Adding the .exe file to other software

[Martin_1]

Hi,

I often use a screencapture program and need to adjust what was captured. In this program I can click on edit and it opens the image captured in my preferred editor.

So I wanted to add Affinity Photo as my preferred editor in the settings.

I know it's location:C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\AffinityPhoto2.exe

But when I try to add it the system says:

AffinityPhoto2.exe
This file cannot be accessed by the system.

I am unsure how to add Affinity Photo as my preferred editor now. Any suggestions?

[Patrick Connor]

Possibly because you have overlooked that username in that is actually your user name

for example mine is here

C:\Users\pconnor\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\AffinityPhoto2.exe

Some applications cannot cope with the fact this is a zero byte exe (which I think they should do), and if that is the case for your screen capture application then you may need to install the alternative MSI/EXE install from your account downloads

(If you have other Serif applications you should install ALL as MSIX or all as MSI/EXE, not a mixture)

[Pšenda]

[Martin_1]

Hi Patrick,

No I used the correct path I just gave that example as that was the one I found in the thread that Psenda mentioned.

I don't understand why this is so difficult. When I used Photsohop it was easy.

[v_kyr]

Try the intermediate aflaunch.exe prog Psenda pointed to above.

[Pšenda]

2 minutes ago, Martin_1 said:

When I used Photsohop it was easy.

As mentioned, I'm using ASuite in the MSI/EXE version, and it's easy.

[Martin_1]

Hi v_kyr and Psenda,

I am not a fan of using .exe files without eaxtly knowing what's in them, what they do and how to use them.

Besides this must be doable without resorting to using additional exe files?!

 

[walt.farrell]

Just now, Martin_1 said:

Hi v_kyr and Psenda,

I am not a fan of using .exe files without eaxtly knowing what's in them, what they do and how to use them.

Besides this must be doable without resorting to using additional exe files?!

 

You know what it (aflaunch) does, because Serif described its functions.

Beyond that, your screenshot program should be able to deal with MSIX applications (such as the Affinity version you have) and if it can't, that's a problem the developers of that program should fix.

And if they won't, then you will need to uninstall the MSIX version and install the EXE/MSIX version instead.

[Patrick Connor]

You have installed a sandboxed version of Affinity Photo via an MSIX installer. Microsoft obfuscate the installed sandboxed MSIX software in a non-visible folder, so pointing directly to the real Photo.exe file is harder.

AffinityPhoto2.exe in your first post is Microsoft's' own solution to how to access sandboxed software executable. If you install the non sandboxed version instead (as suggested above) you can point your screen capture software at that instead. The contents of the sandboxed MSIX installer is EXACTLY the same as the contents of the MIS/EXE installer (which gives you a non-sandboxed version instead, with a findable Photo.exe). If you trust one you should trust the other.

[Pšenda]

32 minutes ago, Martin_1 said:

Psenda,

I am not a fan of using .exe files without eaxtly knowing what's in them, what they do and how to use them.

As I wrote, I'm not using some "unknown exe file", but a standard MSI/EXE installation, not a sandboxed MSIX installation like you.
Your reference to working easy with PS also seems to work "easy" due to it being an MSI/EXE install, not a sandboxed MSIX install.

 

[Martin_1]

I am completely confused. I have installed Windows 11 fresh two weeks ago and used affinity-photo-2.2.1.msix to install Affinity Photo.

So what you all are saying is that this is not good and I should uninstall this and install another version? Where do I find that version?

[Pšenda]

15 minutes ago, Martin_1 said:

Where do I find that version?

My previous post, and Patrick first post?

Edited December 20, 2023 by Pšenda

[Martin_1]

Ahaaaa got it! Thanks for the help. I will give it a go.

[Pšenda]

1 minute ago, Martin_1 said:

I will give it a go.

If you don't need the advantages (but of course also the disadvantages) of sandboxing, then the standard MSI/EXE version is more convenient and easy to use with external applications.

[Martin_1]

18 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

If you don't need the advantages (but of course also the disadvantages) of sandboxing, then the standard MSI/EXE version is more convenient and easy to use with external applications.

It's a weird system that is completely new to me. I will have to remove all Affinity products it seems to make sure everything runs smooth :-(.