RTF editing questions (indentation, shortcuts, Markdown copy)

DEVONthink
1

I’m using DEVONthink 4.1.1 and regularly create RTF files inside a database for research notes.

DT4 provides solid basic formatting within the app, which I appreciate. I’m running into a few limitations or behaviors I can’t quite sort out, and I’m hoping someone here can help me understand whether these are genuine constraints or simply gaps in my own understanding. For all cases below, assume I’m working with an RTF inside DEVONthink.

INCREASE / DECREASE INDENT for selected text

I’d like to be able to increase or decrease paragraph indentation for selected text (e.g., two paragraphs at once), not just insert a tab character. I don’t see Increase/Decrease Indent options in the menus. I tried assigning keyboard shortcuts via System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts, but that didn’t get me very far. I also experimented with WordService, and later with Automator, to create custom shortcuts, but couldn’t get anything reliable to stick (very possibly user error on my part).

Is there a supported way in DT4 to adjust paragraph indents for selected text, either via menu command or keyboard shortcut?

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS for existing formatting commands

I’ve also had trouble making custom keyboard shortcuts persist for existing menu items. For example: I assigned a shortcut to Format → Alignment → Center via macOS App Shortcuts for DEVONthink. The shortcut works initially, but after restarting DT4, it stops working. I’ve seen the same behavior with other formatting-related menu items. At that point I start to suspect I’m misunderstanding where these shortcuts are meant to live, or whether DT intentionally resets them on launch.

Is this expected behavior?

COPY TEXT AS MARKDOWN (WITH FORMATTING)

Finally, I’m wondering whether there’s any supported way to copy text (with formatting) as Markdown, ideally via a keyboard shortcut. This would be extremely useful for moving notes between DT and other writing environments.

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Any guidance would be appreciated—especially clarification on what is and isn’t currently supported in DT4’s RTF editor. I’m very open to the answer being “this isn’t something DT is designed to do,” but I’d like to understand where that boundary actually sits. Thanks!

2

I don’t see Increase/Decrease Indent options in the menus. I tried assigning keyboard shortcuts via System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts, but that didn’t get me very far.

You can assign shortcuts for non-existent menu items.

The shortcut works initially, but after restarting DT4, it stops working.

What shortcut did you assign?

Finally, I’m wondering whether there’s any supported way to copy text (with formatting) as Markdown, ideally via a keyboard shortcut.

DEVONthink can do this internally, e.g., copy from rich text and paste into a Markdown document in your database. It would be up to a third-party application to process the clipboard data.