And how does Drafts provide any advantage in the situation you mentioned since you have to “keep track of the notes you’re putting into a database, which database, etc.” ?
It seems a lot simpler to me to simply use Drafts to take a quick note and then a Drafts action to upload the note to whatever database/Group I wish.
You’re free to use whatever software you wish in whatever manner you see fit to but I’m not sure how opening two applications to take a note and get it into a DEVONthink database is simpler than opening one.
Again, use what scratches your itch. Drafts is a fine app and Greg at Agile Tortoise is a very capable developer, but DEVONthink is certainly capable of creating “notes” in a few different formats directly in a database.
PS: You don’t’ upload a note into a database. You import it. Both verbs mean and imply very different things.
I agree it is not doing what Devonthink does - that may well be why it is quicker. It’s a much more focused task.
Agreed Drafts is not a competitor - I was responding to your question of why not use DTTG to take notes. I think a dedicated Notes-only app has its benefits.
And how does Drafts provide any advantage in the situation you mentioned since you have to “keep track of the notes you’re putting into a database, which database, etc.” ?
I am suggesting a system where notes are uploaded periodically to DT from Drafts, then the notes are deleted from Drafts. Very easy to keep track of what stilll needs to be sent to DT.
Obsidian is one possibility.
Like you, I use Drafts as I find the DTTG sync (although it has high integrity) is very clunky. I cannot use Bonjour as my devices are mainly in different rooms and when not in use, asleep or powered off. I use iCloud and find it OK. What I find annoying is the number of times I have to press the cloud to ensure sync is complete and the time it takes to sync compared to Drafts.
When I move from iPad to MacBook, in Drafts the note is there. Too often with the DT sync, I have to trek back to my other device, open DTTG and press the cloud several times. I would love it if it just ‘worked’, though I know it is a restriction with IOS.
PS You can use shortcuts to execute a Drafts action to send to DT given set criteria. There is a post about it on this forum.
I use Drafts, but I think it’s important to note that Drafts isn’t really intended to be the final repository for your notes, it’s just for drafts 
It doesn’t really matter that the data in Drafts is not easily accessible, because it shouldn’t be staying in there and you should just think of it as a temporary holding place.
You can automate sending notes from Drafts to DT, or you can manually click a button whenever you want to (that’s my preferred method, it works perfectly on iPad and Mac).
For me, I needed a separate place where I could put temporary notes that weren’t finished or didn’t have a clear endpoint, and that’s what Drafts is for. I still regularly create notes within DTTG and DTP because the note is complete and I know it needs to be in DT so Drafts is an unnecessary step in that workflow.
Sidenote: I write things intended for places other than DT, like article ideas, emails that need some thinking, lists, etc. I throw all those in Drafts too, so the app is eliminating a tiny bit of friction from other areas of my life too. If I need to write-think about something, into Drafts I go. I can decide what to do with the note later.
I also use Obsidian (nowadays mostly because of it’s integration with Readwise) . I index the whole vault. Devonlink ( GitHub - ryanjamurphy/DEVONlink-obsidian: Open notes indexed in DEVONthink in, well, DEVONthink ) by @ryanjamurphy is also useful.
I mean, if you really need / want to use another app for taking notes you could use something like nvALT and import the notes into DEVONthink.
I use both iA Writer and Ulysses. iA Writer is preferable to Ulysses for your purpose because you don’t have to set up an external files folder that uses plain markdown instead of proprietary formatted files. But you can do it if you prefer Ulysses organization methods.
NotePlan stores all notes as markdown files that can be indexed by DT 
Welcome @jpgrosen
Thanks for offering your suggestion 
I much prefer writing words in iA Writer vs almost any other app. I’ve been known to write a journal entry in iA and copy/paste into Day One.
I use NotePlan as my task manager. I don’t index it with DT (I don’t want my lists of daily tasks turning up in DT) but I have reference notes in there for projects I’m working on and when I’m finished with them I import these into DT (they go in a specific database and are more for archive rather than any use). Because NotePlan is a markdown system, this is as simple as revealing the file in its enclosing folder and dragging and dropping into DT.
It’s a reason why markdown is the secret magic behind my workflows for me - Drafts, DT and NotePlan all use it and can play happily together
Some people do use NotePlan for wider knowledge management, and the developer seems keen to encourage it. I don’t, for me it is just a task and project manager, but the option is there if you want it. (Although I have to say I’d query the price tag if I was only using it for knowledge management. Its price is worth it for me as a task manager because no-one else is offering a page-per-day markdown manager with a calendar integration, but lots of people are offering markdown knowledge management software.)
Thanks for this reference to Noteplan. Gotta love the intro video with no-nonsense fast talking German accent to give one the feeling that this app is about efficiency and organization. Gonna give the 7 day free trial a whirl.
One of the things I miss the most in other apps in this general area is the DEVONthink model of individual databases that can be open/closed/searched/archived separately or together.
I find myself thinking about these apps, PKMs, note takers, planners, and outliners using the Swiss Army knife (SAK) metaphor. Some things are good SAKs, lots of use cases and customizable (DEVONthink can be a SAK with tons of great tools and as many uses) but sometimes the best tool is a single purpose tool. (The SAK screwdriver is great in a tight spot but you wouldn’t want to build anything with it). When you factor in DEVONthink’s individual database model it’s almost like a set of different multi-tools which makes it the keystone app for any number of my work and personal tasks.
I agree, I think about my databases the same way. I do have the one database to rule them all because I like to put all my research into one database regardless of whether it’s work or fun (that’s just a personal choice and reflects the way I like to think). But, I have an archive database for logs, completed tasks, etc (sort of a log of how I spend my days), a database just for managing my digital books (I recommend this for super-charging your digital library as you can then make use of DT’s powerful search functions!), one for life admin, etc. I could have a separate tool for each of these databases as they have functions and workflows that are unique to them, but I don’t need one as DT can do it all and as long as I keep the databases separate there isn’t going to be any issue with managing these different files in one app.
If DT wants to set up a markdown-calendar integration I’d switch my task manager over too 
My task notes are stored/organized/managed in Devonthink
tagged as required; status, due-date,…
My task list is basically a filtered note list (smart group); exported to a spreadsheet for a gantt timeline view
As to Note Taking apps, I use the integrated Devonthink editors
Apple Notes/Pages for extended featues; exported as .pdf and saved in Devonthink
It could be useful for some that NotePlan is included in Setapp along with 258 other apps (including Ulysses, TextSoap, PDF Squeezer, Bartender, Paste, Hookmark, and various other invaluables) for the same monthly subscription rate as it costs on its own, though the Setapp sub is per-device and so a NotePlan sub may be a better option if you’re running it on more than one Mac.