Photo suddenly efuses to save or export a document

[alan_hodges]

I have spent hours perfecting a document in AP but now I cannot save or export it. A shortcut (INK file) is created but double clicking on that results in an error message saying that Windows cannot find the file. Immediately after exporting or saving I normally see a progress bar but now there is nothing at all. I am loathe to shut down or I shall lose hours of work so any suggestions will be much appreciated.

I have not done anything out of the ordinary in processing this document apart from using a very large number of clone brush adjustments.

I have tried saving/exporting every possible file type that AP allows but nothing works.

[walt.farrell]

What happens when you use File > Save As and specify a new name? Any error messages?

Where are you trying to save? Have you tried a different local folder?

[alan_hodges]

Hi, Walt, and thanks for your reply.

Just tried your suggestion but nothing happened at all. No error message, Nothing.

The INK file was created as before and Windows is still looking for the document file.

I have tried saving to a different drive but no luck there either.

I also tried a different local folder without success.

Although I must have tried saving or exporting my document dozens of times, I have never seen an error message.

[stokerg]

Hi @alan_hodges,

I'm a little confused when you mention an INK file, as that isn't the file extension Affinity would normally use when saving and isn't one of the export options.  Would you be able to attach the file that does get created?  Also if you try saving to your Desktop or My Documents, does the same INK file get created?

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, stokerg said:

I'm a little confused when you mention an INK file

That is possibly lnk (with an "el")?

[stokerg]

14 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

That is possibly lnk (with an "el")?

It's certainly possible.  Just ran this past the other guys on Tech and one pointed to this as a possible cause for it.  But we really need some more information or the file that does get created from @alan_hodges to confirm what's happening.  Certainly an interesting sounding issue from a Tech Support point of view.

[alan_hodges]

I've located the .Ink file and attached it. Windows classifies it as a shortcut in Explorer.

IMG_20210714_124033-3.lnk

[stokerg]

Thanks for the file.  That's very odd as i wouldn't expect Affinity to make that kind of file.  Just to rule out any virus or malware, could you try opening Notepad (or any other application) are you able to save a file without it getting the LNK extension ?

[alan_hodges]

Sorry about the mistake with the file extension. Looking at it more carefully, Walt is right and my 81 year old eyes were not. LNK it is.

[alan_hodges]

I've created a new file with Notepad and confirm that a file with the same name has been created with an LNK extension. I'm now running a full scan with Kaspersky.

[Old Bruce]

I am guessing here that LNK or lnk means Link, as in a type of Symbolic Link to where the actual file is.

[stokerg]

2 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

I am guessing here that LNK or lnk means Link, as in a type of Symbolic Link to where the actual file is.

From the research i've done LNK files, are just shortcut files.  But that doesn't help explain why Affinity (or Notepad is creating them).  It should just create the exported/saved file type.

[Old Bruce]

5 minutes ago, stokerg said:

From the research i've done LNK files, are just shortcut files.  But that doesn't help explain why Affinity (or Notepad is creating them).  It should just create the exported/saved file type.

My knowledge of windows is extremely limited. Having said that I would think that there could be an obscure OS setting that makes a link file for the desktop (or some such place) when saving to a particular folder or disk or network or cloud. Pure speculation on my part.

(Engineers doing things to be helpful. (trademark))

[stokerg]

Just now, Old Bruce said:

My knowledge of windows is extremely limited. Having said that I would think that there could be an obscure OS setting that makes a link file for the desktop (or some such place) when saving to a particular folder or disk or network or cloud. Pure speculation on my part.

 

That's the very reason i suggested saving to Desktop or My Documents, as these tend to be treated as 'safe' place by Windows.  Certainly Desktop more than others as the desktop normally just contains shortcuts, so most Cloud/network apps would avoid this location. 

 

1 minute ago, Old Bruce said:

(Engineers doing things to be helpful. (trademark))

😂 i like that comment  

[alan_hodges]

2.25 million files scanned but no threats detected. However, I have 1,103 files with a .lnk extension. Every photo I've accessed recently has one of these shortcuts and they are all useless, apart from those on the desktop. I must ascertain why this is so but I feel I'm in danger of exceeding the scope of this forum. My grateful thanks to all respondents.

[NotMyFault]

To confirm what has been assumed earlier: files with LNK extension is a legacy "shortcut" file type on Windows only. It is a special file containing the full path and filename, and some other information which program to start to open the file, including compatibility information (e.g. use legacy OS APIs, reduce screen resolution or color mode etc).

To see what is in the link, simply mouse-right-click on it and choose "properties". It will display the contained information in human readable form.

These .LNK (Shortcut files) can be easily made by mistake when using drag and drop, while holding the ALT modifier key.

LNK files do not get updated when you delete or remove the target file. As Windows by default hides filename extensions, it could trap users to assume the LNK file is the complete file, and delete the target file.

LNK files are normally transparent to applications. If you choose a LNK file, Windows will redirect to the target file - but only if it is still at the original place. Other wise access will fail. In some cases, Windows offers to search for a moves file and update the link, but this is not available to all apps.

 

LNK files are still kind of useful for executables, and Windows start menu. For regular files, Windows introduced the concept of "Libraries" like Documents, Pictures etc as successor method, without removing the Shortcut legacy.

 

 

 

[NotMyFault]

On 7/16/2021 at 4:50 PM, alan_hodges said:

. A shortcut (INK file) is created but double clicking on that results in an error message saying that Windows cannot find the file.

I cannot imagine any circumstance that Photo creates a LNK file. But if the regular Windows "file save" UI is open, you as a user can create LNK files by mistake, when holding the ALT-Modifier key and dragging a filename around. The Windows creates a LNK file (not Affinity).