Designer 2.1.0 - Linked artboards document are broken if updated

[madPXL]

Since updating to 2.1, whenever I create a new artboard in a linked (non-embedded) file, all linked items in my working file are broken with Designer: Instead of showing the linked artboard, I have the linked file preview for each linked item in my artboard file. (the linked file has multiple artboards). Appears each time I reopen the working file, not during the edit process.

So the "working" solution for me is to open the document in Photo, manually update the linked file with the resource manager, save it and open it with Designer in order to get the correct rendering of each linked element.

Looks like a bug with the Designer Resource Manager as it should update automatically if there are any changes.

[NathanC]

Hi @madPXL,

I've not been able to replicate an issue with this yet, In a new .afdesign document containing a few linked .afdesign files which have multiple artboards, If I make any changes to one of the linked .afdesign files, such as adding a new artboard and then save, this updates the resource as expected in my working document and all other linked documents retain their previous appearence. In my working document, the placed resource view was changed from a singular artboard to 'Document' so I could see all the artboards in the file.

There is likely more to this which I'm missing in my attempts to replicate this, therefore could you potentially provide me with your document and linked resources? The easiest way to do this would be to save your working document as a packaged file via file > save as package and then save to an empty folder and then send me a copy of the .zip, I've provided a private upload link below if you do not wish to share this publicly.

https://www.dropbox.com/request/sTxVpUsY2vREEiODXad2

Many thanks!

 

[madPXL]

Hi @NathanC

I forgot to mention that the bug occurs if you close the working file and reopen it!

Test files sent in the dropbox link!

[NathanC]

Many thanks for your files and additional clarification,

This still appears to be working as expected for me, this time I opened your file > double click to edit either of the linked documents > Closed down the original working file > added a new artboard and some content > saved the linked file > re-opened the working document and both placed files appeared as exactly as they were before, and I could even change the currently displayed artboard of the linked file to the new one I created with no issues.

I also repeated the same as above without closing the working file, but instead saved my linked file after adding an artboard and then closed and re-opened my working file again and everything still appeared as expected.

I still feel as if I'm missing something or this could be down to a different environmental factor, Could you possibly provide me with a screen recording which demonstrates what's happening? I've linked a brief guide below if you're unsure.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208721

Thanks

 

[madPXL]

Recording sent, hope this helps!

[NathanC]

16 hours ago, madPXL said:

Recording sent, hope this helps!

I appreciate you taking the time, thanks. I've followed each step of your recording down to the last detail, but in my case whenever I re-open the original 'test_01' working document, I find that my artboards are exactly how I left them with the correct artboard still in view and my new artboard becomes selectable from the dropdown.

I've been testing this on a Ventura 13.3.1 M1 mac, but this could be down to a difference in environment, therefore could you send me a screenshot of your 'About this mac' so I can see your specs?

Also, under Preferences > General could you let me know if 'Auto update linked resources' is enabled? I've tried with both and it shouldn't make a difference, but just want to be sure.

Thanks again

[madPXL]

[NathanC]

Hi @madPXL,

I've now repeated these same steps with your file on a few different Macs, one of which is near the same model as yours, but without any success in successfully replicating the issue so far, as reverting back to my original working document correctly updates the layer states and the correct artboard remains in view rather than the whole document.

Though, I'd like to ask does it make any difference if you change how you duplicate the artboard, such as using copy/paste instead of CMD+J/Opt + Drag? Also, if you leave the original working document open the entire time and repeat the steps, does this prevent the issue?

[madPXL]

Hi @NathanC

Have you tried closing the main working document, creating a new artboard in the linked document, saving it, and opening the main document to see the changes?

I just tried using copy/paste and got the same bug on my closed working document when I opened it.

I still don't get the notification of the linked file updated in Designer and the resource manager has no option to update the linked file in Designer.

I have to open with Photo to get both the notification and the ability to update the linked file in the resource manager.

[NathanC]

31 minutes ago, madPXL said:

Have you tried closing the main working document, creating a new artboard in the linked document, saving it, and opening the main document to see the changes?

Unfortunately so, every time I re-open my working document after adding/duplicating an artboard in the linked file and saving it is exactly how I left it albeit with a new artboard available from the context toolbar dropdown menu, so essentially exactly what should be happening unlike what's shown in your video 😐

31 minutes ago, madPXL said:

I just tried using copy/paste and got the same bug on my closed working document when I opened it.

I still don't get the notification of the linked file updated in Designer and the resource manager has no option to update the linked file in Designer.

I have to open with Photo to get both the notification and the ability to update the linked file in the resource manager.

Thanks for trying, so it appears that it doesn't matter how the artboard is created or duplicated. I also don't receive the update notification either (unless I leave the working document open and then save the linked file), when I open the working document it has just updated, but no artboard view change or additional update is needed.

I'll keep poking at it and see if any other members of the team can re-produce it.

[madPXL]

Hi @NathanC

I just found the solution: I unchecked in the settings the "automatically update linked resources when modified externally" and when I open the working document I have the notification and no corrupted elements!

If I check the option I get the missing linked file notification and corrupted elements as before.

So it looks like an inversion issue only in Designer and not in Photo on my side.

 

[admiraljuice]

I've been having a similar issue in Publisher. 

I am a sign designer, meaning that I show sign designs at varying scales on standard-sized paper sheets (usually Tabloid, or 11"x17" - I'm in the USA), with dimensions to show how big the signs are.  I am still pretty new to the Affinity suite, trying to transition from Adobe Illustrator.  I've been using Designer to lay out the sign designs, but I'm using Publisher to set up my pages for presentation, using the Master page to set up the title block that repeats across all pages.  Then on each page I place a link (or multiple links) to my Designer document, and use the Vector Crop tool as necessary to show the various views.

Because I need to work at different scales depending on the size of the sign, I set up multiple artboards in Designer, then use the drop-down list to select the artboard with the design I want to show for each placed item in Publisher.  I have Publisher set to update the links automatically so that any changes I make in Designer are reflected in my Publisher document.

I've been saving all of my work in Google Drive, and sometimes it loses connection when my Mac wakes from sleep - I was suspecting that this may be the issue.  But adding artboards to the Designer document after the Publisher document has been set up could be the culprit - this morning I was working on a project where the client wants to add some additional sign types, so I added artboards in Designer for them, then opened Publisher to find all of my placed links show the entire Designer document rather than the individual artboards, which means I have to go back through all of the pages to edit the placed files to show only individual artboards, and then tweak the size and placement of each, causing me spend time to redo work that was already done.  

[Hangman]

@NathanC,

I can certainly confirm there is an issue here...

A very quick test shows that every time new artboards are added to the Designer file and the Publisher file is re-opened, all the placed artboards in the Publisher file are reset to the first artboard and a random selection of placed .afdesign pages are then shown as missing in Resource Manager.

I've yet to test vector cropping any of the placed files...

[NathanC]

Hey @Hangman,

Any chance send me over the docs used in your recording? I'll follow the workflow you've demonstrated and will confirm if I get the same result. I've added an upload link below if you don't wish to share them publicly.

https://www.dropbox.com/request/1TIxZJUFS3z8Oyda6ju2

Thanks

[Hangman]

Hey @NathanC,

Of course, no problem at all, the files are now uploaded to the Dropbox link...

I've uploaded three files as follows:

Signs.afdesign - this is simply a source of master artwork which you can use to copy and paste onto new artboards created in the Signs Client A.afdesign though in practice simply inserting a new artboard and adding a rectangle to the new artboard and then saving the Signs Client A.afdesign file will achieve exactly the same thing.

Signs Client A.afdesign - this is the Affinity Designer file linked to the Signs Client A.afpub file.

Signs Client A.afpub - this is the Affinity Publisher file exhibiting the issue every time it is re-opened after a new artboard is added to the Signs Client A.afdesign file and resaved.

[NathanC]

Thanks @Hangman,

Just checked and found this particular artboard issue has been logged with the developers since! I can also replicate it on a new file, looks like it needs the 'Auto update linked resources' enabled for it to trigger, I'll bump the existing issue.

[Hangman]

Hi @NathanC,

Perfect, thanks for clarifying and for bumping...

[Affinity Info Bot]

The issue "Editing a linked document with multiple artboards, incorrectly auto-updates artboard selection to artboard 1" (REF: AF-28) has been fixed by the developers in internal build "2.3.0.2150".
This fix should soon be available as a customer beta and is planned for inclusion in the next customer release.
Customer beta builds are announced here and you can participate by following these instructions.
If you still experience this problem once you are using that build version (or later) please reply to this thread including @Serif Info Bot to notify us.