[Photo] Macros do not properly record COPY

[zorbtrauts]

Affinity Photo 2.1.1

When recording a macro (using image 1):

1. Select > Select All
2. Edit > Copy
3. Edit > Paste

When I apply this macro to image 2, step 3 of the macro appears to paste the copy taken from image 1, rather than the copy that should be taken in step 2 from image 2.

Step 2 does not actually appear to be recorded in the Macro studio window. It appears that rather than recording the Copy command, it is recording adding a specific selection to the clipboard.

[walt.farrell]

Yes, this is how macro processing works, in both V1 and V2. It has been discussed many times, and is working as designed, though clearly it could be improved.

Many aspects of macro processing in Photo work this way, remembering/recording results not the actions or inputs.

[zorbtrauts]

Really? This is intended behavior? Why? There doesn't seem to be a reasonable use case for this—especially considering what is lost by not being able to copy in a macro... or, by saying "working as designed" are you simply pointing out that the design was flawed?

If this has been discussed before, is there a workaround (or a plan to fix this design/implementation flaw)?

[walt.farrell]

4 minutes ago, zorbtrauts said:

or, by saying "working as designed" are you simply pointing out that the design was flawed?

That's one way of looking at it

5 minutes ago, zorbtrauts said:

If this has been discussed before, is there a workaround (or a plan to fix this design/implementation flaw)?

No workaround, and I've no idea whether Serif has any plans to fix it.

But one guess would be that they won't fix it. Perhaps the rumored forthcoming support for Scripting will eliminate the need for the macro function completely.

[carl123]

5 hours ago, zorbtrauts said:

If this has been discussed before, is there a workaround

1. Select > Select All
2. Layer > Duplicate