I’ve looked through the threads but can’t seem to find a simple explanation…
I use Scrivener alone on one Mac. I also use DTP and Tinderbox.
I’m keen to use DTP’s AI on both my .scriv and .tbx files; is the simplest way to import my .scriv files into my DTP database and then just use my TimeMachine for backup purposes?
Thanks,
Stephen
Personally I wouldn’t import Scrivener files into DTP because a Scrivener file is actually a special sort of folder containing many other files (some RTF, some txt, some xml and so on).
As DTP actually keeps imported files in a completely different structure in the Finder than the one you see in its interface, I’d be concerned that it could cause serious damage to the Scrivener file if it reorganised things behind the scenes.
So what I do is to keep the Scrivener file in a folder outside DTP, then index it. This will give you all the access you need to DTP’s AI, so you’re not losing anything.
TBX files are different as they’re only a single file. You can import them with no problems – but remember you’ll have to open the file from within DTP because they’ll be hidden away somewhere in DTP’s finder structure, again, it’s easier to index them rather than import.
One approach is to have dedicated Finder folders for all your Scrivener and TBX files, then index the folders not the individual files. This way anything you add to or change in the folders is automatically indexed.
BTW, this is a subject for another post, but I wouldn’t rely solely on Time Machine for backups. They’re part of a full system, but not the full part. If you haven’t already, I’d consider using Scrivener’s automated backups to backup into an iCloud Drive folder so that you’ll be able to retrieve them even if your computer and external hard drive fail.
HTH
Personally I wouldn’t import Scrivener files into DTP because a Scrivener file is actually a special sort of folder containing many other files (some RTF, some txt, some xml and so on).
As DTP actually keeps imported files in a completely different structure in the Finder than the one you see in its interface, I’d be concerned that it could cause serious damage to the Scrivener file if it reorganised things behind the scenes.
So what I do is to keep the Scrivener file in a folder outside DTP, then index it. This will give you all the access you need to DTP’s AI, so you’re not losing anything.
TBX files are different as they’re only a single file. You can import them with no problems – but remember as you’ll have to open the file from within DTP every time because they’ll be hidden away somewhere in DTP’s finder structure, again, it’s easier to index them rather than import.
One approach is to have dedicated Finder folders for all your Scrivener and TBX files, then index the folders not the individual files. This way anything you add to or change in the folders is automatically indexed.
BTW I wouldn’t rely solely on Time Machine for backups. They’re part of a full system, but not the full part. If you haven’t already, I’d consider using Scrivener’s automated zipped backups to backup into an iCloud Drive folder so that you’ll be able to retrieve them even if your computer and external hard drive fail. This is a very simple procedure so won’t complicate things unduly.
HTH
Thanks, it certainly does! (the HTH bit…)
So if I kept my Scrivener and TBX document folders in Dropbox and indexed them in DTP, I’d have a clean, simple system that leverages the strengths of everything? For one user, using one machine, managing masses and masses of words.
It’s essentially what I do (except I use two computers) - but don’t forget the separate place for the backups.
So to be clear, here’s what I think would work well in your circumstances:
Your ‘live work’ folder containing Scrivener and TBX files in a Dropbox folder (mine is Dropbox > Current Work). You’ll be working on the files from here directly. They’ll be synced to Dropbox’s cloud ‘offsite’.
You set Scrivener’s preferences to make regular zipped backups to another folder outside Dropbox. My suggestion is that you put this ‘Scrivener Backups’ folder inside iCloud Drive so now you’ve also got copies synced to Apples cloud ‘off-site’. (Set it to date the filenames, and to save the maximum number of backups — 25 — and to trigger every time you close the project and/or press cmd-s.)
Because you’re also using Time Machine (presumably to an external drive), you’ve got 3 chances of recovering any lost data – Dropbox, iCloud and Time Machine.
Finally, you set DTP to index the Dropbox > Current Work folder to allow its AI to analyse all your scrivener and tax files.
Once you’ve set this up it’s all fairly transparent and easy – basically you forget about it till there’s a problem, then you’ve got several chances of recovering your data.
Oh, I love simplicity… Thank you!