(AF Photo, iPad) "Save" vs. "Save A Copy"

[Mike Swartzbeck]

Sometimes AF Photo will let me "save" as I'm working; sometimes I'm forced to "Save A Copy".

There doesn't seem to be any logic to it. Is there anything I should be doing here to make the "save" option available?

[iuli]

Hi @Mike Swartzbeck,

For the Save option to appear inside the document, you must first save the document from outside the project. The Save function does not appear if the document does not have a "physical" save over which you can save over. (I hope that makes some sense.)

 

Edited June 8, 2022 by iuli
Saving a copy from inside the document it’s not enough for the save function to appear

[DM1]

4 hours ago, Mike Swartzbeck said:

There doesn't seem to be any logic to it. Is there anything I should be doing here to make the "save" option available?

When you first create a file, take the time to save it as an .afphoto/design file. Just return to the Home Screen and tap the three line hamburger icon under your files preview icon. You will see the option to Rename, Save, Close etc option. I recommend renaming first (give it a meaningful name to make it easier to find later. After naming, tap the three bars and choose Save. You now have a physical copy of your work stored in the default storage app folder. This can be on your iPad or in iCloud. There are ways to save to other folders too, but let’s not confuse the issue here. Close should more accurately be named Delete!. 'Close' actually deletes the working file stored in the apps Sandbox work area. If you haven’t yet Saved the Project, then your file is gone and cannot be recovered. However, if you have saved your file, you simply open the saved (physical) copy and the app recreates a working copy in sandbox.

When you tap on a saved files icon to open the file, (or use the Open from option), the Document menu, it will now show a 'Save' menu option above the 'Save a Copy'.

It’s worth noting that Affinity has an odd way of saving your work. Tapping Save will update the ‘physical' file, returning to Home Screen will only update the 'sandbox' working copy. So, it pays to use Document/Save frequently to avoid risking losing your work. Should the sandbox version gets corrupted, the file may become inaccessible.  ('Unable to open file' messages can lead to frustration)🙂.

On the other hand, 'Save a Copy' does exactly that. A physical copy is generated and reflects edits made up to the point of saving. Further edits to the current file will not be updated to the saved copy because it is not the file you are currently working on. Tapping 'Save a Copy' again, creates another new file and so on. Much more efficient to use Save at the beginning, then just save to your current file. You can use save a copy to generate a file to share for review/comment, so it does have its uses.

Hope this helps 😁

[Mike Swartzbeck]

On 6/8/2022 at 1:47 AM, iuli said:

Hi @Mike Swartzbeck,

For the Save option to appear inside the document, you must first save the document from outside the project. The Save function does not appear if the document does not have a "physical" save over which you can save over. (I hope that makes some sense.)

 

Thanks; this really clears up a lot.

It seemed entirely random when the standard "Save" menu option showed up.