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Someone mentioned, in the Facebook Affinity Publisher group, that they would like book and book cover templates.  I think that's a great idea.  Can Affinity please create some book and book cover templates in Affinity Publisher?  Thank you!

What most of you missed is the fact that Serif NEVER had good documentation.  What I fear is that Affinity Publisher won't either.  This will make it very hard for me -- a non-professional -- to use advanced features.
Simply put, I want Affinity to put out documentation that is as good as what is available for Quark XPress and InDesign.  For example the QucikStart guides by Peachpit Press:  https://www.amazon.com/QuarkXPress-Windows-Macintosh-Elaine-Weinmann-dp-0321358279/dp/0321358279/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1535900373
Years and years ago I searched for a desktop publisher that was easy to use.  I am a writer and wanted to lay out my own books.  I found PagePlus and was immediately in love -- until it came to laying out my book and trying to find out how to do certain things.  I bought ALL the documentation books Serif had:  100% useless.  There just wasn't enough specificity.
As I said, given Serif's history, I am afraid they simply won't put out a really useful book on how to use the program.  And that's what I need.  What would be wrong with having a guide that can teach someone who has never used a desktop publishing program how to use it?
Of course if you've been using InDesign and Quark for years, this is probably a breeze for you, but you're not the only people who will be using this program.  And don't forget, there are people like me who've used PagePlus and want Affinity Publisher to be way better and easier to use than PagePlus.  And of course, with lots of people doing self-publishing, there will be more writers wanting to lay out their own books who have never used a desktop publishing program before. 
So, this is not a matter of patience . . . it's a matter of Serif history and whether they will do something different with Affinity Publisher.
 
 
 

Someone mentioned, in the Facebook Affinity Publisher group, that they would like book and book cover templates.  I think that's a great idea.  Can Affinity please create some book and book cover templates in Affinity Publisher?  Thank you!

What most of you missed is the fact that Serif NEVER had good documentation.  What I fear is that Affinity Publisher won't either.  This will make it very hard for me -- a non-professional -- to use advanced features.
Simply put, I want Affinity to put out documentation that is as good as what is available for Quark XPress and InDesign.  For example the QucikStart guides by Peachpit Press:  https://www.amazon.com/QuarkXPress-Windows-Macintosh-Elaine-Weinmann-dp-0321358279/dp/0321358279/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1535900373
Years and years ago I searched for a desktop publisher that was easy to use.  I am a writer and wanted to lay out my own books.  I found PagePlus and was immediately in love -- until it came to laying out my book and trying to find out how to do certain things.  I bought ALL the documentation books Serif had:  100% useless.  There just wasn't enough specificity.
As I said, given Serif's history, I am afraid they simply won't put out a really useful book on how to use the program.  And that's what I need.  What would be wrong with having a guide that can teach someone who has never used a desktop publishing program how to use it?
Of course if you've been using InDesign and Quark for years, this is probably a breeze for you, but you're not the only people who will be using this program.  And don't forget, there are people like me who've used PagePlus and want Affinity Publisher to be way better and easier to use than PagePlus.  And of course, with lots of people doing self-publishing, there will be more writers wanting to lay out their own books who have never used a desktop publishing program before. 
So, this is not a matter of patience . . . it's a matter of Serif history and whether they will do something different with Affinity Publisher.
 
 
 

Me too re books. However the Book option in print would be close enough for me if only it allowed you to choose the number of sheets per signature, which would not be the toughest piece of coding in the world!

Have to agree with some of the above who would expect complete book publishing export--including eBook--from Publisher as you can find with publishing software like Vellum (which approaches both print and eBook production). After all, this software is called Affinity Publisher. 
I find this software to be typical of Serif: well-designed, pretty, comprehensive...and intimidating to someone who can, but won't, take the time to learn the ropes,  let alone the fine threads, of this impressive software unless it has the payoff I require as a busy independent publisher with three books in the wings (one of them illustrated).  Serif missed the boat with previous publishing software, but hits the mark when it comes to titles like Drawplus and the Affinity group. If the only export were to .pdf files (with much higher resolution than the Aff. Pub. offers at present) and set up for Print and Ebook, I would put my money--and my time--on the table right now. But that also would have to include functional templates included for print and Ebook production--and not as an additional purchase.  Because this is early in the app history, let's hope this will be considered. Otherwise, I am not sure who the target consumer group is for this product. Mainstream or production teams? Depends upon how much money Serif wants to make and whether it will move the cross-hairs from elite in-crowd to ordinary folks.
That said, I tested the Beta software and found everything installed easily and ran smoothly. The sample brochure exported to .pdf quickly and completely. I didn't find that the table of contents were linked, however, surprisingly, to interior content. I opened the .pdf in Adobe Acrobat and enjoyed the full screen presentation. At full screen, the elegant type font was tiny. Increasing resolution will fuzz up the pictures because the .dpi settings in Aff. Pub. are too restrictive, the max being 400 dpi.  I did not print the results.
Hope my input helps. In summary:
the sample brochure converted nicely to .pdf but should have allowed for higher resolution so that pages can be magnified by the viewer. this Publisher program should publish more than fancy brochures and take on the print (fiction and textbooks) and eBook  pub market.  Aff Pub should decide who its market is and let us know, too.  

I would really like to see a 'print ready' book format, as well as an epub export.
I expected this to be an uphill battle vs InDesign but never for a second that PagePlus would be better in any aspect.

Thats not accurate in my experience; working with individual files for chapters makes managing books much easier. 

Sorry but I really need to say, that it´s a flaw that a program like Publisher doesn´t have book export features. I consider them standard for such a program. Please don´t try to sell this as a feature. I think this is a part where Serif needs to work on till the alpha.

Yes a book function is very useful for more complex projects, like it is in indesign

I wasn't expecting to see designer with master pages.. no ebook export... a lot of self publishers out there could benefit from what page plus offered with this modern approach... just looks like a graphics package.  I can design my flyers, etc in Designer, so i don't need this product unless it allows a full blown publication.  PDF export gets slammed for ebooks, better to have the epub export format.   They shouldn't have retired PagePlus if they're not going build on that with a fresh modern approach.

Thank you for your swift response.  I am concerned that there is no news as to whether a book publishing mode is to be introduced as per Page Plus.  It does seem odd that a well trumpeted new 'Publisher' program will not have the facility to publish  a 'print ready' book. It would be great if you could escalate this for me.  Many thanks, Mike

Just testing new program with files from a previous book publication - one or two early questions:
Will I be able to import .ppp files, or do I have to convert to .pdf?
I can't find the book publishing/ 'new book' option - is this hidden away?
Lookig forward to some guidance.
Very pleased that I ahve now been able to download and looking forward to the finished version in due course.
Mike

. . . and you pointing out "failing" is a very negative approach to my post.

I agree about the tutorials. If you had made the interface there same as Quark or InDesign then they might be barely adequate but, for instance, I had to step thru the tutorial 1 frame at a time to see where the guy was clicking to get  multiple columns.
They are embarrassing for a professional company.

Same here Have all 3 freebies downloaded and saved to a folder , how do I install them in the Affinity Designer Program??

I have these 3 extra packages from the special offer they are in ZIP. files however im unsure how i install them, where do i put them??