Could Bear create an Inbox Capture Folder on macOS (and/or mobile), similar to how DevonThink’s Inbox works? A place on the Mac where I can add files and attachments, which then import into Bear either after launch or in the background.
Often, I want to add files to Bear in bulk without having to use the Sharing function on macOS or mobile or without opening Bear to drag them over. As I receive files or attachments from various sources, I could gather them in this folder, where they would automatically appear in Bear for me to process later. I could also set other apps to export or copy to this Inbox Capture Folder. I envision a handful of workflow enhancements from gathering data in this way for my notes.
Bonus Features
This folder would tag notes during import
Text files would be converted into notes rather than attached as TXT files
This is an awesome idea. @trix180 is this something that you would consider? This would be a feature outside of the editor itself, thus not corrupting the care of preserving commonmark standards for markdown.
There are so many questions that arise since bear is a database based app. What happens if the file is removed from the folder? Should it also disappear in bear? What if a file inside the folder is changed? While an Inbox (realized by tagging an imported note) inside bear is an attractive feature, on the other side a real folder in finder for collecting files seems unnecessary as the approach cannot be to keep the files/notes in sync. However, a share sheet action to import the file in bear would make more sense in my opinion
Yes, actually “Import notes …” is the way to go, and you can set some options how the file is imported. @AdamRadPro probably is looking for a more convenient way to import files when bear is closed. IMO we need share sheet functionality for macOS, with which, among other things, something like this is possible. But you are right, the “untagged”-folder seems to be OK
I don’t want to have to remember to run a shortcut to have it work. For example, I use an app on Mac called Dropoever (its a shelf app). It monitors the “downloads” directory iCloud, so that anytime I’m on my iPad or iPhone and I copy or move a file to this directory, the next time I come back to my Mac, that file is waiting for me in a new shelf on-screen waiting for me to take action on it.
That’s what folder actions do. You don’t have to run them manually. You used to be able to attach Automator workflows to folder to have them run on any new file in there. I’m almost sure Shortcuts provide the same functionality.
Okay, I’ve done the research. It’s a little more convoluted than I remember, but you still have all the tools already available:
A suggestion @zowiewho if I may: maybe this is something you could consider writing a walkthrough about, providing all the tools for download? I know Yoink for instance provides a ready-made folder action to attach to the system very easily. All the bricks are already in place
TLDR: I’m suggesting a more consistent user experience for everyone with no learning curve or setup with 3rd party tools like Shortcuts.
Add files here
Files appear in Bear
Maybe: Individual notes per file
Maybe: All notes added within a specific timeframe (within 1 minute for example) will go to a the same new note
Maybe: TXT files added are converted to Bear Markdown notes
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I have a love/hate relationship with Shortcuts and the Share Sheet. Share Sheet works but clunky with multiple taps and launching the app. Shortcuts are still an advance tool for the average user, and I only know tech savvy people using Shortcuts religiously since its release. I tinker with them, but I still find them not a welcoming workflow depending on the situation. The inconsistent Share Sheet experience from Mac to iOS is another reason I’m asking for this request.
I’m suggesting a user friendly and near zero learning curve area to drop files and forget about them as I’m going through the day like an OmniFocus or Things quick capture until I’m ready to process them in Bear with reorganizing or merging notes. For advanced techniques, I could use Hazel or other apps to get files into Bear without launching Bear. I definitely see a workflow difference between this and Shortcuts/Share Sheet.
The DevonThink Inbox is my best example. Having the suggested untagged note is fine, but I never would have to launch Bear while collecting. I can setup a drop area for things I want to collect as I’m navigating the Mac.
Bear on Apple Watch or Siri with Bear could be other examples too. Shortcuts aren’t used there and all users have the same experience as Apple and Bear update. They are inboxes for text. What’s missing to me is an inbox for catching files, and Bear’s handling of attachments mixed with Markdown is a powerful feature I can’t find anywhere else.
I don’t think Shortcuts are always the solution. I see Shortcuts filling the gap for very customized unique workflows like specific date formats and specific text placements because we are all picky on our notes, how they look, and how they are organized. I think everyone could relate to a bucket for collecting data like an Inbox.
Shortcuts are also hard to teach average users of tech unless you make it for them, share it, and hopefully it never needs modifications as Apple and Bear update. Maintenance could be needed to make sure the 3rd party tool (Shortcuts) is functioning as expected.
The DEVONthink inbox is an absolutely great example. It does indeed make sense, in the spirit of Bear’s simplicity, to provide that functionality from the get-go – and since all the underlying tools are already there, it should not require a lot of development time, hopefully.
In the meantime, if that feature is crucial to a workflow, then it can still be set up by users on their own.
I have a workflow ready, using Automator Folder Actions, that’s triggering an Apple shortcut “Bear Inbox Import” that imports text files as notes and other files as attachments to new notes.
– here it is, posted on a new thread: