Pšenda

I have the same problem with the Shape group, which in APhoto contains a Rectangle and an Ellipse Tool, but not in ADesigner (here they are separately). The ability to create custom groups would "fix" it (for my needs, where I don't want to take up valuable space on the Tools panel with two more buttons).

Why would you start a duplicate thread on the exact same issue?

Since version 2.1 https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/whats-new/#2-1-close-all-option

Yes, it is still possible to adjust the properties - color, but compared to V1, it is also possible to set the color for differentiation in the Layers panel for all layers/objects, not only for Layers. Edit: I looked in V1 now, and the coloring option in the Layers panel was already added in V1. But that certainly wasn't possible in the beginning.

The wording about the "limited" version is probably not entirely correct, because Photo persona in APublisher is functionally identical to Photo persona in APhoto. The difference between the Photo persona in APublisher, when the "functions" of the Photo persona in APhoto are made available, and Edit in Photo... is that when Edit in, the APhoto application is completely switched/launched, and thus its Personas is also made available and even her Help*). The Photo persona in APublisher is thus definitely better functionally equipped than the Pixel persona in ADesigner. However, if the user does not have the APhoto application, the Designer persona in APublisher will make all vector functions available to him, but not the raster/pixel ones from Pixel persona (for this he has no choice but to use the Edit In Designer command). *) I think it would be good if, when using the Photo/Designer persona in APublisher, the relevant Help section was also made available with a description of the relevant tools.

Same as with Groups.

Previously (in version 1), Layers were the only layer type that could be changed by color in the Layers panel, which made it easier to navigate the layer hierarchy. Today, this color can be set to all layers. The only reason for Layers is to change the properties - the color, which also changes the color of the border of the object on the canvas. I don't see any other reason to use Layers. Use Groups (Ctrl+G) to grouping objects.

Artboards also work in the same way - but keeping the selection of the last selected artboard is quite understandable. With Layers, it may also be an intention, but in my opinion it should work more like with Groups - i.e. ESC performs a complete deselect. P.S. in version 2, I actually don't see any reason to use Layers anymore - Groups as object container suit me perfectly, and they work (deselect) as they should 🙂

Move Tool, ESC key? - in Windows totally unselect Layers panel. Edit: the problem is if you use Layers (with a capital L). If the last selected item is its sublayer, this Layers will remain partially selected even after pressing ESC. This does not apply to root layers or groups, because they are completely unmarked after pressing ESC.

The proposals and benefits of using the Inner/Outer option for curves have been discussed and proposed several times on the forum, but in the current concept of Affinity they are completely irrelevant - and it is therefore a bug (of the design) that these options are not disabled and it is therefore possible to select them (although they do not have no meaning). The fact that these completely meaningless (actually unused) curve parameters cause another problem with the Expand command is only a consequence of this faulty design.

But this will not enable what the OP expected - i.e. making available all sub Personas of the ADesigner application, i.e. Pixel and Export Persona. So it's clear that the OP didn't understand the basic difference between Edit in..., when you physically switch to the second application including all its properties and functions (so the second application starts), and StudioLink, when only the functions of ADesigner and APhoto are made available directly in APublisher. The mentioned sub Personas (Pixel, Export, Liquify, Develop, Tone) are not directly accessible in the APublisher application. So clicking on Photo Persona will not "exactly" do what the OP expected (availability of Pixel Persona), but only a replacement - because the functions in Photo Persona contain and extend the functions in the requested Pixel Persona.

It would still be good to respect other rules - for example, searching for the same requirements so that they are not constantly repeated. User reordering of Adjustments is requested many times here. For example

By using StudioLink (as opposed to fully switching to another application using Edit In...), only the basic functionalities of the given application will be made available, not their Personas (e.g. Export persona).

I apologize for trying to suggest a significantly faster procedure than the one you are using: But apparently you like this procedure, so feel free to continue using it.

For example, someone very often needs to switch objects with each other, but requires that the applied fx remains in the same position (it was not transferred with the previous object to new position). That is a sequence of many commands that takes a long time, which you say is "a testimony to the fact that there is indeed a potential to save time with a dedicated command".

This of course applies to any specific (perhaps even bizarre) case of a sequence of commands. But as mentioned above, a macro/script is much more suitable for these sequences, not a "dedicated command", because hundreds of them would be needed. P.S. It is necessary to take into account the fact that it is a "demo", in which there are a lot of unnecessary delays and actions that will not be performed when executing your own command. The resulting duration of the action is therefore significantly shorter.

I use for this Transform panel. Video_2023-05-12_173958.mp4

Toggling (click on button off, click on button on, off, on, ...) - the change of state (display of the icon, extinguishing of the icon) is always reflected.

I recommend using Google Search to search for help (and of course also here on the forum), which usually give more relevant results. https://www.google.com/search?q="name+of+that+menu+item"+site:https://affinity.help/photo2

It is "pixel perfect"? (position and size to integers of pixels)

This is already mentioned earlier with a direct link to the description of the icons.

...

No. Edit: The description in the Help is not exactly accurate, because even a Group can contain vector objects.

I think your problem is that you trying to insert a rectangle into a Group, which it's not part of the Artboards. Then the insertion always takes place into Artboards.