How do I access the Text Frame Panel in Publisher version 2

[clarityinchaos]

Recently purchased version 2. I have created a text frame and have selected 3 columns. I can move these around by dragging in the gutter but I wish to use exact measurements. In the publisher v2 help, it says, and I quote: "

1. Do one of the following:
   •  On the Frame Text Tool's context toolbar, select Text Frame.
   • From the View Menu, select Studio>Text Frame.
2. From the panel, edit stroke/fill, adjust columns/gutters, add/remove column rules, alter vertical alignment and switch on baseline grid.

 

So where is it? Studio isn't in VIEW it is in WINDOW and there is no text frame option where I can see how to adjust the individual column widths. Come on Affinity, at least provide an accurate manual.

 

Any help gratefully received.

[walt.farrell]

6 minutes ago, clarityinchaos said:

In the publisher v2 help, it says, and I quote: "

I'm pretty sure it doesn't say that. I think you're probably looking at V1 help info, perhaps found by a web search rather than by looking in the application or looking at https://affinity.help and searching there. If so, can you provide the URL?

In any case, yes, it's in Window and specifically in Window > Text.

[clarityinchaos]

Hi Walt,

I am in Publisher version 2.04. If I click on HELP > AFFINTY PUBLISHER 2 HELP on the program, this is exactly what I get!

If I select WINDOW > TEXT as you suggest it simply gives me five options: Paragraph, character, text frame, etc. It doesn't give me a dialogue box with any options to adjust the column widths, etc.

I also can't find any link to an up to date manual anywhere. Very frustrating.

[clarityinchaos]

I have all the frame text box ticked in WINDOW > TEXT but I can't access the box (attached).

 

[clarityinchaos]

Okay I have left the program and started it up again and hey presto the panel is there 😡

[v_kyr]

13 minutes ago, clarityinchaos said:

I also can't find any link to an up to date manual anywhere. Very frustrating.

• Fitting text to frames

  Publisher provides several methods for fitting text to frames.

• Frame Text Tool

  The Frame Text Tool allows you to add a text frame which acts as a container for paragraph text.

• Frame text

  Use frame text for paragraphs with a formalised structure and layout.

• Text frame setup

  Set up more complex text frames with the Text Frame Panel.

• Text Frame panel

  The Text Frame panel structures the layout and presentation of your text.

• Linking text frames

  Use linked text frames to flow story text from frame to frame.

• Flowing text through frames

  Find out how to shrink, link or autoflow frame text.

• ... and so on, see the online help to Apub V 2 ...

[walt.farrell]

31 minutes ago, clarityinchaos said:

I am in Publisher version 2.04. If I click on HELP > AFFINTY PUBLISHER 2 HELP on the program, this is exactly what I get!

Thanks. Please provide a screenshot showing how you got there, so we know what section you're looking at.

[clarityinchaos]

It seems fine now. It was only when I exited the program and restarted it that it miraculously appeared. 

[walt.farrell]

9 minutes ago, clarityinchaos said:

It seems fine now. It was only when I exited the program and restarted it that it miraculously appeared. 

Yes, but it would be good to locate and report the erroneous Help text.

[laurent32]

It might be :

[anchinnk]

I am currently trying to set up a very simple document in Publisher 2. 

I could do it quicker in Word, but I'm trying to learn how to use Publisher for more complex documents later.

The elusive Text Frame panel is driving me spare. 

I have been through all the comments and instructions here but I do not see it anywhere. It's no doubt hidden somewhere but I have no idea where.

The option Window -> Text -> Text frame is ticked.

If I untick it and tick it again, I see no change at all in my GUI.

Therefore, my logic suggests, it is there, but hidden. 

Where should I look next?

Closing and reopening Publisher does not make any difference 😞

I'd be grateful for handy hint.

Alan

[GarryP]

Three possibilities spring to mind:
1. The panel is there but its title has been abbreviated (maybe to “Frm”), making it harder to find;
2. The panel is in a Studio which isn’t visible; use menu “Window → Studio → Show Left/Right Studio” to see it;
3. The panel is off-screen on a different (now-unconnected) screen.

[anchinnk]

Hi GarryP

Many thanks for your thoughtful response.

Number 3 can be discounted because I only use this program on one screen.

I checked the points referred to in 1 and 2 and still cannot see what I'm looking for. I'm attaching a screenshot of my Publisher GUI.

THEN I had a brainwave.

Oh dear, terribly sorry for being so dense....

If there aren't any frames active (i.e. clicked), it won't show.

NOW I see it. 2nd screenshot.

As penance, I'll spend 5 minutes looking at an Adobe InDesign screen. (That'll hurt).

Ta very much for clearing the cobwebs and triggering the right grey-matter nodes.

All solved.

Have a good Sunday. 

 

[markw]

6 minutes ago, anchinnk said:

THEN I had a brainwave.

Oh dear, terribly sorry for being so dense....

If there aren't any frames active (i.e. clicked), it won't show.

Not to worry, if not exactly this, then we have all at some point had a similar moment of brain fog!🥴

[GarryP]

Glad you’ve managed to get it sorted but I’m curious about the bit where you said:

15 minutes ago, anchinnk said:

If there aren't any frames active (i.e. clicked), it won't show.

I created a new document, with no Frame Text layers (or any other layers) in it, and I can display the Text Frame Panel as expected – as can be seen in my attached screenshot. (I normally have it permanently pinned to my Right Studio where it is always available.) I can also see the panel, and make it in/visible, when no document is open.

That’s got me wondering what the actual cause of the problem was, or whether I’m not understanding the problem correctly. (Or maybe it’s a Mac-only problem?)

[theGoodLord]

hi,

 

i have this issue, on 2.5.3, new to the software, where is the text frame? - window>text>has no text frame option, and there is no text frame panel anywhere, with or without a text frame selected, in a new document.

[GarryP]

Welcome to the forums @theGoodLord

The Text Frame Panel is only available in Publisher, not Designer or Photo.

[theGoodLord]

8 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Welcome to the forums @theGoodLord

The Text Frame Panel is only available in Publisher, not Designer or Photo.

thank you, is there then any way to stroke the text frame in designer?

[GarryP]

There may be some ‘tricks’ that don’t come to mind at the moment but there’s no ‘official’ way that I know of to add an outline Stroke to a Frame Text layer in either Designer or Photo.

One way to ‘spoof it’ is to add a rectangle (same size or larger than the Frame Text layer, as needed) below the Frame Text layer in the Layer Stack and add the Stroke to the rectangle.

If anyone has any other ideas then they might tell you.

[paleolith]

On 7/3/2024 at 8:37 AM, GarryP said:

The Text Frame Panel is only available in Publisher, not Designer or Photo.

I think this is the clue to all the confusion. Combine this with the Persona buttons at the top left and you have a recipe for stew -- because to switch to Designer or Photo, you don't have to launch those, just switch to that Persona.

I just spent half an hour trying to find the Text Frame panel (in Publisher), which I knew I had used before, and not long ago. Like others who posted, I simply didn't see Text Frame as an option under Window -> Text.

Then I switched to another document that I had open, and the Text Frame panel appeared, along with the submenu option. I moved the Text Frame panel so it could not be hidden by anything else, switched back to the previous document, and whoop the panel is gone.

Combined with the quoted comment, I finally looked at the Persona buttons. Seems that a couple of days I had gone to Photo persona while trying to do something (unsuccessfully), but afterward was able to continue working with my Publisher document without switching the persona back to Publisher -- until I needed the Text Frame panel

So I'm fine now, but perhaps posting this will save someone else from the frustration..