Save PDF to DEVONthink 4

DEVONthink Automation
1

I am trying to find a solution to save PDFs into DEVONthink 4 by just using a keyboard command. This used to be easy. In the print dialog, you would use Command-P again, and it would save the document into DEVONthink. It seems this is not working any longer. I have tried a couple of work-arounds, and none of them worked. Can someone help me with this? This was such a comfortable and nice way of getting documents into Devonthink.

2

That keyboard shortcut is not a default, you added it yourself. I did the same.

With DT4, the command name has changed: from “Save PDF to DEVONthink 3” → “Save PDF to DEVONthink”. So the old shortcut is set for a command that no longer exists.

You simply need to set it up again.
(It’s easy with the app CustomShortcuts. Add it under “All Applications”)

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3

In addition to @troejgaard comment, without using a third-party app, you can change keyboard shortcuts in Apple Icon: System Settings → Keyboard → button Keyboard Shortcuts → App Short Cuts then it should be clear from there. Apple explains at: Create keyboard shortcuts for apps on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

4

I tried this and changed the command to DEVONthink (formerly DEVONthink 3) (System Settings → Keyboard → button Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts). I only get an alert sound (breeze in my case) but no adding to DEVONthink.

5

Did you install the PDF Services add-on? (In the menu: DEVONthink > Install Add-Ons…)

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6

It looked as if they were installed, I re-initiated the install, and it worked from there. Great tip! Thank you so much for your support.

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7

Never used that approach. But what works with my workflow - and allows me to import any type of document into DEVONthink - is a Folder Action using DEVONthink’s index script. Any file dropped into the assigned folder is imported to DEVONthink’s Inbox.

-- DEVONthink - Index.applescript
-- Created by Christian Grunenberg on Tue Feb 17 2004
-- Copyright (c) 2002-2025. All rights reserved.

on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving added_items
	try
		if (count of added_items) is greater than 0 then
			tell application id "DNtp" to launch
			repeat with theItem in added_items
				try
					set thePath to theItem as text
					if thePath does not end with ".download:" and thePath does not end with ".crdownload:" then
						tell application id "DNtp"
							set theRecord to index path thePath to incoming group
							perform smart rule record theRecord trigger import event
						end tell
					end if
				end try
			end repeat
		end if
	end try
end adding folder items to
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