Grouping a Single Object / Layer

[randomjames]

Hi Affinity,

When a single layer / object selected then grouped using either Arrange > Group (or the CMD+G shortcut) or Layers panel > Group, the app creates a new, empty group instead of a new group containing the selected layer / object. This requires the user to manually move the previously selected layer / object into the new group. 

This bug is present in the standalone Photo app, not in the Photo persona within Publisher. It's also present on the Photo iPad app.

I'm on a Mac running the latest OS. I'm using Photo 2.0.3.

As you can see in the attached video, I performed six tests: 

A1. a single object selected. Layer > New Group: new empty group created, as expected.
B1. a single object selected. Arrange > Group: new empty group created, not as expected.
C1. a single object selected. Layers panel > Group: new empty group created, not as expected.
A2. two objects selected. Layer > New Group: new empty group created, as expected.
B2. two objects selected. Arrange > Group: objects grouped, as expected.
C2. two objects selected. Layers panel > Group objects grouped, as expected.

This is different from V1 for me. Performing actions B1 and C1 would result in the single object being grouped as expected in the previous version. 

Thanks!

[sfriedberg]

Speaking from experience with scripting CorelDRAW, this is likely to come back and bite us at some point in the future, namely when scripting is added.  Reasoning:  It's not uncommon to script operations on groups selected by name or by Z-position in the layer stack.  If you can't create a group with exactly one object, then you can't apply the same script that you would normally apply to a group.  In some cases, the user could set things up with a layer instead of a group (there is no requirement to have more than one object in a layer), but this is not always possible, especially when scripting a serious of operations that may move and/or create objects between layers.

[Paul Mudditt]

Agreed, this is a bug on APh V2 on iPad

[Paul Mudditt]

@Patrick Connor Bug that affects Grouping layers on stand alone versions of Affinity Photo only, macOS & iPad affected so far. Does not affect Studio-link Photo. Does not affect stand alone Designer.

[stokerg]

Hi @randomjames, @Paul Mudditt and @sfriedberg,

We do already have this logged with the Dev team.

I'll give the report a nudge and leave a link back to this thread  

[antonkudin]

right clicking on layer and clicking Group creates new empty group above layer instead of putting layer into a new group

[Mr. Doodlezz]

It's nice to know that the bug is already known and being worked on. Well … is it though?

I'm not sure how much programming and coding is involved, but reading that it works in Studio-Link, as stated by @Paul Mudditt, leads me to believe that it's something that already works and could/should be adapted for the standalone Photo app. (As far as I know, and with my very limited understanding of programming, it works like copy/paste of code snippets – but again, I obviously have no idea).

The problem has been known since December last year, so it's all the more annoying that half a year later there's still no improvement in either the current 2.0.4 release or the latest beta. But I guess adding more and more features instead of fixing existing bugs is the standard now. 😐

Especially when recording macros, I see (and experience) a great potential for error.

[Affinity Info Bot]

The issue "Grouping one object doesn't add the layer to the group" (REF: AFP-4871) has been fixed by the developers in internal build "2.2.0.1857".
This fix should soon be available as a customer beta and is planned for inclusion in the next customer release.
Customer beta builds are announced here and you can participate by following these instructions.
If you still experience this problem once you are using that build version (or later) please reply to this thread including @Serif Info Bot to notify us.