Exporting multiple layers as one pdf

[Jillian]

Hi I have a problem that appears in Affinity 1 . I have a file  that is many layers but does not export as a full pdf of many pages , it will only export the current page. I have tried importing this into V2 but it is doing the same thing so I am assuming there is some kind of setting that is incorrect ( I am trying to import this into V2 so that I can use V from now on but I need to fix this problem ). Even in V2 can see all the layers but it will only export the current page. What do I need to do to fix this please? I am assuming I have some kind of incorrect setting somewhere? 

[GarryP]

Can you show us a full-screen screenshot where we can see both your Layers Panel, so we can get an idea of your document structure, and Export Dialog, so we can see your export settings, just before you press the Export button to export? (You might need to get two screenshots for us to see all of your Export Dialog settings.)

Also, do you want a solution that works in V1 or V2, or both (if one is available in either)?

[Jillian]

Hi

Here are the screenshots, I think the problem lies in V1 because if I import it into V2 it does the same thing. I do not mind which version will work so long as I can fix the problem 

Thanks

[GarryP]

Thanks for the screenshots.

We can now see that you are using Publisher, rather than Designer or Photo, so that’s a good start.
We can also see that the export file type is PDF and that Area is set to Whole Document (second screenshot) so that should do what I think you want.

In your original post you said “I have a file that is many layers...”, did you mean pages instead of layers, or did you mean Layers (with a capital “L”), or just layers?

When you say “...it will only export the current page”, how did you find this out? In other words, how are you viewing the exported result (which software) and did you try scrolling up/down or using some other kind of page-turn functionality?

When you said you “have tried importing this into V2”, how did you “import” it? Did you open the document, or did you use the Place functionality, or something else?

Would you be able to publicly share the exported file here?

[Jillian]

Yes, I am using Publisher, sorry I should have said so. This is layers and not pages. I am attaching my export page ( you will see it is just one page and not the  whole document. 

I used the open document when I tried V2, so the document opens with all the layers there but exporting it as a pdf also only gives me one PDF page and not the whole document.

[GarryP]

Is there some reason why your screenshots are not of the full screen or application window? They all seem to be ‘cropped’ strangely, especially to the bottom and left.

When I asked for the exported file I meant the file which you got as a result of the export process, not a screenshot of you viewing that file. Would you be able to share the actual PDF file?

Edit: I have a feeling that there could be some confusion over layers and pages here but I need more information.

Also, can you supply a screenshot where we can see your Pages Panel?

If you can publicly share the actual AFPUB file then that would be great but I understand that you might not want to or be able to.

Edited January 17, 2024 by GarryP
Added note.

[Jillian]

Hi, sorry its me just taking a screen shot of  what I thought was necessary but I have now taken the whole page now. This is not set as pages only as layers. Is that why? 

I have included the Afpub file

Home Garden Planner1.afpub

[GarryP]

Thanks for attaching the AFPUB file, that makes it much easier to see what’s going on.

If you only have one page to export to PDF then the whole document can only export as a PDF with one page.

What is it that you want to achieve?

[Jillian]

Ok thanks, obviously I have set this up incorrectly. I will need to try create a new document and copy these layers onto pages in the new document. 

Thanks for your help.

[GarryP]

You’re welcome.

If you can explain what you are trying to do then someone can probably advise on a good way to do it, especially if they have done pretty much the same thing before and know of any potential pitfalls.

[Jillian]

I am trying to create a multiple page planner. Obviously my knowledge is minimal and I need to learn how the setup actually works. 

[GarryP]

That doesn’t give us much to work with as “multiple page planner” could mean lots of different things to different people.

If you have an example you can point us to on the web then a link to it might be useful.

Or a photo of an existing planner which you would like to replicate could be handy.

Or, you could search these forums for planner or calendar (two separate single-word searches) to see if anyone else has made something similar. (If someone has shared a template, and if they are still active in the forums, they will probably be able to help with any modifications you want to make - just ask a question in the thread where you found the template.)

[Hangman]

Hi @Jillian,

Probably the easiest and quickest way to achieve this would be to change your Publisher document to non-facing pages in the Document Setup window (just uncheck facing pages on the Layout tab) and then duplicate the single page you already have 53 times since you have 54 effective pages in your file...

If you select Page 1 in the Pages panel and click the 'Duplicate Selected Pages' icon to the right of the 'Add Pages' icon at the top of the Pages Panel (not the Master Pages Panel) this will give you two identical pages.

Select both Pages using Shift Select and again click the 'Duplicate Selected Pages' icon to give you four pages, select all four pages and repeat to give you eight pages and so on until you have a total of 54 pages.

Now the slightly laborious part is to delete the relevant grouped layers on each page so you end up with just one of your designs per page over the 54 pages. This is actually not so bad since you've labelled each group which makes it a million times easier to keep track of what you're doing... You can use a combination of Shift Click and/or Cmd (Ctrl) Click to select the relevant layers in the Layers panel, making selection pretty quick and then click the Trash icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel to leave just one grouped layer per page and repeat for all 54 pages.

If your document is designed to use facing pages you can now revert it back to a facing pages file...

Save your file and then export to PDF by selecting 'All Pages' (if you want individual pages) or 'All Spreads' (if you want facing pages) in the PDF export window along with any other PDF settings you require and this will give you a PDF file with one 'design' per page...

[Jillian]

Thanks so much, I will give this a try.