Open dialog (Photo, MacOS)

[tomber]

Please improve the open dialog.

- Allow to change the size of icons 

- Add possibility to search/select based on meta data (e.g. only [file type] created on [date] created in [location]).

[MikeTO]

55 minutes ago, tomber said:

Please improve the open dialog.

- Allow to change the size of icons 

- Add possibility to search/select based on meta data (e.g. only [file type] created on [date] created in [location]).

Hi Tomber, Affinity uses the standard macOS file dialogs. There is no way to change the size of the icons in these dialogs. Affinity uses them just like Apple's own software does so compare it to Numbers, Pages, and other Apple apps.

If you want to filter the list of files based on file type, just type the file type into the Search field in the dialog's upper right corner. It works even if the file extension is hidden for a file. However, after you type something like tiff or jpg and press return, macOS changes the search from the current folder to "This Mac". You have to click the button to its right which will have the name of the folder on it.

There's no way that I'm aware of to filter based on date created or location but if you switch to List view you can sort based on creation date.

Cheers

[tomber]

Would be great if a non-standard open dialog would be used/developed.

Or, even better, a separate application to organize photos/documents and open them in A-Photo (and other Affinity SW). (I for one would be willing to pay for it.)  

 

[MikeTO]

9 hours ago, tomber said:

Would be great if a non-standard open dialog would be used/developed.

Or, even better, a separate application to organize photos/documents and open them in A-Photo (and other Affinity SW). (I for one would be willing to pay for it.)  

I think many of us would hate for Serif to abandon the standard Apple open and save dialogs - I think what you want is the separate app, a digital asset manager. A lot of us would like that and there is a long thread on the forum asking for it.

[loukash]

10 hours ago, tomber said:

Would be great if a non-standard open dialog would be used/developed.

No, it definitely wouldn't, thankyouverymuch.  

If you want to enhance MacOS open/save dialogs, I can only recommend Default Folder: stclairsoft.com/DefaultFolderX
I can't do without since 2010.

[dvoth]

You can see the previews of images in the open dialog box: with "Icons" and "List" select a file and press the space bar or use "Columns" and select an image. In the Finder you can switch to gallery view of a folder that shows previews. There is also other software that will display the previews that you can then open in Affinity software.

[fde101]

20 hours ago, tomber said:

Or, even better, a separate application to organize photos/documents and open them in A-Photo (and other Affinity SW)

You already have one: it is called the Finder.

You can organize your photos and documents into folders, search for them by file name (and type as needed, as was pointed out above), view them in several different ways (including icons which CAN be scaled, plus the gallery view), and open them directly in the Affinity Software by dragging them into the app's window, double-clicking on them if they are native Affinity documents, or right-clicking and choosing Open With -> Affinity Photo 2.

 

 

20 hours ago, tomber said:

(I for one would be willing to pay for it.)

If the Finder doesn't meet your needs, check out any of the numerous DAMs which are out there: Capture One Pro, DxO PhotoLab, On1 Photo RAW, and various others are around which can do RAW processing and some basic retouching directly without needing to open the photos in the Affinity software, but can then open a developed copy of the image in the Affinity apps for more detailed editing when that is needed.

Note that there are limitations to the compatibility offered when round-tripping with these apps; how that will impact you depends on your specific requirements and workflows.  For most of what I do a PSD round-trip from any of those three to Affinity Photo works just fine for the vast majority of my photo work; others find the PSD compatibility limitations to be more of a problem.

[tomber]

12 hours ago, MikeTO said:

I think many of us would hate for Serif to abandon the standard Apple open and save dialogs - I think what you want is the separate app, a digital asset manager. A lot of us would like that and there is a long thread on the forum asking for it.

Yes, I guess that would be the best solution. Looks like many are happy with the standard functions provided by Apple, so a separate app solves both needs. I did not find the "long thread on the forum", otherwise I would not have opened this thread. Maybe you can send me the link?

[MikeTO]

41 minutes ago, tomber said:

Yes, I guess that would be the best solution. Looks like many are happy with the standard functions provided by Apple, so a separate app solves both needs. I did not find the "long thread on the forum", otherwise I would not have opened this thread. Maybe you can send me the link?

I didn't find it myself but if you search on DAM or "Digital Asset Manager" you'll find a lot of threads as this is a very common ask.

Cheers

[tomber]

26 minutes ago, MikeTO said:

I didn't find it myself but if you search on DAM or "Digital Asset Manager" you'll find a lot of threads as this is a very common ask.

Cheers

Wow, discussions started already at least as early as 2015 and Serif is ignoring it? Hmm...

[MikeTO]

10 hours ago, tomber said:

Wow, discussions started already at least as early as 2015 and Serif is ignoring it? Hmm...

They're not ignoring it. I think they said a few years ago that they'd like to create a DAM but they're focused on their current applications. Lots of people would like Serif to create lots of programs, and while I'd like to free myself from Lightroom, I'd rather have more improvements to Publisher first.

Cheers

[tomber]

11 hours ago, MikeTO said:

They're not ignoring it. 

 I think they said a few years ago that they'd like to create a DAM ...

Cheers

After eight years waiting I loose confidence and related comments from Serif do look like lip service to me. I guess Serif does not see a commercial benefit in developing and maintaining a DAM.

And unfortunately the standard Apple Open Dialog (icons option) 'sucks' in a photo app - especially as in a Finder window it is possible to increase the icon size.