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 Application Icon Repairing a defective database
 

DEVONthink Personal databases are packages containing of your files and the supporting AI-based index. In rare cases this index can get corrupted or out-of-sync. But as you files are stored separately this is not the world's end. If your database starts behaving stragely or if DEVONthink Personal itself finds inconsistencies when doing its start-up check it is time for some house-keeping.


Step 1: Verify & Repair

As a first step use Tools > Verify & Repair to check your database's consistency and allow DEVONthink Personal to take all necessary steps to repair the found problems. If Verify & Repair was able to repair your database, use Tools > Backup & Optimize to optimize your database and have DEVONthink Personal create an internal copy of the index.

If Verify & Repair was not successful or your problems are not solved, proceed with the next step.


Step 2: Restore from backup

With its factory setting, DEVONthink Personal keeps up to two copies of the index files in case that the index is damaged beyond repair. You can change when and how many internal backups DEVONthink Personal keeps in the Preferences, Backup tab.

To restore from a previously saved internal backup (means: a copy of only the index files), use Tools > Restore Backup DEVONthink Personal presents you with a list of all available backups. Choose the latest one and click Open. This swaps the current set of index files with the copy (the current set of index files becomes the backup, the backup becomes the current set) so that never any data is overwritten. Run Tools > Verify & Repair to check the consistency of this index version and if everything is in order use Tools > Backup & Optimize to optimize your database and have DEVONthink Personal create a fresh internal copy of the good index.

If the backed-up index files are also defective, try the other backups, of available. If all backups are broken, too, proceed with the next step.


Step 3: Rebuild your database

As your files and DEVONthink Personal's index are stored independently within the database folder the index can be rebuilt an any time without you losing too much meta data. To rebuild the database from scratch use Tools > Rebuild Database.

During the rebuild process all your files are copied temporarily and then re-imported. All problems that occured during this process are logged.

Orphaned files: Orphaned files that could not be imported while repairing are logged and moved to the folder 'Orphans' inside the database folder. To rescue the orphaned files show the folder ~/Application Support/DEVONthink 2 in the Finder and move the files in the 'Orphans' sub-folder to a save location, e.g. the Desktop, or directly re-import them by dragging them to DEVONthink Personal's Dock icon.


Step 4: Time Machine or manual rescue

If everything above failed it seems that your database is severely damaged. You have two options now:

  • Option 1: Restore your database from your Time Machine backup, your Jungle Disk, or any other backup medium you use for keeping an up-to-date backup of your documents. If you don't use Time Machine yet we strongly advise you to do so. External hard disks are cheap and Time Machine makes backing up your important files a no-brainer.
  • Option 2: If you do not have a current backup of your documents you can rescue your files manually but you will lose your group structure. To manually copy your files from the defective database, show the folder ~/Application Support/DEVONthink 2 in the Finder. Copy the files in the 'Files' sub-folder, which are sorted by kind, to a save location, e.g. the Desktop. Then create a new database, re-import them and recreate your group structure.


Step 5: Contact support

If none of the above steps helped solving the problems you have with your database, please contact DEVONtechnologies' support staff with a precise-as-possible description of your problem.

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