Ctrl + Z = No changes = No need to save

[CreativeNode]

Hello,

I would like to request a small feature, unless I've missed this somewhere. When I open a document, I often want to simply copy a layer and paste it into another document. The only action I'm taking on that first document is to click to select the layer. If I then attempt to close that doc, I'm prompted to save the changes. Even if I Ctrl + Z to undo the layer selection, I'm still prompted to save the changes. Coming from other programs, I was used to being able to escape those changes and close documents quickly. Would it be possible to add this as a feature (or option) in Photo? 

Thank you.

[fde101]

Hi @CreativeNode, welcome to the forums!

I suspect this is related to the way history is tracked in Affinity documents.  The history is branching - even if you undo a change, then do something else, the history of the action you used undo on remains in a separate history branch you can return to later.

As documents can be saved with history information, if this option is enabled, then you did in fact make a change to the document which would be saved as part of the document - it was pushed into history, but it is still there behind the scenes, so I believe the prompt is appropriate when the option to save with history is enabled.

However, based on an experiment I just did, the prompt is still presented even if that feature is NOT enabled.  I would tend to agree that it is not necessary in that situation, as saving the document would result in no changes, so I would agree with your request conditionally, based on that setting.

[CreativeNode]

@fde101 thank you for the welcome. And now I've read up on the "Cycle future" option in the history panel -- new to me. I'm still reading the manual, so this is good info to know, thanks! And you're absolutely correct -- I don't have the option to save history with the document selected, and the save behavior is the same either way. This isn't a critical request, but maybe it'll be considered for a future release. 

[CreativeNode]

I just wanted to return to add an idea, and maybe a feature request. It may be helpful to have a "Save without changes" (good) or a "Close without saving" (better) menu item. Currently, Ctrl + W (Close) asks, "The document is about to close, would you like to save your changes?" with the options of Yes, No, Cancel. Of course, No means "I'd like to close this document without saving my changes." I often open a document to do nothing more than view it, then select + copy a layer, then close it. With no other changes made, I'd like to close this document very quickly. The prompt slows this process down for me. An option specifically for closing a document without saving any changes -- no prompts needed -- would be helpful. Also, it seems the keyboard shortcut of Ctrl + Alt + S is available for such an option.

If this option seems too radical, a post prompt could be helpful: Ctrl + Alt + S, then a prompt saying "Close document without saving?" and Yes/No options, where the Enter key = yes, and Esc = no, do nothing.

Side note: I'm not sure if anyone else does this, but even though I know I don't want to save any changes, just the very presence of the prompt makes me read it then spend a moment contemplating carefully on which option to select as to not make a mistake.

Thank you.

[CreativeNode]

(If this post is deemed to be a bug, please feel free to move it to the appropriate forum.)

I just ran into something possibly related, I'm not sure. This is when attempting to save a format other than .afphoto. I'll try to list the steps and the issue:

Open a PNG file, or several. Use a macro to resize the canvas (my macro consists only of resizing the canvas to a specific size -- 1 step). Then manually resize the layer. Then Ctrl + S to save the PNG. Happily, and as expected, there is no prompt noting that I've made changes, EXCEPT there is.. sometimes.

Sometimes Ctrl + S saves instantly and without prompting. Other times, it saves the document, but when I then select Ctrl + W I get the prompt, although I did the exact same steps for all the documents I had open and no other steps were taken. When I do get the prompt, if I Cancel and THEN try Ctrl + S & Ctrl + W again, it saves & closes without prompting (I Esc the prompt and try Ctrl + S then Ctrl + W again because that workflow feels more seamless than finding my cursor and manually clicking the prompt). Odd? Related?

[Old Bruce]

Not sure about the Windows OS but on Mac I just use the system default Command + D for Don't Save. Some software has this changed to Command + delete (the backspace, not the forward delete).