BUG - Crash when saving from all (!) Affinity programs under Ventura

[Andrew3]

When exporting data via Export Persona or normal export, there is always a crash. The export window will open and then the top will start spinning. It ends up having to exit the program. So the affinity tools are useless. Is there a solution?

my configuration
m1 MacMini 16GB, Ventura 13.1 (new install), Affinity 2.03 (new install)

[Paul Mudditt]

Welcome to the forums !

Seems like the app is trying to access a drive that is not available or a location that permission has not been granted to.

Where and how did you get the image from, a cloud folder? apple photos? drag & drop ? etc

Can you try using File then Share to Apple Photos rather than export to see if that works ok?

[Andrew3]

Hello, thanks for the answer. This happens when I want to export an afinity document to the folder where the document is located. The whole system is freshly set up, all other programs work perfectly. That's really a bit frustrating. I had to switch back to illustrator. I have no idea how to solve this...

[MikeTO]

Hi Andrew, do you have any hyperlinks in the document and are you exporting to pdf? There's a known bug that will cause pdf export to fail with invalid hyperlinks. Even a blank space at the start or end of a hyperlink can cause it to fail. If this could be your issue then use the Hyperlinks panel to review each of the URLs. Fix the offending ones, save it, and try exporting again.

Cheers

[Andrew3]

Hi Mike, no, only slices in png and jpg format are output. there are also no more linked images in the document. I had already seen this as a source of error. ... well... I don't know what to do next...

[norbinw]

Nothing. I have this issue since 2021. They did absolutely nothing! Well, they released V2, clean install, and crashes got even worse than in V1. Just today, working on a SINGLE document, I've had 6 crashes in export persona, as I tried different variants, saved, sent to client, feedback, etc. save with new modifications, crash after crash. there is NOTHING you can do, the problem is well known, but nobody gives a rats a$$. I've been sending in my crash reports like crazy, NOTHING HAPPENED. So yeah, welcome to the club  save often

[Andrew3]

wow...welcome to hell and back to adobe if you really need to do something professional...it can't be that yet. Incredible. And at the same time bad that there are more fellow sufferers and no improvement in sight....

[Paul Mudditt]

2 hours ago, Andrew3 said:

wow...welcome to hell and back to adobe if you really need to do something professional...it can't be that yet. Incredible. And at the same time bad that there are more fellow sufferers and no improvement in sight....

I also have the M1 Mac Mini using macOS Ventura as well and have zero problems with exporting.

Did you try using the File -> Share option as I asked above to Apple Photos did that work? 

Did you try using File -> Export method using SVG, PDF, PSD, JPG, PNG formats rather then the Export Persona which is only needed for specialised applications such as gaming?

Can you record your screen to show the steps you are taking when the crash occurs and I can try and repeat what you are doing? SHIFT-CMD 5 will start a screen recording.

EDIT: If it seems that it it actually macOS which is remembering 'bad' locations I just found this video useful to help steer macOS away from network drives and the like which could cause hangs if they are not available.

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by Paul Mudditt
Added macOS help video.

[agcphoto]

I can export without any issues in Designer V2 if I use the file export location presented to me by the application. The option presented to me is always the last location I used for some other operation, such as “place”.  If I try to change the export location, I get the spinning ball, and the program must be restarted.

If, before I export, I pretend to “place” an image by selecting the export location (but I don’t “place” anything), and then go to the export persona, I am presented with the file export location that I chose in my phony “place” operation.

I am using a  2017 iMac (27 inch). I am using Mac OS Ventura.

This has worked consistently.

 

[MikeTO]

Thanks for the more detailed steps. I still can't duplicate it but hopefully Serif will be able to figure it out from that.

What types of drives do you have attached when this happens? Internal drive, external drives, iCloud, other clouds?, network, any mounted DMGs?, anything else?

Cheers

[Andrew3]

1 hour ago, agcphoto said:

I can export without any issues in Designer V2 if I use the file export location presented to me by the application. The option presented to me is always the last location I used for some other operation, such as “place”.  If I try to change the export location, I get the spinning ball, and the program must be restarted.

If, before I export, I pretend to “place” an image by selecting the export location (but I don’t “place” anything), and then go to the export persona, I am presented with the file export location that I chose in my phony “place” operation.

I am using a  2017 iMac (27 inch). I am using Mac OS Ventura.

This has worked consistently.

 

That describes exactly the problem. “trying to change the export location” triggers the spinning ball.  that's a nice tip to do a pseudo import first.  i will try that.  but seriously...  this should not be the final solution;-)

[Andrew3]

1 hour ago, Paul Mudditt said:

I also have the M1 Mac Mini using macOS Ventura as well and have zero problems with exporting.

Did you try using the File -> Share option as I asked above to Apple Photos did that work? 

Did you try using File -> Export method using SVG, PDF, PSD, JPG, PNG formats rather then the Export Persona which is only needed for specialised applications such as gaming?

Can you record your screen to show the steps you are taking when the crash occurs and I can try and repeat what you are doing? SHIFT-CMD 5 will start a screen recording.

Hi Paul, i export via Export persona SVG, PDF, JPG, PNG  as standard in my workflow. It is like agcphoto describes ….
this seems to be a problem with the export location. Why this error occurs with some is not understandable, especially with a cleanly installed new system. I will try the tip from agcphoto on my own. but I expect more from a professional program. For the time being I will work through the jobs in illustrator again. I didn't have these time-consuming problems. I hope that affinity will help. I actually really like these tools;-))

[Andrew3]

Just for info: all data is stored on the m1's internal disk. No troublesome tools running in the background.

Thanks for your help!!!!!

[MikeTO]

5 minutes ago, Andrew3 said:

Just for info: all data is stored on the m1's internal disk. No troublesome tools running in the background.

While that's good to know, what types of other drives do you have attached when this happens? External drives, iCloud, other clouds?, network, any mounted DMGs?, anything else? This may be important for Serif to know.

[Andrew3]

11 minutes ago, MikeTO said:

While that's good to know, what types of other drives do you have attached when this happens? External drives, iCloud, other clouds?, network, any mounted DMGs?, anything else? This may be important for Serif to know.

Ah, ok. I use three external drives (usb c) and iCloud as well. No other network drives or DMGs are in use, when this happened. Is this information helpful?

[MikeTO]

8 minutes ago, Andrew3 said:

Ah, ok. I use three external drives (usb c) and iCloud as well. No other network drives or DMGs are in use, when this happened. Is this information helpful?

Not to me but it might be to Serif.

If you don't have anything sensitive showing in the file dialog, you might upload a screen recording showing the Export screen, clicking the button and the file dialog appearing, and then changing the export location resulting in the spinning beachball. This might help Serif figure out the exact sequence.

Thanks

[Andrew3]

Ok, I will take a Video next week;-)

[norbinw]

Honestly, I don't understand why are you guys debating this.. the issue is reported as a known bug, there is no workaround! Export persona is FKD up for some users, because "save as" works fine, every time!. They only issue lies in EXPORT PERSONA! There is nothing you can do, as  OTHER APPS WORK FINE, only Serif apps hang. I have sent tens of bug reports to serif, if they read it, good, if not, the problem will persist in V3 as well. Mine hangs immediately after I press export. I'm not even able to change folders. EVERY TIME. I get 1-2 exports after a hang, and loop. 

Started in 2021 in V1, reported it, continued in 2022, now in V2. WTF should I do? I invested time and money in Serif.. And no solution was given.

We have in common external SSD's and cloud drives, even tho we are not exporting to them! I have tried everything. At least in V1 after 2 crashes, it worked fine afterwards until an OS reboot. But V2 just loops the crash!

[Andrew3]

Quote

well, I think the vast majority of us use Affinity not only for fun and because they're great tools, but also to escape the Adobe subscription. But we also have to be able to work productively with it. So if I have to export different data formats for a website in one fell swoop, then this cannot be done using the normal export. I definitely need the Export Persona for that. If I can't rely on it 100%, then that's not good. And I have to switch to the "A" alternative again unloved. That it works with tricks, or sometimes yes and sometimes no, which is not good for professional work.

 

[Paul Mudditt]

@Andrew3I'm still trying to replicate the bug, the only time I thought I had replicated it was when I created a huge document with a large DPI. It would be good if you could upload a sample document where the problem exists just to rule out the sample documents I am trying this with.

[norbinw]

IT'S NOT DOCUMENT RELATED!!! I can work on a 1000x1000 pixel artboard or 5x5 meter artboard, the crash will happen enetually. 

I have iCloud and Gdrive, but never save to them. They are just there for other things. Even Mega file transfer all.

I just export to desktop. In V1, it worked fine after 2-3 crashes, until you rebooted the OS. For me at least, after it started to work, all affinity NEWLY SAVED files had no thumbnails. When thumbnails showed up again (after reboot), I knew it was going to happen. It was happening in Big Sur too, so it's not ventura issue. I just think they messed up the coding in export persona, and a sh!t coding + some app causes the crash. "Save as" works as should, every time!!! Export persona hangs.. I have sent in all my crash reports, nothing happened. 

I don't understand why the critical bugs aren't hotfixed.. Like this one, and the one where it randomly replaces your images in your files.. 

I send in all my crash reports, I calmly gave details about this issue when it started to happen back in 2021, yet nothing has been fixed. WTF else should I do? Send in my laptop? V1 had issues, V2 elevated the issues.. 

The least they could do is ask for logs in a separate thread, and analyse them..

I can't send you files because it happens randomly, with every file type (artboards to jpeg, artboards to pdf, etc), I can reproduce it in video, as it happens often, but whats' the point of that? It only shows how I click on export, and when Finder comes up, beachball.. 

Mods could replicate the hang in V1, it is a known bug, but apparently, management and coding is poor AF! 

[norbinw]

IT'S NOT DOCUMENT RELATED!!! I can work on a 1000x1000 pixel artboard or 5x5 meter artboard, the crash will happen enetually. 

I have iCloud and Gdrive, but never save to them. They are just there for other things. Even Mega file transfer all.

I just export to desktop. In V1, it worked fine after 2-3 crashes, until you rebooted the OS. For me at least, after it started to work, all affinity NEWLY SAVED files had no thumbnails. When thumbnails showed up again (after reboot), I knew it was going to happen. It was happening in Big Sur too, so it's not ventura issue. I just think they messed up the coding in export persona, and a sh!t coding + some app causes the crash. "Save as" works as should, every time!!! Export persona hangs.. I have sent in all my crash reports, nothing happened. 

I don't understand why the critical bugs aren't hotfixed.. Like this one, and the one where it randomly replaces your images in your files.. 

I send in all my crash reports, I calmly gave details about this issue when it started to happen back in 2021, yet nothing has been fixed. WTF else should I do? Send in my laptop? V1 had issues, V2 elevated the issues.. 

The least they could do is ask for logs in a separate thread, and analyse them..

I can't send you files because it happens randomly, with every file type (artboards to jpeg, artboards to pdf, etc), I can reproduce it in video, as it happens often, but whats' the point of that? It only shows how I click on export, and when Finder comes up, beachball.. 

Mods could replicate the hang in V1, it is a known bug, but apparently, management and coding is poor AF! 

[Andrew3]

42 minutes ago, Paul Mudditt said:

@Andrew3I'm still trying to replicate the bug, the only time I thought I had replicated it was when I created a huge document with a large DPI. It would be good if you could upload a sample document where the problem exists just to rule out the sample documents I am trying this with.

thank you Paul for your effort.  But ws cannot always be reproduced.  I tried it with different files.  I noticed that larger image formats (possibly with linked images) tend to cause problems when exporting as png or pdf.  the trick with the pseudo import is pk if you click fast enough.  but as I said, not a good solution, especially not a final one.  I will tend to use other solutions for professional use.  that's the end of the topic for me.  Many thanks for your tips and efforts!

[Paul Mudditt]

39 minutes ago, Andrew3 said:

thank you Paul for your effort.  But ws cannot always be reproduced.  I tried it with different files.  I noticed that larger image formats (possibly with linked images) tend to cause problems when exporting as png or pdf.  the trick with the pseudo import is pk if you click fast enough.  but as I said, not a good solution, especially not a final one.  I will tend to use other solutions for professional use.  that's the end of the topic for me.  Many thanks for your tips and efforts!

Thats a shame, it still would have been helpful to have a file that causes problems or recognise system conditions that trigger it. There have been several major bugs on the iPad version over the past year in iPadOS15, but surprisingly these have been fixed when iPadOS15 -> iPadOS16 without Serif doing anything. On the iPad, Apple have been doing major operating system changes to the way that virtual memory is allocated to do with Stage Manager and I suspect that was the cause of many Affinity on iPad problems. Interestingly macOS has been making changes as well with the continuing convergence of macOS and iPadOS. I see others are having ventura problems as well

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-ventura-13-2-bug-fixes-changes-and-more.2378022/?fbclid=IwAR3XbBTmIGHkQ421A0BAcj7K2eA9h2oNXRWySua6ER_IBIMLAymS2S0ZbT8

 

EDIT: macOS USB Drives, SD Cards, and Discs may not be able to be read by the system
To me this is the sort of thing that causes a hang. 

[norbinw]

It was present in Big Sur too, don't link it to Ventura! 

Also, if OS would be the issue, how come I don't have problems with Capture One, Photoshop, Final cut and so on? It's just export persona in Serif apps.