Devonian Times Masthead

The DEVONtechnologies Blog

Articles in the category Tips

September 14, 2021

How to Create a Database Archive

ZIP file of database.

One of the topics we routinely preach about is the need to be diligent in backups. We believe, “If your data is important to you, it should be backed up.” While DEVONthink doesn’t do file backups on its own, it does have an option for doing periodic full backups of a database. Here’s how to create a database archive to use as a secondary backup. (more)

September 7, 2021

How to Install the Browser Extensions

Browser toolbars with clipping icon.

Personally and professionally, much of our time is spent reading online. So it’s important to be able to capture items of interest as we’re browsing. DEVONthink has its own browser extension for this purpose. Here’s how to install it in most common browsers. (more)

August 31, 2021

Understanding Tagging

An image with added tags in DEVONthink.

One of the methods of organizing data is tagging. Supported by DEVONthink as well as in some other applications, including the Finder, tags can provide contextual relationships between items, either broadly or narrowly defined. Here is a simple way to think about tags. (more)

August 3, 2021

How to Change the App Language

On the Mac and on iOS apps open in the best available language from the preferred languages order you define in System Preferences or the Settings app. But did you know that you can change this for each app individually? Here’s how. (more)

July 13, 2021

Understanding DEVONthink Editions

DEVONthink menu with starred items.

In our user community and in customer support, we receive reports about certain functions of DEVONthink, e.g., OCR, not working. However, after asking for a bit more detail, it often turns out the person has purchased the wrong edition. Here’s how to check your edition and a few of the specific functions in them. (more)

July 6, 2021

Integrate Trickster with DEVONthink

Trickster and DEVONthink icons connected with a cable.

Our friends at Apparent Software added dedicated integration with DEVONthink to Trickster. Trickster is a little application that lives in the menu bar and lists your recently used files, neatly organized by file type and application. Here’s how the integration works and how you set it up. (more)

June 29, 2021

How To Assign Your Own Shortcuts

CustomShortcuts application window.

For many people, keyboard shortcuts — also known as hotkeys and not to be confused with the forthcoming app Shortcuts — provide a quicker way to accomplish tasks in an application. Here’s how you can assign, and sometimes change, shortcuts on your own. (more)

June 15, 2021

Get Item Links with Bubble Gum

Screenshot showing the Bubble Gum menu.

Scotty Jackson, co-host of the excellent productivity podcast Nested Folders, which unfortunately closed its doors in January 2023, has created a great iOS shortcut named Bubble Gum for quickly searching for materials and copying links to them to the clipboard. It supports a growing list of apps including DEVONthink To Go. Check it out. (more)

June 8, 2021

How to Use the Log Window

Log window with results.

Whether you are experiencing issues in DEVONthink, doing database maintenance routines, or running processes like archiving emails, the Log window is a handy utility pane that provides information useful in different situations. Here is how to access the log and some of the things you may see reported there. (more)

June 1, 2021

How to Use Markdown Extensions

Markdown file with extended syntax.

Markdown is a file format continuing to gain popularity in many circles. And even though it is a very simple format, there are also some extensions people have created to add additional features to rendered Markdown. Currently DEVONthink supports extensions for mathematical equations, diagrams, and syntax highlighting. (more)