Review – DevonThink Pro 1.5
DevonThink Pro 1.5 is a top of the line digital information repository for all of your data. Whether you follow GTD (Getting Things Done) or you are simply in need of organizing the way you handle data, DevonThink Pro is a must. From filing-cabinets of data to post-it notes stuck to your screen, DevonThink Pro will easily organize your thoughts and information in one location.
Importing your Data
Information can be added from within Address Book, Email, most Internet browsers, any application that supports the Services menu, or by using the DevonThink Pro Import features. Files and folders can be added by using Apples drag-and-drop or through the Import menu. If you own a TWAIN enabled scanner, you can scan and run Optical Character Recognition on your paper from within DevonThink Pro. The OCR feature is also available for pre-scanned images. Need to capture information from a website? No worries, DevonThink Pro can import an entire websites with just a couple of key strokes. Of course, you can always use the built-in text editor which offers just enough features to keep it simple yet powerful.
DevonThink Pro has a number of intelligent parsers that will quickly and accurately import, index and categorize the most common file types while retaining their format. The built-in data converter, lets you convert PDFs, web pages or Word documents to plain text or rich text and vise-versa.
Handling Data
The main interface for DevonThink Pro has six familiar formats. From the plain Finder window look with large folders, to a multi column finder feel to an Apple Email feel with a vertical column for your storage folders and a split screen for data files and content.
What is the point of importing your data if you can’t find it again? DevonThink Pro’s Artificial Intelligence engine can help you get organized, fast. With a single click, view a clear list of file groups visually weighted to match the currently selected document. Then choose from this list where you want to store the document. This one feature alone will save you a lot of time, and keep all your data expertly filed away.
Getting Data out
Using the same Artificial Intelligence engine, DevonThink Pro quickly produces visually weighted search results, with one click data access and a clear view to the location of the original document. This powerful search is also available from any application that supports the Services menu, or the built in web server on your network.
Once you find the right document, export it to a myriad of other formats, including Outline Processor Markup Language (OPML), Rich Text and MS Word. The information can also be sent to your iPod or Email application or you can create a web page with it.
If like me, you work on more than one computer, DevonThink Pro lets you share your information using a built-in web server, your iPhone or the internet.
Pros
- Well thought out Apple interface
- Unobtrusive and well thought out interface
- Applescript ready
- Leopard ready
Cons
- When password protecting your database, DevonThink Pro automatically inserts your Mac username each time.
- You cannot link different databases together
- I had issues with acquiring my Epson scanner from within DevonThink Pro
Final Thoughts
Overall DevonThink Pro is a sound, well thought out application with a clean and clutter free interface. Support has been excellent when needed. If you have the cash for it, and you need to organize your life, I would recommend DevonThink Pro.
2 Comments
Thank you very much for your great review! One remark: We don’t support TWAIN drivers (yet!) but we rely on Apple’s Image Capture framework. So, when scanners work with Image Capture they also work in DEVONthink Pro Office. One exception is Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which, in its current version, breaks scanner support in most third-party applications relying on Image Capture. We’re in talks with Apple to resolve this situation. Regarding “linking databases” I just want to mention that with Spotlight you can now search all your DEVONthink Pro databases simultaneously. (Note: I am the President of DEVONtechnologies, LLC, makers of the reviewed product.)
True, you can search for files located in DTPro using Finder in Leopard and pull up a list quite easily, but it would be nice to be able to search across DT databases within the application itself, using something the a “find related” command, the search function or, in the future, tagging to pull references from your other databases. BTW, I agree that DT is an excellent application, and everyone I know who uses it is looking forward to the release of 2.0.
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