Affinity Designer 1.x and 2.x are bricked o

[Ken MacAllister]

In the last couple of weeks, I have found that whenever I try to open any type of graphic image in Affinity Designer, I get the spinning ball, and when I check, the application has stopped responding, and I have to force it to quit. The same thing happens when I try to create a new image - even something like a 300 x 300 pixel blank canvas. I get the spinning beachball again and have to force quit the application. I checked for software updates, and I'm running the latest version. (1.10).

I went to your site and saw that there was a new version 2.x that was available, so I purchased that for around $100, ran it, and the same thing happens. Bricked.

I am running a 16 inch 2019 Macbook Pro with 1.5GB of UHD video RAM, and 32GB of DDR2 RAM, and running the latest version of OSX Sonoma 14.1.2

I literally can't do anything with your software, and I have been using it for many years, but for whatever reason, it's now bricked, and I just bought the new version, and that's bricked. 

I'd like someone to please tell me how I can get your software running on my machine, or refund my money and I guess the last 5 years of work that's all in Affinity files is lost to me and I have to start from scratch with a new drawing tool. This is incredibly frustrating and disappointing.

[firstdefence]

The app isn't bricked, bricked is where you try to patch low level code and screw it up so the device will no longer boot and function e.g. you can brick your Macbook, you can brick your iPhone, but you cannot brick an app.

The app is likely trying to do something with iCloud, you could try resetting the app by holding down the Control key and starting the app.

[Ken MacAllister]

It wasn't iCloud, and I didn't install any patches. When I said "bricked", what I meant was that it had become useless, completely non-functional, as good as a brick for creating graphics. Maybe you have another word for that. 

I rebooted, reinstalled, ran diagnostics, and my operating was and is completely up to date and working properly. I worked with Affinity technical support, trying to run the program in different ways, recording data, then sending crash logs to Affinity. They were very responsive and helpful and kept coming up with new things to test. This went on for weeks. Then Apple released an OS X update (14.2.1) and close to the same time, Affinity released an update for Designer (2.3.1). I installed both, rebooted, and finally Designer was back, and I could get back to work. 

I absolutely LOVE Affinity products. I love that I don't need a subscription, I love the tools and workflows. The zoom. It's a fantastic product. I work in learning and development, and often create educational diagrams, posters, web graphics, animation, and video. For 2D vector work, making icons, interface mockups, it's the best, in my opinion. I am very happy to be able to use Designer again, and look forward to what Affinity comes up with as apps switch from the now 30-year-old graphic user interface of buttons and menus to the voice, expression, and gesture interface of artificially intelligent agents.

[firstdefence]

1 hour ago, Ken MacAllister said:

It wasn't iCloud, and I didn't install any patches. When I said "bricked", what I meant was that it had become useless, completely non-functional, as good as a brick for creating graphics. Maybe you have another word for that. 

I rebooted, reinstalled, ran diagnostics, and my operating was and is completely up to date and working properly. I worked with Affinity technical support, trying to run the program in different ways, recording data, then sending crash logs to Affinity. They were very responsive and helpful and kept coming up with new things to test. This went on for weeks. Then Apple released an OS X update (14.2.1) and close to the same time, Affinity released an update for Designer (2.3.1). I installed both, rebooted, and finally Designer was back, and I could get back to work. 

I absolutely LOVE Affinity products. I love that I don't need a subscription, I love the tools and workflows. The zoom. It's a fantastic product. I work in learning and development, and often create educational diagrams, posters, web graphics, animation, and video. For 2D vector work, making icons, interface mockups, it's the best, in my opinion. I am very happy to be able to use Designer again, and look forward to what Affinity comes up with as apps switch from the now 30-year-old graphic user interface of buttons and menus to the voice, expression, and gesture interface of artificially intelligent agents.

Thanks for the follow up @Ken MacAllister much appreciated.

[Old Bruce]

1 hour ago, Ken MacAllister said:

When I said "bricked", what I meant was

When I say bricked I am referring to a piece of hardware that I have managed to damage (or destroy) the chips which control it. The term I use for software is Borked.

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

The term I use for software is Borked.

I usually use something simple like "broken."

BTW, I looked up the meaning of "Bork" in the Mac built-in Dictionary app & was surprised to learn the listed meaning & origin:

Quote

obstruct (someone, especially a candidate for public office) through systematic defamation or vilification: 

ORIGIN

1980s: from the name of Robert Bork (1927–2012), an American judge whose nomination to the Supreme Court (1987) was rejected following unfavorable publicity for his allegedly extreme views.

Go figure.

[Old Bruce]

55 minutes ago, R C-R said:

BTW, I looked up the meaning of "Bork" in the Mac built-in Dictionary app & was surprised to learn the listed meaning & origin...

I remember the hearings being news but have actually forgotten the actual reasons for him not being given the job. I just think of it as a word meaning "won't work for some arcane reason"