My V2 upgrades are lost in the digital swamp

[Barbara Dj]

When I installed Affinity V1 some time ago, it settled into its place on my Windows laptop with no problems.  I just installed V2 and the program download settled itself into the documents folder.  I ran the install modules for designer, photo, and publisher.  They apparently ran successfully since at the end of each install it connected successfully with the Affinity site which acknowledged the completion of each install.  However, the files in the program folder are still V1 and I have two  copies of each install file in two different folders and no V2 program files.

My first questions is when you start the installation, what are the target folders for the actual program installers; and what are the target folders for all the extra goodies that are included in the V2 upgrade.  With that information, I might be able to retry the install and get it right.

Any help anyone can provide will be most appreciated.

[walt.farrell]

If you used the standard installers for V2, you access the programs via the Start menu, and they are physically installed in a hidden Windows folder.

Your brushes, assets, etc. will be in %USERPROFILE%\.affinity which you can paste into the address bar in File Explorer. Or paste it into the Run box you get by pressing the Windows  key and R together.

[Barbara Dj]

Thanks for your response.  Well, that the programs are in a hidden folder explains why I can't find the V2 program files.  However there are no icons on my desktop - or rather - the ones on the desktop are for V1.  However, I tried to reinstall the V2 versions.  With each app, I was immediately told that the app had already been installed and presented me with a button marked open.  All the apps opened by using the original install files, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life using the install files to open the apps.  How can I rectify this?  If I open each app through the installation file, is there a way I can get the app's icon installed on the desktop?

I have to say that this is the craziest installation of a program I have ever experienced.  But it may be the computer itself.  It's a low disk-space variety where a lot of content is stored in the cloud.  But I wouldn't think it'd store programs in the cloud. (and anyway I thought I substituted my own off-computer storage(Dropbox) for Microsoft's iCloud, and the only things that go up to Dropbox are the files I select.)

Sorry for the long answer - just trying to give as much info as I can for a solution to my problem. Also, once I get this problem solved, how can I remove V1?

You know what would be neat?  When I open a V1 app, it tells me there is an update and a new version.  Since my purchase is certified on your site, it would be nice if I could upgrade right through the open V1 - Just a thought.

[walt.farrell]

46 minutes ago, Barbara Dj said:

However there are no icons on my desktop - or rather - the ones on the desktop are for V1. 

Windows doesn't create desktop icons for Windows Store or MSIX-based apps. Users are expected to use the Start menu. You'll find, for example, Affinity Photo 2 there (same for the other 2 applications).

You can create a desktop app using the instructions provided in the FAQ, though.

 

[Barbara Dj]

The V2 apps are on the Start page.  I also got the pinned to the task bar(before recdeiving your response).  I guess all I need to know now is - is it safe to uninstall V1?  Given that there is limited space on my little computer, I would like to clear away everything I'm not going to use.

The new features of V2 are exciting, but my need right now is help with the layout of the apps' screens and the basic functions.  Could you  point me toward the most basic instructional articles for each?

I'm grateful for the information you've provided me so far.  It's helped me get the apps in a findable and operational mode. 

You know, I had switched from MicroSoft to Linux for a variety of reasons.  For the most part I don't regret it - my other day-to-day computer is still Linux.  But the Linux attempts to create art and publishing apps is dreadful.

Thanks again for all the information you have given me.

[walt.farrell]

If you've successfully imported anything (brushes, assets, etc.) from V1 to V2 that you need, and you do not foresee the need to run the V1 apps (e.g., you don't need to save any .afphoto/.afdesign/.afpub files for users of V1) then yes, you can uninstall the V1 apps.

2 hours ago, Barbara Dj said:

The new features of V2 are exciting, but my need right now is help with the layout of the apps' screens and the basic functions.  Could you  point me toward the most basic instructional articles for each?

Much of setting up V2 is like setting up V1 was, except the Studio settings are in the Window menu rather than the View menu.

The Help has an Introduction section that talks about changes. And Serif has provided a number of video tutorials about the new functions.