Straight lines (horizontal and vertical)

[DuggieD]

Can you add a tool that just draws straight lines, either vertical or horizontal in Publisher (similar to QuarkXPress and Indesign).

I know you can use the Pen tool but for a simple line but it's a bit of a faff.

To just click on a tool and draw a line and be able to adjust its weight quickly and easily would be a bonus.

I also know that you can add a rule between columns but frankly it's useless as I use straight lines between stories in my publication not within the stories themselves.

[Joachim_L]

Welcome to the Affinity forums @DuggieD!

8 minutes ago, DuggieD said:

Can you add a tool that just draws straight lines, either vertical or horizontal in Publisher (similar to QuarkXPress and Indesign).

What is wrong about holding the Shift key (but I know what you mean)? Additionally you can add vertical or horizontal lines to the Assets panel.

9 minutes ago, DuggieD said:

To just click on a tool and draw a line and be able to adjust its weight quickly and easily would be a bonus.

Draw the line and change weight in the Stroke panel.

10 minutes ago, DuggieD said:

as I use straight lines between stories in my publication not within the stories themselves

What about Decorations in the Paragraph panel? You can save a Decoration also within a text style.

[Fixx]

Would be nice if "rule" would be available as Pen tool variant in Toolbox. As user preference it could sticky.

[thomaso]

On 7/1/2021 at 12:23 PM, DuggieD said:

I also know that you can add a rule between columns but frankly it's useless as I use straight lines between stories in my publication not within the stories themselves.

What exactly are you missing? (or: what is meant by "between stories" versus "within stories?)

On 7/5/2021 at 9:25 AM, Fixx said:

Would be nice if "rule" would be available as Pen tool variant in Toolbox. As user preference it could sticky.

Are you referring to the "Column Rules"? It is sticky to its text frame, and such frame setting can get set as object style (but/and includes an applied text style, too)

[Fixx]

9 hours ago, thomaso said:

Are you referring to the "Column Rules"? It is sticky to its text frame, and such frame setting can get set as object style (but/and includes an applied text style, too)

No, just simple drawn rules like in InDesign.

[PeeGeeBee]

Can never get the pen tool to work with Shift held down. I can see where the line 'should' appear, but as soon as I click off or hit RETURN, nothing -- it's gone again. Trying to draw a simple line, for instance over a page number, is one of the most frustrating things about Affinity Publisher, even after more than a year of using it. Please sort it out!

[GarryP]

6 minutes ago, PeeGeeBee said:

Can never get the pen tool to work with Shift held down.

The Pen Tool can draw straight horizontal/vertical lines for me just fine, and always has – see attached video.

Select Pen Tool, click, hold Shift and click, hold Shift and click, etc.

If you are doing something differently to me then giving us a (full-screen, whole application UI) video might help us to see what you are doing and what’s happening.

[MEB]

1 hour ago, PeeGeeBee said:

Can never get the pen tool to work with Shift held down. I can see where the line 'should' appear, but as soon as I click off or hit RETURN, nothing -- it's gone again. Trying to draw a simple line, for instance over a page number, is one of the most frustrating things about Affinity Publisher, even after more than a year of using it. Please sort it out!

Hi @PeeGeeBee,
Are you running any third party utilities that may be interfering with Affinity apps when using with modifier keys, like window managers, mouse or clipboard utilities etc

[PeeGeeBee]

Ah, interesting. That might be it. And, stupidly, I never noticed the option to select from the menu the different kind of pen tools until seeing it in a YT video just now. So I'll look into your suggestion. I do actually use a (fantastic) little text expander, PhraseExpress, and have seen it have issues with a few other apps over the years. Never thought of it in this instance. Many thanks!