Monitoring Smart Folders with Hazel 4.0

I am trying to use the new smart folder feature to monitor all pdf files inside DEVONthink. DT stores all its files inside the DT database file, so to get at them in the finder one needs to display package contents for that file.

I was able to create a smart folder that displays all pdf files in the root folder inside the DT package and in Finder this smart folder displays the files. but when I monitor that smart folder in Hazel and add a rule, Hazel doesn't seem to find the files. I have set the rule to match any file with action ignore to keep things simple for testing.

When I set up monitoring for a different smart folder (this one lists all folders with name "archive" on my hard drive) then Hazel seems to be able to navigate the smart folder correctly.

Any advice on how to trouble shoot? Is this a limitation of smart folder monitoring in Hazel?

Can you clarify? Are you saying having a rule to match any file doesn't match any file? How about if you check the status UI (the "eye" button)? Do you see all the files listed there?

Thank you!

When I click the status UI button I do not see any files listed. I have confirmed that files are listed when viewing the smart folder in Finder and when I work with another smart folder the status UI button does show files as expected, so I believe it is something about this particular smart folder.

The thing that is different here would appear to be that this smart folder is searching inside the file hierarchy of a package, in this case the file DEVONthink Central.dtBase2 which holds all the contents of a DEVONthink database including the files I want to monitor.

I know that Hazel can look inside a package, because if I monitor one of the folders inside the package directly rather than through the smart folder the files show up. The reason I am trying to monitor a smart folder is that there are sub-folders involved and the smart folder would allow me to see all the files in all the sub-folders and apply a series of rules to them without needing to descend through the folder hierarchy. That said, now that I just re-read how the sub-folder thing works I am wondering if that is actually the better approach here. I will explore that as an alternative.

Not really related specifically to Hazel, but as a precaution let me add that there is a high probability that modifying/moving the files inside a DEVONthink database package will also damage the database.

Thanks Greg. I ran into that already and have completely changed my approach to avoid this. I now put files into a DEVONthink "staging area" where I can process them with Hazel and then import into DT at the very end of that process. So this particular smart folder question has become moot at the moment.

Glad you got it sorted out. Out of curiosity, though, could you compress the Smart folder and send it over? Click on the "Contact suppport" button in Hazel's "Info" section and attach it there.