How do I create a text box?

[SaltyClownShoes]

In Page Plus 9X this was a simple task...

I simply Created a next text Box and clicked on "Line", in the "Fill, Line, Text Underline" toolbar, and Serif would instantly create a perfect little box for me to manipulate as I saw fit. 

In Affinity V1 and V2 ... I have no idea how to replicate the same effect.  I can create a box but that box is not it's own manipulatable text box. 

FYI have used the Serif Page Plus Method to create all manner of forms in the past and I just don't know how to do the same in Publisher.  Can anyone help? 

[Old Bruce]

34 minutes ago, SaltyClownShoes said:

In Affinity V1 and V2 ... I have no idea how to replicate the same effect.  I can create a box but that box is not it's own manipulatable text box. 

 

There are two types of text frames Art Text and Frame Text. The Art text needs to have something typed after you click on the 'page' otherwise it is dimensionless. The Frame text has no outline by default, to move it about and resize (or rescale) it you need to use the Move tool, the black arrowhead.

[SaltyClownShoes]

10 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

There are two types of text frames Art Text and Frame Text. The Art text needs to have something typed after you click on the 'page' otherwise it is dimensionless. The Frame text has no outline by default, to move it about and resize (or rescale) it you need to use the Move tool, the black arrowhead.

I need to create hundreds of Text Fields in their own boxes and array them on the page.  I was able to easily do this in page Plus X9, its seemingly impossible in the replacement software V1 or V2.  

For the love of god... I can download a program called NBOS that is no longer supported and do this (a character sheet generator for roleplaying games)... Not sure why I can't accomplish this simple task in Affinity Publisher.  

[MikeTO]

Hi Salty, Affinity Publisher can do what you need but things are arranged a bit differently. PagePlus was a simpler program with a simpler interface. I never used PagePlus but I think by Fill, Line, Text you were referring to the Swatches panel, is this right? Its first three icons? You just want to control the fill, line, and text colours of the text box you have drawn?

To do that in Affinity Publisher:

• Fill and Line: use the Text Frame (Window > Text > Text Frame) - here you will see Fill and Stroke controls that you can click to choose the fill and stroke (line) colours. This is pretty self explanatory and you can click the line control to the right of the Stroke colour to choose the stroke thickness. This Text Frame panel works on both Artistic Text and Text Frames.
  
   
• Text: the easy way to change the colour of text is to click the colour control (which I've made red in this screenshot) in the Context Bar at the top of the screen
  
  You can also use Swatches just like in PagePlus but it has more features now so it's more complicated. The circle thing in the upper left controls whether you are setting the stroke or fill. If you choose a colour while the solid circle is in front you'll change the fill (just like the Context Bar control). But if you click the hollow circle behind it and then choose a colour you'll be setting the stroke colour. Just ensure you select the right circle.
  

[firstdefence]

Why not set up a few assets for form creation. After a bit of work you can have Labels, Data fields, Notes panels etc then simply drag the required asset onto the document workspace.

You can use power duplicate to create lots of fields.

[SaltyClownShoes]

3 hours ago, MikeTO said:

Hi Salty, Affinity Publisher can do what you need but things are arranged a bit differently. PagePlus was a simpler program with a simpler interface. I never used PagePlus but I think by Fill, Line, Text you were referring to the Swatches panel, is this right? Its first three icons? You just want to control the fill, line, and text colours of the text box you have drawn?

To do that in Affinity Publisher:

• Fill and Line: use the Text Frame (Window > Text > Text Frame) - here you will see Fill and Stroke controls that you can click to choose the fill and stroke (line) colours. This is pretty self explanatory and you can click the line control to the right of the Stroke colour to choose the stroke thickness. This Text Frame panel works on both Artistic Text and Text Frames.
  
   
• Text: the easy way to change the colour of text is to click the colour control (which I've made red in this screenshot) in the Context Bar at the top of the screen
  
  You can also use Swatches just like in PagePlus but it has more features now so it's more complicated. The circle thing in the upper left controls whether you are setting the stroke or fill. If you choose a colour while the solid circle is in front you'll change the fill (just like the Context Bar control). But if you click the hollow circle behind it and then choose a colour you'll be setting the stroke colour. Just ensure you select the right circle.
  

You are wonderful!  I could not, for the life of me find how to do this in Publisher.