Issue with inserting and shifting pages in Affinity Publisher

[M.K.]

Hello,

I encounter a problem when inserting or shifting pages in a document, using Affinity Publisher version 1.10.1.1142. I do not have the English interface activated, yet I hope that it is clear what I mean nonetheless.

I have a document with 4 pages and two double-sided Master-pages/layouts (one for "regular text" in a book and one for pages with chapter introductions). The chapter introductions include a title image. That works all well and good, yet the issues arise when I want to add more pages or shift the pages that I have:

When inserting new pages (e.g., 4 new pages) before the first page, I suddenly have 5 blank pages at the beginning of the document and my text is on the remaining 3 pages. Needless to say that the text on the very last page does not fit anymore. Also, my chapter introduction page is suddenly on the left side (instead of the right side where it has been before inserting the new pages), the text frame has been adjusted to another layout automatically and my image is simply gone.

Something similar happens when I insert new pages at the end and then try to shift those new pages to the beginning of the document. However, the text does strange things there - when shifting one of the new pages to the beginning of the document, the end of my text is directed to that page - which means that the end of the text can be read before the beginning.

I am relatively new to Affinity Publisher and this mightily confuses me. Shifting and inserting pages is something that I am used to from other professional layout programs. Is this some kind of bug? Or can someone explain to me what to do differently, like that Affinity Publisher has a special way of inserting and shifting pages that have a Master Page assigned to it?

Thanks in advance,
Maria

[Old Bruce]

The reason for this is that we put a new blank page onto the first spread which is the first page all on its own. The Master page chosen for the new pages is forced onto the first pages's spread instead of only the lefthand side.

[M.K.]

Thanks for the explanation, Old Bruce.

Do you have a workaround, i.e., how to add and shift pages without these things happening? As of now, this sounds to me like I have to plan every single page in the book in advance before working with Affinity Publisher.

[Old Bruce]

3 hours ago, M.K. said:

I have a document with 4 pages and two double-sided Master-pages/layouts (one for "regular text" in a book and one for pages with chapter introductions). The chapter introductions include a title image. That works all well and good, yet the issues arise when I want to add more pages or shift the pages that I have:

Just to be sure that we are on the same page here. When you say "double-sided" you mean one Master-Page that is a Facing Pages Spread. Not a pair that would make Double-sided as in inside outside.

[M.K.]

I have two sets of Master-pages, both of them with a left and a right page. So yes, facing pages.

[Old Bruce]

For your example of adding pages at the front of the book I add pages using None for the Master and then go and apply and reapply the masters after the fact.

Frequently I will make a pair of single page Masters for the First page and Last page. Taking as a given we are using Facing Page layouts and an even number of pages so the first page is a single page spread as is the last page. This is tricky to do properly because Publisher assumes the single page Master will have the margins of Left and Right instead of Inner and Outer from the most recent Master Page.

I only do the Singles if I am going to be adding several documents into a larger document.

The Master Pages for a single page (first or last) will be applied correctly until you add a page to it and that page has a different Master specified.

Try Naming all your layers on the Master Pages. Keep all the names the same for the same things. Changing Masters is easier then. Notice how some things are turned off in the Head and foot master page which is applied to the Start on Right... pages.

   

[M.K.]

Thank you very much for explaining how you do those things - and the effort to make screenshots and all!

I think I now understand these things better and I will find ways to work with them and Affinity Publisher (and, if I get lost, I will come back to this post and see how far I get).