As reported here so many times by many people, Apple’s Cloud Kit and iCloud are often unreliable.
Dropbox is reported more reliable. That certainly is the case I experience.
Bonjour is automatic if you have both machines “on” and connected to same network. And it is considered the quickest and most reliable sync method. Perhaps do a full sync before leaving the local network.
For this, I’d recommend getting a macOS device to put everything on it and to carry around. Apple now sells some very portable and light Macbooks.
That’s exactly what I experience regularly with a Cloud Drive folder, well outside of DT. Apple’s cloud stuff is neither fast nor reliable. So, if fast and reliable sync is important to you, use something else.
Ok I may try Bonjour and see it’s better my use case.
Just a question: how do I set it up?
I mean: I have Bonjour activated in the settings of DT on my Mac.
What do I need to do on DTTG in my iPhone in order to sync the databases?
To see how to setup, see chapter called “SYNC” in the “DEVONthink ToGo Manual”, page 35 of the 3.7.1 version.
But, from the problem you posted on your original post, this doesn’t fix your need to have quick and reliable download as you probably won’t have Bonjour available to bring in un-loaded files in front of your colleague. It will help getting everything onto the iOS device while both devices on the local network.
This also discussed in the “DEVONthink ToGo Manual” in the section called “EVERYTHING OR JUST THE METATADA” on page 38.
If you don’t put everything on the iOS device, then when out and about and not everything previously synced, getting an un-synched document depends the sync service to get more on demand.
Dropbox is certainly more reliable than Apple’s services, but it still might be too slow for you in front of colleagues. Perhaps try Dropbox with a database or two that can fit inside Dropbox “free” account if money an issue. Or, set your iOS device to sync everything with Apple’s Services and hope for the best.
Me … I’d get a MacBook Air and load it and keep up to date with everything and use it with colleagues. I don’t have one of those yet, but I do sync routinely with Bonjour, Dropbox, and WebDAV amongst four devices.
Another very well working sync service is WebDAV. I have it in my NAS and when inside the local network, it is faster than Dropbox sync.
What you are experiencing, if I’m not mistaken, is DTTG first synchronizes all databases and then downloads the ordered document.
I think there is a solution to your problem, but it is a little bit dangerous. Set DTTG to manually synchronize (Settings → Schedule → Manual). Then you open DTTG, select the document, download it and then manually press the sync button.
What are the potential issues? You can get an old not updated document, and if you modify it, you will get a duplicate if you have that option enabled, or a new modified document without the updated changes in other places.
If this way your documents still download slow, well, blame iCloud and no other, but be aware you risk losing non synchronized data.
I am not experiencing any issues with syncing. I think you meant to reply to @IvanPsy
I do indeed use Webdav on the Synology NAS available on the local network. Webdav, Bonjour, and Dropbox on turned “on” and DEVONthink takes care of the details whether on the local network or “out and about”.
You mentioned you get to a location then check a document about your last teaching session.
Since it seems to happen regularly, I was asking why you didn’t download or examine the document before you leave.
I’ve kept and eye to a private network many times, but I didn’t go on with the plan because sometimes I leave home for some weeks, so I turn off the router.
I’d stay without my files for weeks.
May I ask why you’re using a shallow sync, downloading contents on demand, instead of using a full sync and carrying a complete database while you’re out?
How large is your database?
Why not create a smaller, sync-only database with the appropriate materials for the current situation?
Well, I already have a kind of hybrid strategy: I have a “Projects” database where I keep the projects I’m working on: this database is on the Mac (other databases are on an external drive), so that I can get infos fro them at hand.
Also, this database is automatically synced on DTTG and always ready on the device.
I should extend the strategy in order to include files that MAY be of interest.
Your advice is good, simply put I know how I am, and probably I’d forget to check the files before leaving a local network
Just curious, why store databases on an external drive?
Over the years, I’ve had more external drives (USB connected) crash than internal drives. While I partially depend on USB Drives for system backups and places for DEVONthink archives, I prefer not to put any databases on such devices. Just me, perhaps.
And, are the files that you can’t get while with colleagues on databases on the external drive?
Make sense. I’m sure you have thought of this, but for people reading this thread, don’t forget to make routine/automatic backups of those external USB drives–onto another external USB drive and/or an online/offsite service like BackBlaze or something.
I had the exact same on-the-go scenario of ’just wait a minute, I have the info…’ and then waiting for a long time for the small text file to download – and often needing multiple attempts at it. The solution for me was to change the file downloading to ’Always’ in my main Dt database. Luckily I had the memory in my iPad & iPhone to do this. Using iCloud (CloudKit) & Bonjour for syncing.
