Root of DB returning 'parent' class mismatch

DEVONthink Automation
1

“Can’t make group into type type” (-1700): Root of DB returning ‘parent’ class mismatch

Hi — I’m automating group creation in DEVONthink (specifically for my felixorg_lib database) via AppleScript and hit persistent errors. I suspect a DT AppleEvent/class mismatch in the current build and wanted to see if others have seen this or have a reliable JXA/AppleScript workaround.

Symptoms

  • Listing Failure: Trying to list children on a database raises: "Can't get every child of database id 2." (-1728).
  • Creation Failure: Creating a group at root of db consistently fails: "Can't make group into type type." (-1700).
  • Silent Failure: Using create record with {type:group} often returns success in the log, but the group never appears in the GUI.

Environment

  • macOS: Tahoe 26.3.1.
  • DEVONthink: Server 4.2.2.
  • Execution: osascript via Terminal and Script Editor.

Minimal Repro Scripts

1. Standard make command (Fails with -1700)

tell application "DEVONthink"
  set db to database "felixorg_lib"
  set r to root of db
  -- Error: Can't make group into type type
  set g to make new group with properties {name:"TEMP_TEST"} at r
end tell

2. Alternative create record (Silent Failure)

tell application "DEVONthink"
  set db to database "felixorg_lib"
  set r to root of db
  -- Reports success, but group is invisible in DT
  create record with {name:"Plato_Test_Group", type:group} in r
end tell

Key Diagnostics & Observations

  • The “Object Reference” Paradox: While root of db can be set to a variable, it often fails when passed as a direct parameter to the at property of make.
  • Class Mismatch: root of db reports its class as parent, not group. If parent is an abstract class, it appears the AppleEvent bridge is rejecting it as a valid container for make new group.
  • Coercion Errors: Forcing properties of root to text results in an error: Can’t make {«class DTce»:...} into type text.
  • Path Persistence: Errors persist whether the database is referenced by name or id, though id references trigger -1728 more frequently.

Questions

  1. Is root a Record?: Is the object returned by root of database technically a record object, or a unique internal pointer that requires specialized handling in macOS 15/16?
  2. Parent vs. Group: Why does class of root return parent? Should make new group be targeting a different property to land a group at the top level?
  3. CLI vs. GUI: Does osascript execution via Terminal introduce a race condition or permission sandboxing issue that the internal Script Menu does not?
  4. Reliable Alternatives: Are there JXA (JavaScript for Automation) snippets that handle the root object more robustly than AppleScript’s make command?

Thank you, rXf

2
  1. No. It is a parent.
  2. There’s already a create location command for creating groups. It follows a POSIX-style syntax.
  3. Why would you be using osascript on the commandline?
  4. You don’t use the make command.
tell application id "DNtp"
	set r to (root of (current database))
	create location "/this is in the root"
	create location "/this is also in the root" in (root of current database) -- (root of current database) is REDUNDANT here
	create record with {name:"This is from create record with", record type:group} in r -- (root of current database) -- This is doable but would be considered unusual.
end tell
3

JXA and AS rely on the same AppleEvents. It did not matter which one you use. And make plays no role in that.

4

Thank you – the script works now as intended.

5

You’re welcome.