Jennymac

I want to get the workbook for Affinity Publisher. Does it include how the new merge and database functions work? Are there lessons or tutorials for that in the book? Is there a table of contents available to look at so I can see what is included in the book?

I don't think I have ever had to use my nudge feature that much. What if you save it, close it, and reopen the file? Do you think it would reset back to 1 mm? Maybe that is a stupid question. I wonder if you can change that in the preferences?

Would you be willing to try it? It is only $19.99 for the full app. Either 64-bit or 32-bit. You can generate Kindle Ebooks with it (not just static but interactive ones, (just Google the Kindle Plugin for Page Plus 9,) and so much more. It is the best $20 I have ever spent. It isn't anything like Microsoft Publisher, and it really is more like a true DTP application. You can do layers and graphic editing (I love their Cutout Studio). It will let you work with EPS and SVG files, and import and edit pdf files, as well. It also has pdf form creation functionality. It isn't InDesign, but it offers almost as much, and a few more bells and whistles. I love their autoflow feature for inserting large amounts of graphic files with just the push of a button. You can link your text boxes, do intricate page sizes, N-up.... Different master pages, also different layouts in a publication. Crop marks and imposition as well. Plus merge. AND it comes with Avery label templates, which I didn't find in InDesign. I had to do a very complicated layout for miniaturizing a book, which took me forever to figure out. (I bind books and wanted to make a perfect replica of a full size book.) Scanning the book wasn't the problem. Printing front and back on miniature pages and making sure the right pages are printing front and back, and then setting up my crop marks for cutting. That was my problem. It was very tricky. Once I got my foundation file set up, I could do a 218-page book in under 30 minutes. I couldn't have done it so easily without their stellar asset manager. After all the pages were cut and folded and ready to be bound, it was absolutely perfect. Here is the link to purchase it... https://www.serif.com/en-us/ I don't think they have it for Mac, if you are on Mac. Which you probably are. But if you can swing this, please try it. Thanks so much for your feedback. I appreciate it that you took the time to read my post and respond.

In Re: to loading a Mac OS Shell, I did it once. I realize that Mac operates totally different than Windows. It is much more stable, to begin with. But there are apps not available for his Mac that Windows does offer. Plus a new MacBook is out of his price range but he can swing a new laptop with Windows. It is just a way to help him not have to struggle with learning a new system. His MacBook is really old (2 gigs of ram and no room to upgrade it). I am thankful that Affinity is upgrading it's codebase to flow with the changes. Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo hit the ground running... But Publisher not so much. I am just surprised.

Ok. First let me say, I absolutely LOVE your Website! It makes me sad that we don't hear the click of typewriters or the needle scratching on records. I incorporate those sounds when I make little movies and what-have-you. I can't believe I am actually meeting someone with the same love for old sounds. I also appreciate your feedback regarding my post. While you have a point, I still struggle with the fact that Publisher will be so different than PPX9. I didn't like InDesign. But that may also have something to do with the fact that my boss threatened to fire me if I didn't learn it. It wasn't a requirement of the job, but he threatened no less. I don't like being threatened. All he had to do was ask and I would have gladly obliged. Once you throw in a threat, you lose me.

I know you are absolutely right. And both of your responses are most helpful to me for gaining a better perspective. I guess I just am having a hard time with the idea that Publisher won't be like PPX9. Thanks so much for your feedback.

Thank you so much for explaining this to me. I knew there had to be a good reason. This changes my perspective greatly; however, can they not write Publisher to be a close imitation to PPX9? I have been playing around with the beta version and so far I find myself working in PPX9. How do you feel about Publisher?

I'm curious. I haven't seen anyone address this, and if they have, please accept my apology for overlooking it. I think we can all agree that Serif PPX9 is a pretty outstanding application. So I am curious to know why Serif is reinventing it in Publisher. I mean, if you want Publisher to run more like InDesign, add InDesign functions and change the interface to look more like InDesign. But keep the foundation of PPX9. Creating a new learning curve for long time users of PPX9 seems a little strange to me. Not being able to open a PPX9 file in Publisher makes me feel as if Serif doesn't even think highly of their own creation of PPX9 or their existing customer base. I have been loyal to Serif since 1996. Having to recreate all of those PPX9 files to switch to Publisher seems a little insane. Does anyone else feel this way or is it only me? I am not here to cut Serif down, believe me. I love how incredibly generous they are. And personally when it comes to business ethics, Microsoft and Apple could learn so much from Serif as I think they have the best business ethics of any software company out there. I also believe when it is all said and done, Publisher will give InDesign a run for the money. But I can't understand why they wouldn't incorporate the functionality of PPX9 into Publisher? I think the learning curve to switch from InDesign to PPX9 isn't as steep as the other way around. So if you are trying to woo InDesign users over to Publisher, it shouldn't be that hard. Especially if the interface is spot on. I worked in InDesign, but I still love PPX9 better. I became a secretary when WordPerfect was king (1994). I could do anything in that application. But when they started preloading Microsoft Office on Windows, companies started switching like mad. Fortunately mine didn't. I depended heavily on Reveal Codes as I could edit them and see things that the Reveal Codes in Word just refused to see. And at that time, you COULD NOT open a WordPerfect file in Word. I worked in property management had to re-create HUD forms from scratch as fillable pdf wasn't around yet, and it was a huge pain in the toochas to keep filling out HUD forms on a typewriter (you couldn't submit any forms to HUD that had whiteout on them). So there was no way we could switch. I actually still use WordPerfect on my own time because I refuse to conform and it still does all I need it to do. I would be lost without the subdivide page function. I use it all the time. My point is... Why fix something that isn't broken? Why not just give PPX9 a face lift and add InDesign functionality where it is needed for those wanting to make a change? Does all the programming and code get changed because the interface changes? I have a friend on Mac. He is thinking of switching to Windows but doesn't want to deal with the learning curve. So I suggested he load a Mac shell so it still looks like his Mac OS and he doesn't have to sweat the change so much. I am just wondering how other PPX9 users feel. Not looking to fight or anything. Just wondering why the need to reinvent such an awesome wheel? I kind of feel like a stepchild now and InDesign users are the favorite son. I hope this doesn't upset anyone. I am still loyal to Serif. And out of all the telemarketing calls I may get, I am tickled pink to take theirs.

Thanks so much. I have to remember to look at the shortcuts at the bottom of the page. Do you believe that Publisher will be as good as PP9, or will they reinvent the wheel on this one?

In Publisher, I created a text box that took up the whole page. I then pasted a ton of text into it. I do not see where there is the option to click on a plus sign at the bottom of the box and tell it to set up the same boxes on other pages the same size, and then have the text auto flow until all of the pages are filled. Has that feature been removed from Publisher? It is one I use all of the time. I see where I can keep dragging to create more boxes, but don't see the autoflow feature. Am I in error?

This was an ebook I converted to pdf. I then opened it in Publisher, and it had placed the text in many different text boxes. In PP9, I was able to just shrink my view, then click and drag to select all of the different boxes and then change my fonts respectively. I am not sure I like how Publisher is working. I don't understand why they fixed something that wasn't broken.

I opened a 209-page .pdf file in Affinity Publisher, and it is Times Roman. I want to be able to change the font throughout the document to Berylium, but I don't want to have to go page by page and do it. Can it be done in one fell swoop?

Perhaps they have planned on it, but because they were trying to get the Beta version out, they just haven't done the programming for it yet? I think we need to give them the benefit of the doubt. They are a brilliant company with brilliant designers and programmers. Certainly there is merge on the horizon, as they are too smart to leave out that function. I am just so grateful that they have offered this Beta version for us to try out. I opened a 209 page pdf file and it opened so fast and slick as a whistle. Affinity/Serif, they just Rock!