Multiple copies of the apps

[AprilSpring]

When I get an upgrade to Version 2 (whether it's for Affinity Photo, Designer, or Publisher), and install it, I get multiple shortcuts for the apps in my Start Menu, on my desktop, and in my Programs folder on Drive C. It becomes a problem to know which shortcuts to delete and which ones to keep and use. I recently noticed that the different shortcuts in the Start Menu will list the recent files I used with that shortcut. I did not realize until just a little bit ago that new shortcuts were being created with each new update and if I clicked the wrong shortcut (on my desktop or in the start menu) everything gets mixed up as to whether or not I used a correct shortcut for a specific file. How can I know which shortcuts I can delete and which affinity programs (or programs folder) is safe for me to delete? If I delete the wrong program folder, the shortcut won't work, and vice versa. In frustration I deleted all of the Affinity shortcuts and program files and started all over. Now, with the most recent Updates, I again have multiple shortcuts on my desktop, in my Start Menu, and multiple app folders in my Program Files folder. I don't want to have to delete all the apps each time a new app update comes in and then reinstall just so I'll have one shortcut in my Start Folder, one shortcut on my desktop, and one applicable program folder for each of the apps. Please help.

[walt.farrell]

That sounds like you have installed using a mixture of the MSIX-based and the EXE-based installers.

If you want the EXE-based versions, you need to be very careful when you download them that you don't take the first version you see on the page (which is for MSIX), but instead find the link for the EXE installers.

At this point, it may be best (certainly simplest) to uninstall all of the V2 applications you have and then download and reinstall a consistent set.

But if you don't want to do that, you can try this:

1. First, make sure no Affinity V2 applications are running. Then, decide whether you want the EXE- or the MSIX-based version. As the MSIX versions are the standard/default ones, if you have a mix you probably intended to have EXE-based, so perhaps that should be what you decide.
2. Click the standard Windows Start menu, and pick one of the V2 apps. Make sure you note which one it was. Start that app.
3. Start Task Manager, expand the task entry for the app you're running,  right-click the second line of the entry and choose Open File Location.
4. You will get a File Explorer window with either Program Files\Affinity\ in the path or one with WindowsApps in the path.
5. If it has WindowsApps, it's the MSIX version. Close that application and Uninstall it from the Windows Start menu. Otherwise, just close the app.
6. Move to the next one, make note of it, and repeat the process.

[AprilSpring]

Hello, Walt ... thank you for the detailed information. You are correct ... I had a mix of msix and exe on my drive. I deleted everything (all the misix and exe files), and reinstalled the apps per your instructions, including the updates, and everything is working fine. I wasn't sure which I should use - the msix or the exe. I went with exe because that's what I always received from Affinity over the years when they had the Serif apps. Is MSIX better? why? If need be, I could repeat today's work if msix is better.

I really appreciate the time and help that you gave me. Thank you.
 

[walt.farrell]

5 minutes ago, AprilSpring said:

Is MSIX better? why? If need be, I could repeat today's work if msix is better

MSIX works well for some users, less well for others, depending on their personal preferences and workflow and other applications they may use.