First Questions
Sync is simple but you need to choose the type of sync method to use.
Regarding syncing, the first question you need to ask yourself is, “Do I need a remote sync option?”. Consider these questions…
- Do you need to sync between machines – especially desktop Macs – in different geographic locations?
- Do you have a colleague, assistant, significant other, etc. that needs frequent updates to synced data?
- Are you using a shallow sync, i.e., Download Files: On demand in DEVONthink To Go?
If the answer is no to any of these questions, a local sync on your network is suggested.
If you do need a remote sync option or just want to pursue that avenue for syncing, you need to understand and accept the potential pitfalls involved.
Any remote sync location has inherent weaknesses due to:
- Network conditions - local and remote
- Remote server reachability and response times
- Maximum concurrent connection limitations imposed by the service
- Bandwidth throttling measures employed by cloud services
These are limitations sync cannot overcome, any more than your web browser can.
For the optimal experience, you should use a remote sync option when you need to. Just having a Dropbox, iCloud, etc. account does not make it an optimal solution for all situations.
This doesn’t mean you can’t successfully use a remote solution. It just means there are some stumbling blocks that can occur when using them - blocks caused by the conditions mentioned, not our sync engine - and they can inhibit proper syncing.
Sync Methods
Mac to Mac:
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Bonjour (Direct Connection) Syncing between two Macs that are on the same local network that are On and running DEVONthink with the particular Syncing database(s) open.
Note: Public and corporate WiFi often disallow Bonjour connections. This is controlled by the network administrators, not DEVONtechnologies.
Note 2: If you have a firewall On or an application like Little Snitch monitoring your network, you must put in exceptions to allow DEVONthink’s network traffic. -
Local Sync Store. This is a file that can reside on a commonly accessible location, like a drive on your network. It can also be stored on a connected external drive or thumb drive. This does not require Machine A to be running for Machine B to sync.
NOTE: While neither Google Drive nor OneDrive is specifically supported, you can use a local sync store in your local Google Drive or OneDrive folder. -
Dropbox Sync location This creates a remote sync store in a private folder on the Dropbox servers.
NOTE: This is NOT the same as “putting my database in my Dropbox folder”, which you should never do. -
iCloud (Legacy). Using Apple’s servers as a storage location, this is a two-stage sync, writing to the local machine quickly, then iCloud itself transfers the data to Apple’s servers and between machines. This requires DEVONthink 3.x and DEVONthink To Go 2.6 or later.
-
iCloud (CloudKit). Another iCloud mechanism but, similar to Dropbox syncing, it’s a single-stage sync, writing directly to Apple’s servers. This requires DEVONthink 3.6.2 or later and DEVONthink To Go 3.x or later.
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WebDAV server (such as macOS Server, ownCloud, some NAS drives) or a WebDAV-enabled cloud service (like CloudMe). Like the Dropbox option, a remote sync store is created on the server.
Mac to Mobile:
If you intend to sync with DEVONthink To Go on an iOS device, option 2 cannot be used.
Mobile to Mobile:
You can sync DEVONthink To Go to another on an iOS device, excluding option 2.
Sync Matrix
Here is a simple matrix with things to consider when choosing a sync method…
| Works with DTTG | Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | Yes | • Fast, private, generally reliable • Direct machine-to-machine syncing with no intermediary sync location |
• Requires devices to be on and our app(s) to be running • Only works on LANs permitting Bonjour or non-standard port traffic. Does not work over VPNs. • Firewalls must allow exceptions for DEVONthink traffic |
| Local Sync Store | No | • Very fast and private • Can be located on an external drive or a shared resource, like an NAS • Doesn’t require other Macs to be on. They can sync when they’re on and running DEVONthink. |
• Only for Mac-to-Mac syncing • Requires access to the volume or machine where the sync store is locaterd. |
| Dropbox | Yes | • Generally reliable • Direct sync with Dropbox servers |
• Any cloud service can have slow/unresponsive servers, limit maximum connections, and throttle bandwidth. • Questions of privacy, but can be offset using an encryption key. |
| iCloud (Legacy) | Yes | • Easy set up • This is a two-stage sync: syncing locally first then iCloud does its own syncing. |
• iCloud can stall (which is beyond our control or detection). • See Dropbox Cons. |
| iCloud (CloudKit) | Yes | • Easy set up • This is a single stage sync, writing to Apple’s servers. |
• Apple’s servers may throttle connections or restrict bandwidth. • See Dropbox Cons. |
| WebDAV | Yes | • With public servers, may make other cloud services available to syncing • When hosted locally, provides a fast, generally reliable, and private sync. This is especially true on Ethernet. |
• The reliability of a local setup may vary. • Local servers / NAS devices may require more technical expertise to set up. • If using a public cloud service, see Dropbox Cons. |
Further Resources
Help and Manuals
Sync is covered in the Help for each application:
- For DEVONthink, sync is covered in the Help > Documentation > In & Out > Sync, Preferences > Sync, and Troubleshooting > Sync Issues.
- For DEVONthink To Go, sync is covered in the ? > Help > Sync your databases section.
Manuals can be downloaded here: Manuals
Support Assistant Tutorials
On the Mac, there are tutorials available in DEVONthink’s Help > Tutorials.
FAQ
There is a Sync section on our Questions and Answers page.
