Importing pdf files and missing icons

[HeadStart]

I've been a long time user of Serif DTP products: ever since the early '80s when I was producing the programmes for my son's motocross club, so I feel entitled to make a couple of comments on AFP. I'm a new refugee from PagePlus, and first impressions are very favourable. However, I have two queries: 1. Why is it such a performance to import pdf files? All that duplicating of pages and then re-numbering is just unnecessary, surely? In PagePlus all I had to do was select "import pdf" and that was it. Let' face it, the whole world uses them, so it should be really simple. Secondly why are there no toolbar icons for copy, cut, paste and print? Again, surely these should be standard as they are in most other programs (apps if you prefer).

Phil

[Dan C]

Hi HeadStart

3 minutes ago, HeadStart said:

1. Why is it such a performance to import pdf files?

Are you looking to Open the PDF as a new document, or are you trying to place/import the PDF document into an already existing Publisher file?

5 minutes ago, HeadStart said:

Secondly why are there no toolbar icons for copy, cut, paste and print? Again, surely these should be standard as they are in most other programs

We have multiple ways of achieving undo/redo, as you can use the History Studio, Keyboard Shortcuts (Which can be user defined in preferences) & the menu entry under Edit.
For this reason, we've chosen not to include icons for these actions as many users find they take up unnecessary space as they habitually use Keyboard Shortcuts.

Of course this isn't everyone's preference, so it is already logged as an improvement with our developers, so they may add these as icons you can choose to add to your toolbar in a future update.

I hope this helps!

[HeadStart]

Thanks Dan - understood.

Opening pdf files as a new document is absolutely fine and seamless. I'm producing a newsletter for my local club, and articles are routinely submitted by members as pdf's, so I have to import them into the current newsletter. (Also, it's a bit of a shame that I can't import .docx files easily either, although I have to admit that "Ctrl A, Ctrl C and Ctrl V" aren't too onerous .)

 

Phil

[Move Along People]

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[HeadStart]

Yes, i discovered that one, thanks

[Move Along People]

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[Dan C]

Thanks for letting me know Phil

You can open your PDF into a new document, then copy the pages from this document into your newsletter. Version 1.8 will also allow for document merging, meaning you can open the PDF as a new file, save this as an .afpub and then merge this with your master newsletter document.

25 minutes ago, HeadStart said:

Also, it's a bit of a shame that I can't import .docx files easily either, although I have to admit that "Ctrl A, Ctrl C and Ctrl V" aren't too onerous 

With any text object selected, navigate to File>Place - this will allow you to import your .docx file directly into your Affinity document!

[HeadStart]

I live and learn...  Thanks for all that. There's such a lot to get my head around, but I'm getting there

Phil