Different layout columns for facing pages?

[Helge N]

Hi,

while working on a magazine (double pages!) I noticed that with Affinity Publisher (version 1.8.3.641) it is not easy to create different column layout grids for opposite pages.
The guides manager always does this for both sides of a double page (in InDesign this would be no problem)

Sure, you might could get a grip on this via the master pages.
But I'm looking for a way to do this without having to assign extra master pages (the magazine already needs a lot of them anyway).

The only thing I can think of is a cumbersome solution:
Putting an additional temporary page between the facing pages (which both have, let's say, four layout spans so far), then set the second grid (with e.g. three columns) for one of the two pages and then delete the temporary page in between.
The result could look like this (screenshot, pages 3,4, other then 1,2)

Is there a less cumbersome way to get different layout columns for facing pages?
If not, in my opinion this is a Must for one of the next Affinity Publisher updates.

best regards, Helge

Example_4 pages.afpub

[Seneca]

33 minutes ago, Helge N said:

Is there a less cumbersome way to get different layout columns for facing pages?

It all depends on your layout, etc. But you could try adding columns to the text frame itself.  That will obviously depend whether you can get away with one frame only. Another option is to use guides for this particular page. 

[Old Bruce]

You could use different Master Pages.

[Wosven]

The other option is to use a 12 columns grid.

Your text frames' columns will be 3 or 4 grid columns width depending of need.

[Helge N]

Thanks for your tips. I had already done the 12 columns too. I want to avoid complicated handling with master pages. My method now: Temporarily change the document from double pages to single page, make the different layout columns, and then switch back to double pages. That works.