Full pages/chapters disappeared after converting from facing pages to single page

[acajohn29]

I think I know the cause of this, but not the remedy. I sent my manuscript for a fourth draft printing and was dismayed to find that multiple chapters were blank, (I know I should've checked the pdf after I converted it, but the three previous printings did not have this problem so I ignorantly assumed this version would be as complete as the others).

As I worked I, with some trepidation, added and deleted pages. This affected my master page placements and I had to toggle some off and add some to other text pages. Is there a way to get those vanished pages to show up when I convert the apub file to a single/non-facing page pdf file? I fear I have to start at the beginning once again. The blank pages are indeed correct in the apub file. I'm using Affinity Publisher V2 on a Mac desktop.

Thanks for your help,

John

[MikeTO]

Hi John, I'm sorry to heard you lost some pages or chapters. I don't really understand what you did or what state the document is in now so could you share screenshots that illustrate the problem?

[acajohn29]

Hi Mike,

I cut a sample from the manuscript and will attach it here. I think further clarification might help, too. All of the chapters that disappeared have one thing in common, although the text is in text frames, these chapters don’t allow me to click on certain pages to make changes, I have to click on an adjacent page then move the cursor up or down to reach the semi-inaccessible page. I originally set up generic text frames for the whole document with Master Pages, but certain pages have photos and the text frames have to be custom for those pages. 
 

Thank you,

John

example.pdf

[MikeTO]

7 minutes ago, acajohn29 said:

I have to click on an adjacent page then move the cursor up or down to reach the semi-inaccessible page.

I'd have to see the afpub file to be sure but what is likely happening is that the text is in a frame behind another text frame, so clicking in the empty frame doesn't put the cursor at the position you're clicking. If you can't share the original document, could you share a screenshot of one of these pages with the Layers panel displayed? Expand any groups such as the master group.

I suggest going to one of those pages and then using the Layers panel to select each layer one by one to see what's going on. It's also helpful if you go to your master page first and name the master page text frames because then it's more obvious which frame is which on the regular pages.

Cheers

[acajohn29]

Thanks, Mike, I have a feeling you're on the right track. I'll share the afpub file extract and if that isn't enough, I'll share the entire file.

example.afpub

[Old Bruce]

On 3/18/2023 at 10:22 AM, acajohn29 said:

... This affected my master page placements and I had to toggle some off and add some to other text pages. Is there a way to get those vanished pages to show up when I convert the apub file to a single/non-facing page pdf file?

Don't "convert", export a facing pages document to a Pages, not Spreads, PDF file.

If you still have a Facing Pages document when you export it choose All Pages instead of the Default Spreads.

In your Document which you have just posted, all the text seems to be there but is off the pages. No doubt this was caused by adding / subtracting pages and converting it to a Single Page document.

[MikeTO]

As Bruce said, the problem is you converted a facing pages document to single sided and the frames are hanging off the pages. You need to turn on View > Show Text Flow to see these frames. Covert the document back to facing pages and zoom out to see which frames are still hanging off (there will be 8 of them) and then fix them manually.

Cheers

[acajohn29]

Thanks Old Bruce and Mike.

I did what you suggested, Old Bruce, (didn't really understand the difference between a "Pages" document versus an "All Pages" document, but when I exported as "All Pages" all the pages were indeed visible and the document is not rendered as facing pages, so I believe it will not be rejected when I try to print it. I will make the fixes you suggest manually, too, Mike.

You've both brightened my mood and my day, thank you very much!

On 3/18/2023 at 12:22 PM, acajohn29 said:

 

Don't "convert", export a facing pages document to a Pages, not Spreads, PDF file.

If you still have a Facing Pages document when you export it choose All Pages instead of the Default Spreads.