Tutorial on the Use of Devonthink and Bookends

[vinschger]

There are many threads in this forum discussing the use of DTP alongside Bookends, some of which date back over a decade. I’ve been using both applications for years, but I’ve always hesitated to “connect” them due to my lack of experience with scripting. Additionally, the variety of scripts suggested here has left me uncertain about where to begin.

Could anyone provide guidance on a good starting point and recommend a script that works with the current versions of both apps?

@BLUEFROG, have you ever considered collaborating with Jonathan from the Bookends app to create a joint tutorial?

[BLUEFROG]

@vinschger

@BLUEFROG, have you ever considered collaborating with Jonathan from the Bookends app to create a joint tutorial?

Not specifically, but it’s not a bad idea. I’ll put it on my calendar to check with him after the holidays.

What scripts - ones suggested on the forums?

[vinschger]

Here are some:

But is there this one DT3-Bookends Script that I need?

There are a lot of scripts offered here for the DT-Bookends connection. But does a script exist, that imports a paper’s reference from Bookends into the custom metadata in DT3? (pdf per pdf) I would like to use Bookends only for reference collection. I don’t want to collect pdfs in twice (DT3 and Bookends), but only in DT3, but Bookends is much better for getting the reference in. Indexing is no option for me, either.

DT3 Script: Create stack for each document for multiple cards/snippets with backlink, cited text or note, comment, and tagging & perhaps a synergy with the Bookend script

I owe many ideas and pieces of codes from @korm, @Frederiko, @bluefrog, @cgrunenberg and many other members in finishing this very interesting script (I think). IMHO, the most genuine inspirations are coming from Make an Annotation with Links, Notes, Tags v2 and Annotation Pane (Annotation with Links, Notes, Tags v3). Two things are in my mind before I start this project: (1) DT3 has dramatically and simultaneously increased both the ease of use as well as the level of customisation (2) I admir…

https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/export-to-bookends-script/18664

Linking Bookends reference to DEVONthink

There are a number of scripts in the forums on linking or importing a Bookends reference into DEVONthink. For my purposes I use a script that links a Bookends reference to a DEVONthink record. I use a folder in the Finder that I index with DEVONthink and is the same folder where my Bookends references are stored. The script uses an external dependency - exiftool, that will need to be installed separately. Exiftool changes the title and author fields of a PDF. For anyone else that might the scrip…

workflow: That built-in Export to Bookends script in DEVONthink! - Sonny Software

https://www.sonnysoftware.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=6017

Autolinking Bookends & DEVONthink records

Hi all, If anyone here uses both Bookends and DEVONthink and is interested in the scripting possibilities between them, I’ve just posted this over on the Bookends forum: https://www.sonnysoftware.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4823 You can see a description of what the two scripts I’ve produced do. The relevant gists are: Link all records in group: https://gist.github.com/zverhope/86c5f7b85cb612aa2629d81c0a3dc241 Link selected record: https://gist.github.com/zverhope/9e9e55f5738cd3674a89f70…

and many, many more when using the search function in both forums… dating back up to 2011… but I do not know which of them are still valid… maybe users that use both apps can describe her currently used workflows and scripts, would be a great starting point if you want to publish a tutorial.

[BLUEFROG]

Did you look at the Education templates or the File > Import menu?

[vinschger]

File>import yes… education template, no - where do I find it?
thanks so much for considering a special tutorial for the two apps in collaboration with Jonathan from Bookends. Would be highly welcome.

[BLUEFROG]

Data > New From Template > Education.

[Dellu]

I have been using Zachi’s script (Autolinking Bookends and DEVONthink records - Sonny Software). It works really great.

[vinschger]

you “have been”? does it not work with the current version of bookends/devonthink?

[BLUEFROG]

@vinschger

“have been”

This is present perfect tense, so it indicates continuing action. “had been” would imply an action stopped. However, @Dellu could clarify that

[vinschger]

I love this forum… I learn so much about my favorite app, and now have also the opportunity to improve my foreign language knowledge
Ad you see, a lot of different codes are out there for using both apps together, maybe you from DTP and Jonathan from bookends are able to collect and explain the most important of them in a tutorial, as a starting point for newbies. I know this is probably not the highest priority, therefore just thank you for considering this (anytime in the future).

[Dellu]

It definitely works with the current version.
And, my understanding is that the purpose of each script could be different. I think it is better to leave those for the users. There is no point to discuss those at the developer level. If the developer have to discuss, they need to focus on the official scripts that ship with the apps.
(and by the way, I find the official scripts not that useful. I mean, what is the point of importing reference data from BE to DT? Well, I don’t know. May be sb else want to have the reference data in DT).

The users develop, share and personalize those scripts.

So, for switching back and forth between BE and DT, we have a couple of scripts. They two use two approaches:

• some of them copy the url in BE and past it to the url link in DT; and vise versa.
• The second approach they used is to use direct search.

Personally, I used the first approach—linked up all my entries (of my important databases) in BE with DT, and vise versa. I use the link fields (u20 in BE) to jump from back and forth.

[vinschger]

thanks for all these insights… indeed, this seems a great approach to connect both apps. These scripts could/should also be supported and integrated in bookends and DTP officially?!

Blockquote So, for switching back and forth between BE and DT, we have a couple of scripts.

may I ask, which scripts you use? you have posted the url of one of them above, do you use additional scripts?