mb6391
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Posts posted by mb6391
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33 minutes ago, Ken Nelson said:
It looks like this SHOULD work! But for some reason MS won't let me add the program to Faststone. If I double click it in Explorer, AF2 opens so that shows the link is functional. I have stepped down through the path with the dialog to identify the file, and have pasted in the full path plus file name but get the same error.
A great deal of this which many users have experienced has to do with folder 'permissions' within Win10/11. You need to grant yourself access to the installation directory/folder. MSoft in their wisdom decided at some stage to start locking down access - all to do with security plus they didn't expect us mere mortals to be able to protect our own systems.
There's stacks of information available on the internet as to how to work round this so I won't repeat them here. Of course once Affinity/Serif release a regular msi or exe install then folks shouldn't experience this problem.
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32 minutes ago, Delphi said:
So, moving forward with new upgrades and updates, will this be the norm, or are we going to get another surprise of only-app versions?
I got a refund but will like to purchase again if I can count on this always being a Windows application, too. (I do understand that this depends on Microsoft not being so tone death as to go Apps only in the future.)
Who knows but for now at least Serif have responded positively and I would expect them to continue listening to their user base - so hats off to them. I don't blame them for going/trying the app route if it increases their market share with a highly cost effective product.
What MSoft do in the future - who knows. I don't think they even do. Rumours are that Win12 is being developed for release in 2024 as a subscription service - but again only speculation from insiders. No doubt if they went this route it would be aimed at the large corps but again no one knows. Also Win11 updates will be moved onto subscription - more speculation. If that does prove to be the case then I'll stick with my Win10 and 11 rigs as they are.
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1 hour ago, skua said:
Glad I downloaded the demo before making a purchase. I was excited to upgrade... but as soon as I see an installer that doesn't let the user designate the install directory it puts me on RED ALERT. I really don't think it's up to the developer to decide where I put my files. I try to keep the system drive clear of applications and the fact that they are buying into the Windows cool-aid App philosophy is troubling. Not buying today as I had planned. Very disappointing. Please make a standard .exe installation package with the ability to choose your install directory.
You might try opening the .MSIX file in something like 7-ZIP and extracting the whole thing to a directory.
My Affinity Photo 1 files are in D:\Program Files\Affinity\Photo.
I extracted the files from the .MSIX to D:\Program Files\Affinity\Photo2.
So far it's OK running from D:\Program Files\Affinity\Photo2\App\Photo.exe. It's using my NIK collection (old ones) plugins just fine and is also using the current Topaz demo plugins with no complaint. I was also able to open a file from Raw Therapee 5.8 via the 'Edit current image in external editor' option by pointing to the D:\Program Files\Affinity\Photo2\App\Photo.exe in the Preferences|External Editor|Custom command line option. Also opened an image for editing from Exposure X5. Just shouldn't have to resort to manual install hacks to get things where you want them.You should read other threads regarding Affinity 2. Serif are going to be releasing a msi install asap.
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2 minutes ago, Danel said:
Of course, it's a good thing that the affinity staff reacted and corrected the situation...
I say thank you of course, but to the lip service...
We have been confronted with ideas that are gradually taking hold in everyone's mind and that tend to lead people to believe that companies can make our machines into conquered lands and that they can do whatever they want with them.That's how MSoft have been thinking since Win8 when they woke up as to how much Apple were making from their in-house purchases after the iPad launch. Then it's become downright stupid with even the great Adobe selling PShop as an app although they do offer it as a stand-alone program albeit linked to a subscription.
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1 minute ago, Mark Ingram said:
Hi all. Thanks for your patience over the weekend when our offices were closed.
We've had a meeting this morning and decided to offer MSI installers to those people who would like them. I can't tell you when this will happen, as there is engineering work that will be required to allow this to happen, but we hope it won't be long.
Thanks for your feedback!
Thanks Mark and a thumbs up to Affinity/Serif
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13 minutes ago, iamnemo said:
I have installed all my programs using Revo Uninstaller Pro. But Revo does not support the installation of MSIX apps. If Serif had clearly stated that version 2 was to be installed as an MSIX app, and explained the consequences of this move, I would have remained with version 1. The arguments of Serif for using MSIX are unconvincing, and anyway unimportant to me. I am now considering asking for a refund.
You can find the app under the Windows Apps section on the left. It's what we used to uninstall all the crap that came with Win10 and 11 (incl MS Store).
Many other software developers use the MSIX route but at the same time there is the option for the traditional install via their website. I cannot understand why Serif are determined to dig their heels in over this but then again, I'm past bothering. There's more to life and as I've had my refund I'll stay with V1.
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1 hour ago, JimInFlorida said:
MY XPS-15 is a 9550, a few years old. For some odd reason it does not show as having the right variation of processor to go to Win11. I am content with W10.
There is a simple registry entry that you can use to overcome the TPM and CPU issue. All it does is stop Win11 checking your minimum requirements. I run both Win11 and 10 and frankly in my view Win11 is just the same as 10 with different lipstick - you're not missing out on anything in my book and unless you disable certain elements of 11, it just seems more intrusive.
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I think It's obvious by now how Affinity/Serif feel about the app route but nonetheless that's what they have chosen. Whether they eventually decide to release a normal installer or not will of course be their decision. Maybe this will be influenced by sales/ refunds/etc - we will just have to wait and see.
I and the 3 other PC's that have MS Store disabled will stay on V1. Making alterations to the app or registry can be fraught with danger and whilst V2 may be a first class app, it's also how it interacts with other installed programs which seems to be hit and miss. Whilst suggestions made by the mods are appreciated, it simply should not be necessary. I'm sure they've all got better things to do.
Why Affinity/Serif did not release a standard installer in conjunction with the MS App Store I guess we'll never find out. There are several large corporations that have gone down the MS Store app route but at the same time have made available a stand-alone conventional installer. Also, it's not totally accurate to state that sandboxed apps are more secure. Much of it depends upon the security enabled on the PC and the MS Windows site plus the general internet is littered with tales of woe.
If V2 stays purely as an app then so be it. If/when a better alternative to V1 comes along then I'll probably jump. I cannot though see any point in getting hot under the collar, frustrated, spending time on workarounds, pointing fingers at whoever - V2 is what it is at the moment and several posters need to take a chill out pill in my book.
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55 minutes ago, Matterdor said:
I understand your desire to move to MSIX for the reasons you listed but would you consider a MSI under "advanced downloads" for people who want more control over their installations.
I would doubt it unless they are 'forced' to do so by way of refunds or an aversion to purchasing by potential buyers. I fully appreciate the need to advertise the product on the MS Store - a wider audience so possibly more uptake - nothing wrong with that line of thought. Adobe, Corel and several others do it. They also though make available through their own websites a traditional install program. So you have the choice.
It's difficult getting folks to jump ship. I did as I was fed up with increasingly expensive subscription software for very little in return. The 'name of the game is acquiring new customers and keeping your existing ones'. That's how organizations grow. There's no point in having a bucket with holes in it but that's the route Affinity/Serif have taken although I don't feel they believe they will loose existing customers - but they will unless they get to grips with this problem ultra quick - like yesterday. It's difficult enough getting new customers but virtually impossible to get them to return once they've jumped ship.
For now I'll stay with V1 until a better alternative comes along (which it will at some point) or V2 becomes a viable proposition.
There seems little point in posting further on the subject. All I'm reading, apart from highly dissatisfied users, is half baked excuses, workarounds, blame gaming, etc from Affinity/Serif. I have not read anywhere by Affinity/Serif of the need to to correct the problem that folks are experiencing. Just maybe they can't and they are wedded to the app route - a take it or leave it software model.
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Okay I'll jump in assuming you're using Win10 or 11.
If you've disabled (for whatever reason) MS Store then it will not install.
The App installs to C:\Users\<your name>\ - if that folder/directory does not have the allowed permissions then it will fail.
The rub on this is the program is an App and not conventional. There is an extensive discussion which may be of interest here -
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4 minutes ago, bildbaendiger said:
These "App Execution Alias" do not work for many. They get the error message: "The system cannot access this file." It seems like it's a Windows permission issue.
The following workaround from Camera Bits was the first one that worked for me:
You bypass the problem with the permissions via a shortcut of the running program.
Maybe this will help others as well.
Thomas
It is a Windows permissions issue and deliberately so. It is relatively easy to amend these but as mentioned earlier many users I suspect do not visit these forums or read any help files. All they want is a straightforward install process. I use a DAM program with the facility to open the *.jpg or *.raw file in an external program for editing - I'm sure I'm not alone in this. The last thing I need is to be met with a 'cannot access' message. Anyway, just my two cents - V2 is what it is.
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26 minutes ago, AndrewJJP said:
Can someone explain why an app is better for the end user? I always thought it was for “toy things” like games, not for software that wants to be taken seriously. I’m not clear on how it helps me and I’m reading a lot of drawbacks.
I'm in the don't know camp but there will be someone along shortly that can explain your question. Many companies - Corel, Adobe, etc are offering their products on MS Store - no doubt a marketing exercise and I wouldn't blame them for that. But, and it is a big but, they also offer a regular install via their websites. Where Serif/Affinity have dropped the ball in my eyes is it's an app or nothing requiring in some cases the requirement to compromise security settings or if you've totally disabled MS Store then you're out of luck.
Maybe V2 is a huge improvement over V1 but I guess I'll never get to find out until or if a conventional install program is released.
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Thanks Mark although I'm sure most posters/readers of this forum will be aware of the install path(s) by now. From memory there is or was not any mention of this during the actual install process. So many users who do not visit these parts will be left in the dark and no doubt possibly highly frustrated.
Anyway, V2 is what it is and it is of course entirely an individual choice whether to live with it or revert back to V1 as I have done.
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38 minutes ago, Imonobor said:
A quick message to Serif, if you think you can just "wait out the storm", while keeping radio silence, that may be so, but there may be no userbase left after the storm is over.
When there are page-long threads about the same issues everyone is having and everyone is unhappy with your latest choices, I think it's high time you did something about it, or at the very least acknowledge the problem, don't you think?
Unfortunately the posters/readers on the forum probably represent a small minority of the Affinity user base and we'll probably have no explanation or reasoning as to why Serif went this route. I bought V2 then had to go hunting for the relevant *.exe files so was totally in the dark about the app - I just assumed....... Decided it wasn't for me and got a refund.
On a more positive note, V1 is still performing fine for my needs so whilst I may be a little disappointed, it's certainly not the end of the world. There may be an *.exe file option install released at some stage via the update route (although no one knows of course) but for Serif to openly admit they could have done things better I very much doubt it.
I'm certainly not going to throw toys out of pram over this or loose any sleep and most certainly not going back to Adobe.
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1 hour ago, François R said:
I must say that this architecture choice speaks against using Affinity for probably all professionals (but I don't think many people use Affinity professionally). The choice depresses me for several reasons.
I think you may be surprised as to how many professionals use Affinity albeit probably, although I have no proof, many of the larger corporations are still wedded to Adobe but I'd bet my bottom $ they don't pay the advertised monthly fee. Speaking from experience with Adobe products, they change very little over time. Sure there may be the odd extra feature here and there added but it's only beneficial if you have a use for it. We moved three of our machines to Affinity V1 and everything has been fine but there's no way we're going to fluff around to get V2 working as needed (by us) and there's definitely no way we're reducing folder/directory security to do so.
So for now we're stick with V1 until it no longer fulfils our requirements. Personally I doubt if there will be an *.exe released for V2 any time soon. Being an ex-beta tester for MSoft just about everyone in the beta testing system for Win 8.0 advised not to release it with that UI. You cannot transport a phone UI to a PC. We all know what happened next.
The saving grace for MSoft was they were able to ride out the 'storm' but not many folks changed from Win7. Whether Affinity after the obvious disappointment of V2 can do the same only time will tell. But now is most definitely not the time to alienate any of your customer base in my book.
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1 hour ago, jpmb76 said:
I, like so many of you, am also very disappointed with the route Serif took for its programs.
I also encountered few problems after installing new apps, like lack of shortcuts for example, or difficulties to add .exe files to other programs.The solution that might work for all of you is:
download msix file of your desired program,
extract it (unzip it) to a folder using 7-zip,
go to that folder, your .exe file should be located in App subfolder.Run the program like you would normally.
It did work for me.
I was able to place that folder to any directory, create shortcuts and connect external programs to use Affinity.It'll work until there's an update. Then everything needs repeating.
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53 minutes ago, Imonobor said:
I think the real reason they did this is DRM, but here is a reality check - people will find a way to pirate your software either way. Making regular users suffer for it is a terrible practice, because it will push more of them to pirate it without the horrible DRM you put in. I have diasabled Windoze Store on all my windows installations, so I'm not even able to try out your demo so I can decide if I want to buy it, how is that a good marketing practice?! And think of the linux users that have been asking for Linux support all these years, and instead you just shove the software deeper in Micro$oft's clutches, so they have even less of a chance to emulate it.
Interesting point as our visiting IT guy disabled the Store on all of the Win10 PC's - apart from mine as I'm the boss. So we'll stay with V1.
Funny how Adobe and Corel (yes they are still going) installs to the Program Files directory but Affinity are trying to convince folks that they had no choice. So please Affinity/Serif cease treating your customers as though they are dummies. There are too many experienced contributors around here so stop digging. Just man up - we made a mistake - here's the *.exe file.
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17 minutes ago, ChrisON said:
Well, despite some sage advice from other people l still can't get it to work with DXO Photolab on my Windows 11 system. I even took steps to take ownership/control of the C:\Program Files\WindowsApps folder and sub folders and can now browse to the Photo.exe file in the PL export dialogue box- still doesn't work.
I've wasted too much time trying to get a workaround; I'm not wasting any more. I'll give it ONE week to see what Serif come up with. I suspect the answer will be nothing as Serif seem very swift to place the responsibility for a fix on other organisations. If no official fix I'll get my refund and go back to Photoshop and their constant payment system; a route l'd prefer not to go down. It's why l switched to Affinity a few years back.
Thank you to everyone who contributed in this thread.
Chris
I'll join the club of 'wasted too much time' so I'll stay with V1 and when that stops meeting my needs I'll just bite the bullet and go back to PS. I may even take a peek at Corel again - forgot about them. There shouldn't be this many posts regarding installation problems and other programs not being able to access a secure folder unless you reduce security levels - something I refuse to do. For folks (at this stage) needing to run a *.bat file which may or may not work is frankly ridiculous.
I also find it amateurish for Affinity to try to 'blame' MSoft for this - total nonsense.
Anyway, enough of this as got better things to do. I wish those continuing to use V2 all the best and if it works for you then good. But for me enough is enough.
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40 minutes ago, Scrabo said:
Just seems odd that this didn't give you a option to perform an in-situ install or fresh install - and allow you to select install location
Poorly rolled out.
It's not odd to me. In my book whoever signed V2 off - well the buck stops there. But there's no way you can expect folks to mess around registry hacking when you should be given the (where to) install option. There is no explanation from Serif/Affinity as to why they chose the install route they have.
Obviously they monitor this forum and their silence is deafening regarding this. Anyway, back to V1 for me as I'm not going to mess around redirecting the paths of other programs.
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Yes it's a mess - like others I have found a couple of programs that will not access the Apps section and no, I have no intention of amending/lowering the security for this folder.
What on earth were so development team thinking? Anyone from Affinity care to comment on this thread - I doubt it.
Anyway, refund requested. Maybe if/when it's sorted I'll be back but it's highly unusual for any programmer to admit an error!!
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It's never happened before - Affinity products just update. I have no third party clean-up apps on the PC. Last one I used was CCleaner and gave that up years ago.
All I can think of it's yet another Win11 update that's somehow interfered with something. There are plenty of minor updates coming through but apart from that I'm in the 'dunno' camp for now.
Unfortunately there were zero entries in the log file apart from the screen error message but the regular MS uninstall worked fine so why Affinity couldn't I guess I'll never know.
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Thank you - I thought that the uninstall would be the only option. Bit long-winded as need to register, etc the product again plus of course re-set the UI.
Anyway, I'll go through the exercise with the other Affinity products and hope it will not be a requirement with each incremental update.
Again, thanks for responding.
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All versions of Affinity - Designer, Photo, Publisher. Setup failed with error message - The older version of Affinity Designer cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group.
Have run the updated *.exe file as administrator and the SetupUI.log and Setup.log files in the temp directory are empty - so no information there.
Never had this problem before so any input/ideas appreciated.
My system - Win11x64 - 1TB NVMe - 16GB RAM.
Photo 2 installation directory??
in Pre-V2 Archive of Affinity on Desktop Questions (macOS and Windows)
Posted
The quick 'nasty way' round this is to add 'everyone' to the permissions but you may be opening up a whole can of worms. Personally I'm not prepared to go down that route and I'll wait until the msi or exe comes along.