Evernote links no longer backward compatible with Evernote Legacy

[Lutherian 22]

Create a link between any two notes in the Evernote versions 10.55.2-mac-ddl-public (4019)Editor: v167.2.20810

i.e. Note (A) create some text with a EITHER a local link (evernote:///) or an external link (https://) to Note (B)

Exit Evernote, launch Evernote Legacy (on the same computer) , click in the link - Nothing happens, exit Evernote Legacy.

Launch Evernote 10.55.2-mac-ddl-public (4019)Editor: v167.2.20810* - click link, hyperlink opens the target note correctly.

Problem:

Some users will prefer to keep the Legacy Version as it allows a complete local (offline copy) of all notes on the local hard drive.

The official version of Evernote does not (despite popular misconception) store all notes offline - it only stores previously opened notes 

This is true even if a user selects the "[x] Keep a copy of my notes on this device at sign-out" option.

At the same time, users may need the latest version which allows task actions with calendar integration.

Unless the new version incorporates the features of Evernote Legacy edition, the two will over time become increasingly divergent, making the the dual system impractical.

At this point, the users should be given a clear declaration (if) or (when) all functionality of the Legacy edition of Evernote will be integrated into the new Evernote, to prevent the widening gap between the two systems, which as Evernote conceded, was a temporary solution.

 

 

 

 

 

[PinkElephant 8,241]

22 minutes ago, Lutherian said:

The official version of Evernote does not (despite popular misconception) store all notes offline - it only stores previously opened notes 

This is a false information - on desktop a full download is stored on the local system drive.

It may only be that the download takes some time, if it was removed earlier. It is quite simple to check on download activity - open the app, don’t use it actively, then check in the Task / Activity monitor, network if there is ongoing download traffic. If yes, the download is ongoing.

When the local database was removed, the first notes with a full download will be those recently opened.

[gazumped 11,737]

2 hours ago, Lutherian said:

users should be given a clear declaration (if) or (when) all functionality of the Legacy edition of Evernote will be integrated into the new Evernote

Erm..  these are essentially different products. I have both installed on my Dell desktop,  and I have not noticed that links in one do not work on the other,  but I would suggest you need to choose which version you will use as the default and -mainly- stick with that unless the other version is the only one that will give you the response that you require.  But be aware that Legacy is unsupported and v10 is now king.  (Living in the UK that's unexpectedly relevant...)

[Lutherian 22]

18 hours ago, PinkElephant said:

This is a false information - on desktop a full download is stored on the local system drive.

It may only be that the download takes some time, if it was removed earlier. It is quite simple to check on download activity - open the app, don’t use it actively, then check in the Task / Activity monitor, network if there is ongoing download traffic. If yes, the download is ongoing.

When the local database was removed, the first notes with a full download will be those recently opened.

I have proof. 6GB database size on "new" event vs 50GB Database on "old" Evernote. Easy way to test, on the "new" Evernote ... disconnect from the internet, scroll to older notes, try to open. Repeat the "old" Evernote. Evidence is irrefutable. "New" Evernote has been installed for weeks. (If the time to complete full database download takes longer than a few weeks...it is de facto malfunctioning. // Users may decide for themselves, as it is not the point of the original message.

[Lutherian 22]

16 hours ago, gazumped said:

Erm..  these are essentially different products. I have both installed on my Dell desktop,  and I have not noticed that links in one do not work on the other,  but I would suggest you need to choose which version you will use as the default and -mainly- stick with that unless the other version is the only one that will give you the response that you require.  But be aware that Legacy is unsupported and v10 is now king.  (Living in the UK that's unexpectedly relevant...)

Thanks for confirming that links do not work the same across both systems ... that save me time checking if it was a problem with my installation.

There seems to be a change in the link structures 

<a href="evernote:///view/blah-blah" rev="en_rl_none">The Note</a>.     (New Evernote)

<a href="evernote:///view/blah-blah/">The Note</a> (Legacy Evernote)

 

I'm pretty sure that Legacy Features will not be migrated across to the new systems - just looking for the official development path, so that I can decide what to do in the future. 

[gazumped 11,737]

Just now, Lutherian said:

links do not work the same across both systems

Actually the mechanism is fine and differences between database are pretty academic - what causes the problem is that Windows wants you to make up your mind:  is it going to open Evernote links with Legacy,   v10 or web?

I was surprised initially when I clipped an email on my desktop (using the Outlook clipper) and Legacy popped up unexpectedly in the middle of a v10 session.  Changing the Windows settings should make a difference...

[agsteele 2,964]

27 minutes ago, Lutherian said:

I have proof. 6GB database size on "new" event vs 50GB Database on "old" Evernote. Easy way to test, on the "new" Evernote ... disconnect from the internet, scroll to older notes, try to open. Repeat the "old" Evernote. Evidence is irrefutable. "New" Evernote has been installed for weeks. (If the time to complete full database download takes longer than a few weeks...it is de facto malfunctioning. // Users may decide for themselves, as it is not the point of the original message.

I'm sorry that your experience isn't what you want or would expect.  I have a different experience. Disconnected from the Internet I can still access all my notes regardless of age. It is a requirement that Evernote is open before disconnecting from the world outside.  With that proviso I find my experience differs to yours.

Quote

I'm pretty sure that Legacy Features will not be migrated across to the new systems - just looking for the official development path, so that I can decide what to do in the future. 

Legacy features will not be migrated.  In fact my view is that whatever features that might have come from Legacy have now arrived.  The focus is firmly on the development of v10.  I was in a meeting recently when the new owners indicated that they have no plans to withdraw Legacy but nothing will change and if your operating system stops supporting the older software then it will be gone.

Similarly if the sync processes become incompatible then I presume that Legacy will be on its way (I don't know this - just guessing).

If you cannot embrace Evernote v10 for whatever reasons then you are wise to be considering your options. No rush or panic required but a calm plan for the future seems wise.

[Lutherian 22]

4 minutes ago, gazumped said:

Actually the mechanism is fine and differences between database are pretty academic - what causes the problem is that Windows wants you to make up your mind:  is it going to open Evernote links with Legacy,   v10 or web?

I was surprised initially when I clipped an email on my desktop (using the Outlook clipper) and Legacy popped up unexpectedly in the middle of a v10 session.  Changing the Windows settings should make a difference...

Yes, I am using internal links as an example. 

 

3 minutes ago, agsteele said:

I'm sorry that your experience isn't what you want or would expect.  I have a different experience. Disconnected from the Internet I can still access all my notes regardless of age. It is a requirement that Evernote is open before disconnecting from the world outside.  With that proviso I find my experience differs to yours.

Interesting .... would you say that you've had the system installed for a very long time (months)?  I have three working theories (1) it takes a very long time for the database to populate or (2) the database does not populate on Mac Systems in the same way as Windows ..it may even be by design, as MACs are not known for their large storage capacities. (3) For some unknown reason, the database does not fully download on some systems....working on it.

[agsteele 2,964]

4 minutes ago, Lutherian said:

Interesting .... would you say that you've had the system installed for a very long time (months)?

I've been using v10 since it was released - so years - having upgraded from the previous version of the software. But I would say that I've had the experience described since the beginning.

[Lutherian 22]

6 minutes ago, agsteele said:

I've been using v10 since it was released - so years having upgraded from the previous version of the software. But I would say that I've had the experience described since the beginning.

Ah, yes - in that case, I think your database would certainly be fully downloaded as was already there. In this situation, both were installed as new installations. Evernote Legacy completed the database download in 24 hours. The New Evernote is currently at 7GB of the total 50GB ... I'm going to keep an eye on it and see if it reaches full capacity and measure how many weeks it will take. I'll keep the new Evernote open during this time. My definition of "failure" is (New Evernote full Database Download Time) > (Legacy Evernote full Database Download Time)

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Lutherian
Typogrphical error

[agsteele 2,964]

I seem to recall that the data storage between v10 and Legacy is not particularly similar.

[Lutherian 22]

23 minutes ago, agsteele said:

I'm sorry that your experience isn't what you want or would expect.  I have a different experience. Disconnected from the Internet I can still access all my notes regardless of age. It is a requirement that Evernote is open before disconnecting from the world outside.  With that proviso I find my experience differs to yours.

Legacy features will not be migrated.  In fact my view is that whatever features that might have come from Legacy have now arrived.  The focus is firmly on the development of v10.  I was in a meeting recently when the new owners indicated that they have no plans to withdraw Legacy but nothing will change and if your operating system stops supporting the older software then it will be gone.

Similarly if the sync processes become incompatible then I presume that Legacy will be on its way (I don't know this - just guessing).

If you cannot embrace Evernote v10 for whatever reasons then you are wise to be considering your options. No rush or panic required but a calm plan for the future seems wise.

I agree with you .. I suspect that Evernote may become more cloud centric and built around task management.. Features such as (Expanded Card View) which was very useful for photographers and artists simply will not return. Thanks for the information ... worth consideration.

[AlbertR 562]

One thought around database size: EN-Legacy offers a command CTRL-Help -> Optimize Database. Maybe it became huge over the time and can be optimized by using this command. If this does not shrink your database (or if your EN-Legacy database is built up from scratch and covers 50 GB), your notes really occupy 50 GB and EN10 should need similar space.

Regarding URLs of type "evernote:///view/...": Both versions accept this as (internal) links to theirself in my case. This means: If I try to follow such a link, the destination note is opened in the currently active version.

<Please note: I'm working on Windows, and the following might not be true on a MAC>

If you try to follow these links from outside any EN-version (double-click on it with Word or so), this programs asks Windows how to open the URL. Here you can find a difference between the versions:

• EN-Legacy sets registry key HKCR\evernote\shell\open\command to open EN-Legacy (normally installed as "C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote\Evernote Legacy\Evernote.exe"). This definition is done at installation time.
• EN10 sets this key to point to EN10 at every program startup.

Effect: Everytime after you have started EN10, URLs of form evernote:///view will lead to EN10! This is a nice trick of EN10 to conquer Legacy installations 😉

To overcome this behavior (or to enable EN-Legacy to do the same), you may use a simple VBScript to start EN-Legacy. It resets this key to EN-Legacy's path and executes it:

'.. Register EN as handler for evernote:-URLs - then start EN-Legacy itself

    Dim image: image   = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote\Evernote Legacy\Evernote.exe"
    Dim key:   key     = "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\evernote\shell\open\command\"
    Dim value: value   = """" & image & """ ""%1"""

    Dim sh:        Set sh = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
    
    sh.RegWrite key, value, "REG_SZ"
    sh.Exec image
    
    Set sh = Nothing

[Lutherian 22]

2 minutes ago, AlbertR said:

One thought around database size: EN-Legacy offers a command CTRL-Help -> Optimize Database. Maybe it became huge over the time and can be optimized by using this command. If this does not shrink your database (or if your EN-Legacy database is built up from scratch and covers 50 GB), your notes really occupy 50 GB and EN10 should need similar space.

Regarding URLs of type "evernote:///view/...": Both versions accept this as (internal) links to theirself in my case. This means: If I try to follow such a link, the destination note is opened in the currently active version.

<Please note: I'm working on Windows, and the following might not be true on a MAC>

If you try to follow these links from outside any EN-version (double-click on it with Word or so), this programs asks Windows how to open the URL. Here you can find a difference between the versions:

• EN-Legacy sets registry key HKCR\evernote\shell\open\command to open EN-Legacy (normally installed as "C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote\Evernote Legacy\Evernote.exe"). This definition is done at installation time.
• EN10 sets this key to point to EN10 at every program startup.

Effect: Everytime after you have started EN10, URLs of form evernote:///view will lead to EN10! This is a nice trick of EN10 to conquer Legacy installations 😉

To overcome this behavior (or to enable EN-Legacy to do the same), you may use a simple VBScript to start EN-Legacy. It resets this key to EN-Legacy's path and executes it:

'.. Register EN as handler for evernote:-URLs - then start EN-Legacy itself

    Dim image: image   = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote\Evernote Legacy\Evernote.exe"
    Dim key:   key     = "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\evernote\shell\open\command\"
    Dim value: value   = """" & image & """ ""%1"""

    Dim sh:        Set sh = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
    
    sh.RegWrite key, value, "REG_SZ"
    sh.Exec image
    
    Set sh = Nothing

I don't mind the size of the Database, I do mind the New Evernote not providing me with the complete offline database within 24 hours like the Legacy Version does..... but the information you kindly provided about the links issue - I'm going to do a deep dive and report back. Thank you - getting hardcore technical information like this is what makes the forums worthwhile.

[PinkElephant 8,241]

I had a reason to dump the v10 database last summer, when it showed signs of corruption.

If I recall it correctly, the download of appr. 38GB of data took 4 days. This of course may vary, depending on network conditions and device.

I regularly use EN v10 offline when on the train, and never had a problem to open a note, including its attachments, no matter how old or out of use it may have been. The syncing of offline changes back to the database always went smooth when back online.

[Lutherian 22]

37 minutes ago, PinkElephant said:

I had a reason to dump the v10 database last summer, when it showed signs of corruption.

If I recall it correctly, the download of appr. 38GB of data took 4 days. This of course may vary, depending on network conditions and device.

I regularly use EN v10 offline when on the train, and never had a problem to open a note, including its attachments, no matter how old or out of use it may have been. The syncing of offline changes back to the database always went smooth when back online.

May I ask if it is a windows laptop? 

You say it took about 4 days .... so I assume it was a fresh install of Evernote, not an existing Evernote that was upgraded?

The new Evernote stores local files in a folder called "resource-cache" - the word "cache" worries me - it denotes something that is temporary. 

Currently the new Evernote seems to resemble the Google Docs approach where you can keep *some* of your docs offline via your chrome browser.

Each time I browse the new Evernote ... the "resource-cache" directory gets a little larger, but never seems to be steadily downloading the whole database.

I might get a Windows PC and do a comparison ... who know, maybe the Mac Version doesn't download the whole database, while the windows one does - It makes sense if you're using a MacBook Air with it's pitiful storage capacity.

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Lutherian
typo "Macs" instead of "Makes"

[PinkElephant 8,241]

I am using Macs, my only Windows install is inside of a VM. If I need EN there, I use the web client. My Macs have sufficient SSD sizes to host everything.

When I say I countered a (likely) database corruption, it means I purged the existing install. Nothing of it was left when I restarted the Mac. It was not the first install on that computer, but it was a completely fresh one.

There are differences between Mac and Windows clients, but compared to legacy they are minor. Both clients are based on the Electron framework. This is basically a Chrome(ium) browser backend, the app taking the role of the front end.

That‘s maybe the reason why many aspects resemble a browser. To check on the download I used the Macs ActivityMonitor to see the network traffic to/from the EN app. It took 4 days, and this means the EN app was running (mostly in the background) and downloading all of the time.

After that, the traffic nearly stopped, and when I went offline to check, everything was available. Sizes of legacy, v10 on the Mac and the app data size on the iPad (where I run a full offline download ad well) are in a similar range, give and take a few GB.

[Lutherian 22]

19 hours ago, PinkElephant said:

I am using Macs, my only Windows install is inside of a VM. If I need EN there, I use the web client. My Macs have sufficient SSD sizes to host everything.

When I say I countered a (likely) database corruption, it means I purged the existing install. Nothing of it was left when I restarted the Mac. It was not the first install on that computer, but it was a completely fresh one.

There are differences between Mac and Windows clients, but compared to legacy they are minor. Both clients are based on the Electron framework. This is basically a Chrome(ium) browser backend, the app taking the role of the front end.

That‘s maybe the reason why many aspects resemble a browser. To check on the download I used the Macs ActivityMonitor to see the network traffic to/from the EN app. It took 4 days, and this means the EN app was running (mostly in the background) and downloading all of the time.

After that, the traffic nearly stopped, and when I went offline to check, everything was available. Sizes of legacy, v10 on the Mac and the app data size on the iPad (where I run a full offline download ad well) are in a similar range, give and take a few GB.

Well as you can see ...my Evernote has managed to exchange about 45 kb of data over a few minutes .... so at that rate my Database should be fully downloaded just a few years after the singularity, and then it won't really matter.... I wonder how common this occurrence is? 

[PinkElephant 8,241]

This makes me wonder if a) everything is loaded already or b) there is a data corruption, which causes the downloader to stall.

How is CPU usage ? In case of a loop it should be elevated.

[Lutherian 22]

3 minutes ago, PinkElephant said:

This makes me wonder if a) everything is loaded already or b) there is a data corruption, which causes the downloader to stall.

How is CPU usage ? In case of a loop it should be elevated.

Total load is minimal. This is not the first install that has done this, which is why I kept Evernote Legacy. 

 

[Lutherian 22]

Compliants about incomplete offline database are not uncommon I see ...

 

[PinkElephant 8,241]

This posting is very old, and it was wrong back then as well. The download takes a while, and when one is looking right after starting the app for the first time, only an initial set of data will be there. The rest downloads while the app is running.

Users with a lot of notes who always quit the app (stopping the background process) may have to wait pretty long.

In addition users posting in this thread jump between the mobile app, and the desktop client. Mobile download back then was a real PITA, it just got improved a few months ago.

[Lutherian 22]

1 hour ago, PinkElephant said:

This posting is very old, and it was wrong back then as well. The download takes a while, and when one is looking right after starting the app for the first time, only an initial set of data will be there. The rest downloads while the app is running.

Users with a lot of notes who always quit the app (stopping the background process) may have to wait pretty long.

In addition users posting in this thread jump between the mobile app, and the desktop client. Mobile download back then was a real PITA, it just got improved a few months ago.

I think Chris (after extensive testing - you may recall) came the same conclusion as I have. He said as well as anyone could have...

 

This raises an uncomfortable question, something that I don't like to dwell on, but if paying customers are promised offline access and they are not getting offline access in the true sense of the definition ...is that a legal breach of the agreement? I suspect that the definition of "offline" would be very loosely defined LOL.

[PinkElephant 8,241]

This thread holds many small parts of information spread out. To wrap it up:

There is a full download on desktop, always, unless you opt out of it in the app settings. This works for all users, independent from the Plan. On a Mac, the location of the downloaded data differs between the app installed from the website and the app from the AppStore. The locations of the folders are invisible by default and need to be made visible using a terminal command.

On mobile to get an offline download, one needs to be on a current subscription. It is opt in, on the level of single notes, notebooks or „all“.  For both options your device needs enough free storage space. For desktop on the main (system drive), for mobile in the devices flash memory.

For the offline data to be downloaded the app needs an extended period of downloading (for larger accounts several days). The app needs to be active during the download. To get access while offline, you need to be logged in before you go offline. You can quit the app, you can shut down the device - the only thing you must avoid is to log out of the client before (or while) going offline.

Both downloads work, and it is simply false to state otherwise. I have downloads that I can access offline on my devices, on mobile based on my selected options only on a part of them.

If you encounter a problem, contact support.

[Lutherian 22]

12 minutes ago, PinkElephant said:

This thread holds many small parts of information spread out. To wrap it up:

There is a full download on desktop, always, unless you opt out of it in the app settings. This works for all users, independent from the Plan. On a Mac, the location of the downloaded data differs between the app installed from the website and the app from the AppStore. The locations of the folders are invisible by default and need to be made visible using a terminal command.

On mobile to get an offline download, one needs to be on a current subscription. It is opt in, on the level of single notes, notebooks or „all“.  For both options your device needs enough free storage space. For desktop on the main (system drive), for mobile in the devices flash memory.

For the offline data to be downloaded the app needs an extended period of downloading (for larger accounts several days). The app needs to be active during the download. To get access while offline, you need to be logged in before you go offline. You can quit the app, you can shut down the device - the only thing you must avoid is to log out of the client before (or while) going offline.

Both downloads work, and it is simply false to state otherwise. I have downloads that I can access offline on my devices, on mobile based on my selected options only on a part of them.

If you encounter a problem, contact support.

<Joke> Yes, I am wrong. The other who have mentioned this are also wrong. The system is perfect. The system works. There is only this Evernote. These notes have all downloaded correctly. It is my mind that is at fault. I must be sent for re-education in room 101 It is always 1984. </Joke>

 

[PinkElephant 8,241]

This proves ... that you have an incomplete download. Individual problem, caused by whatever. It is typical that the notes data is available, as is the URL (which is saved in metadata), but not the attachments.

This is a note I have not accessed since 2017, holding a pdf, randomly picked, while offline. As I said, no issue at all, the note and the pdf show immediately.

And this is how it looks in the Finder (another note). (1) Userxxx... is the folder for the EN user - there is one per user. The (2) folders below are notes, one folder per note. The larger file (3) inside of the folder is the content. The file (4) with the meta-extension is pure metadata. If you have more than one attachment, there will be more than one pair of file+meta-file.

You can't read all of it, but you can open the files with a plain text program (like TextEdit) and view the content. Part of it is readable, the major part is encoded.

As I said, you have a deviation from the standard, for whatever reason. Make your subscription money work for you, contact support.