Automation : Shortcuts and Automator

Apple's Shortcuts and Automator applications were created to help non-programmers take some control of their machines. They allow you to visually string together simple steps to create an automated process. Though much more limited due to their linear nature and lack of debugging tools, they may still be useful for some situations. Additionally, they let you create other types of items like workflows, services, or Quick Actions.

DEVONthink doesn't offer specific Shortcut or Automator actions. However, as DEVONthink has a deep and robust scripting dictionary, the Run AppleScript action in those applications opens up some automation opportunities. The key to integration with DEVONthink is passing or receiving file paths via scripting.

Getting information into DEVONthink

As an example, importing selected files in the Finder can be accomplished by passing file paths to DEVONthink. To do this, use a Get Selected Files in Finder action before this Run AppleScript action:

Example:

on run {input}
    tell application id "DNtp"
        repeat with thisFile in input
            import (POSIX path of thisFile) to incoming group
        end repeat
    end tell

					end run

Sending information out of DEVONthink

For passing items from DEVONthink, this Run AppleScript action provides a list of file paths to be processed. This action should be placed before the third-party application's actions.

Example:

on run {}
    tell application id "DNtp"
        if (selected records) is not {} then
            set fileList to {}
            repeat with thisRecord in (selected records)
                if (path of theRecord is not "") then
                    copy ((path of theRecord) as POSIX file) ¬
                        to end of fileList
                end if
            end repeat
        end if
        if fileList is not {} then return fileList
    end tell

					end run

WARNING: Be very cautious when using the paths from DEVONthink. Actions like moving, deleting, renaming etc. would compromise your database. Immediately following the AppleScript action, use a Save action with the AppleScript Result in Shortcuts or the Copy Finder Items action in Automator to keep from modifying the underlying files in your database.