Cross-platform use -- Affinity Publisher

[carlophil]

I'm new to Publisher, so apologies if this has been covered before.

I have started a photo book using the Windows version of Publisher 2.0, on a desktop PC located in the U.S.  Next week I need to move to England for several months, and I'd like to finish the project while I'm there.  But the only desktop I will have access to is a Mac.

If I bring over the book file I created in the U.S., would I be able to do further work on it even though I would be using Publisher's Mac version?  Are there any incompatibility issues?  And when I return to the U.S. later, could I finish up the project on my Windows PC without any Issues?

Also, my Mac in England doesn't currently have Publisher installed.  Does anyone know whether my current Windows-version Publisher license would permit me to download the MAC version as well?

 

[v_kyr]

2 hours ago, carlophil said:

If I bring over the book file I created in the U.S., would I be able to do further work on it even though I would be using Publisher's Mac version?  Are there any incompatibility issues?  And when I return to the U.S. later, could I finish up the project on my Windows PC without any Issues?

In theorie that should all work since APub uses a platform independent shared file format here. - Though save continiously often and also make lot's of backup copies (also of all involved fonts, media/images etc. project resources too) in order to prevent for any possible gliches and data lost here.

2 hours ago, carlophil said:

Also, my Mac in England doesn't currently have Publisher installed.  Does anyone know whether my current Windows-version Publisher license would permit me to download the MAC version as well?

As far as you don't have an universal app license (...the license for all apps on all platforms) then no. But if you have instead bought an universal app license then yes. - But if you instead just bought a single APub Windows version license, you have to get/buy a seperate single one for MacOS too here then.

[walt.farrell]

To enhance the compatibility, you should probably Package your Publisher file, which will capture all the images and fonts it currently contains. Then you can open the Package on the new machine.

[carlophil]

@v_kyr and @walt.farrell -- thanks so much, your comments very helpful.

[walt.farrell]

You're welcome.

Also, a forum usage hint: If you want to "tag" someone so they are notified (if they have setup their notification options to allow that): type the @ sign and then start typing their username. You will get a popup list of matching names. Select one from the list. Then your post will contain a highlighted field, like this: @carlophil

[carlophil]

Walt  --  I did use the @ sign as you suggested.  No popup list appeared.  Unless I put that @ sign in the wrong place....

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, carlophil said:

Walt  --  I did use the @ sign as you suggested.  No popup list appeared.  Unless I put that @ sign in the wrong place....

Did you then start typing a username?

[R C-R]

4 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Did you then start typing a username?

That should start popping up a list of user names but often it will not include the user you want to tag until you type in enough letters. Once it does include that user in the popup list, you have to click on it in the list for the tag to appear.

So for example if I type an @ & then just "wal" the "Walt.Farrell" will not appear, but if I type "walt" it will appear nar the bottom of the list. When it does, I can click on it in the list to get @walt.farrell.

[kenmcd]

On 2/9/2023 at 11:25 AM, carlophil said:

I have started a photo book using the Windows version of Publisher 2.0, on a desktop PC located in the U.S.  Next week I need to move to England for several months, and I'd like to finish the project while I'm there.  But the only desktop I will have access to is a Mac.

Set a fixed leading/line height on your text styles.
Some fonts may have different vertical metrics on Windows vs. Mac.
If the fonts you use are like this, and your leading is set to Auto/default,
then your text may reflow or move vertically when moving between OSs.
If you set a fixed leading/line height, this will not happen.
 

[carlophil]

@kenmcd Well, even if the "different vertical metrics" can be fixed in the way you suggest, won't the text still look different going from one OS to the other?  This is what I was hoping to avoid.  Or is the difference too small to be noticeable?

@walt.farrell  Thanks, got it now.

 

[kenmcd]

1 hour ago, carlophil said:

@kenmcd Well, even if the "different vertical metrics" can be fixed in the way you suggest, won't the text still look different going from one OS to the other?  This is what I was hoping to avoid.  Or is the difference too small to be noticeable?

The text will look identical.
The glyph outlines do not change.
Just the vertical spacing changes affecting the amount of whitespace between lines.

If you manually set the leading to 12pt and then flow multiple pages of text with that setting - you will have a particular number of pages.
If you then change the leading to 12.5pt, the number of pages will increase.
Same for example if you have a text box in a margin - and the text fits "just right."
When the leading increases the text may run out of the bottom of the fixed box.

Some fonts may have different defaults for Windows (e.g. 12.3) and Mac (e.g. 12.1),
so when you change OS the "Auto" leading changes, and your text reflows.
If you set a fixed leading (say 12.5pt), then it is the same on both OSs.

Most modern fonts now have a setting inside the font called "Use Typo Metrics."
If this is set to On, the Typo vertical metrics will be used (the same on any OS).
And you will not experience any issues.

That's why I say "some fonts" may cause an issue.

Always set a fixed leading, and it will always work, and then none of this matters.