Affinity Publisher won't recognize PNG files on Windows Desktop

[BrendaC]

Hi

I am having a problem with both Publisher and Designer. The programs will not open PNG files, but I can drag and drop them into the window. I checked them in PS, and they open without problem, so I know it is not the files that are the problem. Hope someone has a ( simple) solution.

[EmT]

Hi @BrendaC

Welcome to the Forum. 

To be able to try and replicate this issue and find a solution, we will need a bit more information: 

Could you advise which OS you are using? 

Are you trying to open the files via File > Open, File > Place or by right clicking on the PNG and selecting 'Open With'? 

Are you getting an error message when you attempt to open the files? If so please can you provide a screenshot. 

 

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, Hens said:

Open image files is not possible in Publisher and even Photo Persona in Publisher

It is certainly possible when using Windows. Might not be possible using Mac.

However, it is true that by default Publisher will not show image files. You need to override the File Explorer dialog in Windows to get them to show.

But @BrendaC also mentioned problems using Designer, which does not behave in the same limiting way as Publisher, so it's puzzling that it is showing problems, too.

[BrendaC]

Hi

From this thread, I have learned not to expect publisher to open PNG files- which I didn't know ( I am a new user). I am using Windows 11.

I am trying to open the file using the Affinity dialogue open>open File...never thought of using open with menu.

Seems like I need to learn more about what each program will and will not do!

And, of course, Designer is opening them today! May have had too many things open & running yesterday.

 

[R C-R]

11 minutes ago, jmwellborn said:

Image files can definitely be opened - FILE.OPEN in both Publisher and the Photo Persona in Publisher with the macOS.

That doesn't work for me using macOS Catalina. Image-only file formats like PNG & JPG are greyed out & not selectable when I use File > Open in any APub persona. Both Place & drag & drop do work to add these formatted files as "(Image)" layers to existing APub documents, but not File > Open.

EDIT: it looks like the post I responded to here by @jmwellborn has been hidden.

[jmwellborn]

5 minutes ago, R C-R said:

That doesn't work for me using macOS Catalina. Image-only file formats like PNG & JPG are greyed out & not selectable when I use File > Open in any APub persona. Both Place & drag & drop do work to add these formatted files as "(Image)" layers to existing APub documents, but not File > Open.

Just deleted my post.  I jumped the gun. They don't work for me either. Stupid me. They were .afphoto files mistakenly stored about 3 years ago in PICTURES!!!   🤢  @walt.farrell  should have a field day with this one!!

FILE>Place is the way to go.  And I am now going.

[R C-R]

1 minute ago, jmwellborn said:

 @walt.farrell  should have a field day with this one!!

This seems to be a Mac only limitation, as I cannot find an equivalent to overriding the File Explorer dialog in the Mac Finder.

[walt.farrell]

3 hours ago, R C-R said:

This seems to be a Mac only limitation, as I cannot find an equivalent to overriding the File Explorer dialog in the Mac Finder.

Others have reported that Finder does not allow the same overrides as File Explorer for File > Open.

However, Finder should have some way to do an Open With function, that one of you Mac users should know about

[R C-R]

47 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

However, Finder should have some way to do an Open With function, that one of you Mac users should know about

Yes, we can do that with a right-click on the file in a Finder window & choosing "Open with ..." It is also possible to just drag a PNG or JPG onto the APub Dock icon. 

The bottom line is APub is perfectly capable of opening image files so there is no good reason for them to be greyed out in the APub File > Open window.