How to manipulate text frame shape?

[JamieT]

I have a normal rectangular text frame but want to change it to a different shape. I can’t see how to do this? It doesn't seem possible to edit the handles.

The only solution seems to be to create the shape you want first, then convert that to a text frame, but that’s pretty annoying. I already had the text frame. I didn't know the shape I wanted until later!

[bbrother]

What a coincidence. I also miss such a function, so I created a request to consider implementing it in the future.
If what I scribbled in this request is what you expect, consider voting "FOR" by adding a like or simply share your opinion in the post from the link below.

I'm glad that not only me but another person noticed this. The more votes in favor, the harder it will be for Serif to ignore the request.
Now there are two of us. Maybe others will join.

[walt.farrell]

Currently I think you would have to:

1. Cut the text from the Text Frame (perhaps duplicate the frame first, for safety).
2. Convert the Text Frame to Curves (Layer > Convert to Curves).
3. Adjust the shape using the Node Tool.
4. If in Publisher, Layer > Convert to Text Frame. (I don't remember if this is also in Designer and Photo.)
   or click on it with the Frame Text Tool to make a Shape Text object.
5. Paste the text back into the Text Frame.

[bbrother]

This type of workflow you pointed @walt.farrell is too time-consuming and inefficient.

[walt.farrell]

7 minutes ago, bbrother said:

This type of workflow you pointed @walt.farrell is too time-consuming and inefficient.

On the other hand, how often do you create a rectangular text frame and fill it and then later say "oh, that should be a different shape entirely"?

[bbrother]

48 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

On the other hand, how often do you create a rectangular text frame and fill it and then later say "oh, that should be a different shape entirely"?

Even so, it doesn't mean that there shouldn't be an easy way to do it. Why should it be such a challenge to change the shape of an existing text frame with or without text content? I leave you with this question.

[KarinC]

21 hours ago, JamieT said:

 

The only solution seems to be to create the shape you want first, then convert that to a text frame, but that’s pretty annoying. I already had the text frame. I didn't know the shape I wanted until later!

Sometimes I just have to laugh. I've been a graphic illustrator for something like 40 years. If you only realized how difficult it was to produce any type of graphics, text etc in the old days you would not be complaining of having to do an extra, tiny step or plan ahead for heaven sake. In the old days changing something usually meant starting completely over. There was such a thing as India ink erasers, but they made a mess of the vellum so you had to scrape the surface with a knife to try to smooth it out. Or you could cut out the problematic shape, with the new shape overlayed so you could put it exactly in place using a special, clear tape on the back to hold it. Usually, though you simply had to start over. People have it too easy these days which gives them plenty of time to complain.

[thomaso]

Aside from the question of whether and how often the shape of a text frame needs to be adjusted, a simpler workaround may be to keep the default, rectangular text frame and achieve the desired shape with a separate object + Text Wrap 'Inside', like so:

[JamieT]

5 hours ago, bbrother said:

What a coincidence. I also miss such a function, so I created a request to consider implementing it in the future.
If what I scribbled in this request is what you expect, consider voting "FOR" by adding a like or simply share your opinion in the post from the link below.

I'm glad that not only me but another person noticed this. The more votes in favor, the harder it will be for Serif to ignore the request.
Now there are two of us. Maybe others will join.

Lovely, done!

[JamieT]

4 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Currently I think you would have to:

1. Cut the text from the Text Frame (perhaps duplicate the frame first, for safety).
2. Convert the Text Frame to Curves (Layer > Convert to Curves).
3. Adjust the shape using the Node Tool.
4. If in Publisher, Layer > Convert to Text Frame. (I don't remember if this is also in Designer and Photo.)
   or click on it with the Frame Text Tool to make a Shape Text object.
5. Paste the text back into the Text Frame.

Thank you, good to see a solution (even if yes, it’s long-winded, but perhaps that reinforces the need for a better way!)

[JamieT]

3 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

On the other hand, how often do you create a rectangular text frame and fill it and then later say "oh, that should be a different shape entirely"?

A fair bit. This time round I was trying various different poster layouts and already had the text, duplicated from another design.

[walt.farrell]

2 minutes ago, JamieT said:

A fair bit. This time round I was trying various different poster layouts and already had the text, duplicated from another design.

OK, but you could also just make a completely new shape, and paste the text into it, rather than trying to alter the shape you already have. 

And that makes it easy to go back to an alternative one if you change your mind again 

[JamieT]

2 hours ago, KarinC said:

Sometimes I just have to laugh. I've been a graphic illustrator for something like 40 years. If you only realized how difficult it was to produce any type of graphics, text etc in the old days you would not be complaining of having to do an extra, tiny step or plan ahead for heaven sake. In the old days changing something usually meant starting completely over. There was such a thing as India ink erasers, but they made a mess of the vellum so you had to scrape the surface with a knife to try to smooth it out. Or you could cut out the problematic shape, with the new shape overlayed so you could put it exactly in place using a special, clear tape on the back to hold it. Usually, though you simply had to start over. People have it too easy these days which gives them plenty of time to complain.

So you’re saying that software developers should just stop bothering to improve software now? You’re right, it is way easier, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement! Also, when something has been possible in InDesign for years there’s always the thought of “Can Infinity really not do this or have I just not worked it out?”.

But I do in some ways miss those old days you talk about, when there was a big time and cost to make a change. It would have been nice when I worked at a publishing company and editors would request so many rounds of changes because there wasn’t really any disincentive not to do so!

[JamieT]

19 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

OK, but you could also just make a completely new shape, and paste the text into it, rather than trying to alter the shape you already have. 

And that makes it easy to go back to an alternative one if you change your mind again 

Yes, I’ll have to do that. It’s just getting used to a change after many years of InDesign. 

(The programmer side of me still wonders how, a rectangular text frame and a custom shape converted to a text frame aren’t technically the same thing and thus why they don’t behave in exactly the same way, but that’s only a question the programmers themselves can answer!)

[walt.farrell]

26 minutes ago, JamieT said:

The programmer side of me still wonders how, a rectangular text frame and a custom shape converted to a text frame aren’t technically the same thing and thus why they don’t behave in exactly the same way, but that’s only a question the programmers themselves can answer!

They do behave the same, as far as I know. 

[Oufti]

2 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

2 hours ago, JamieT said:

The programmer side of me still wonders how, a rectangular text frame and a custom shape converted to a text frame aren’t technically the same thing and thus why they don’t behave in exactly the same way, but that’s only a question the programmers themselves can answer!

They do behave the same, as far as I know. 

This is also what I observe.

Nonetheless it's interesting to note that a custom shape (Step 1.), as well as a text frame (1.bis), once converted into curves (2.) and thereafter converted to a so-called text frame (3.) –via the Layer menu– will still be editable with the Node Tool.
Actually both become a Text Path (Courber le texte in French) or a “shaped text frame”, as shown by their lateral icon.

https://affinity.help/publisher2/en-US.lproj/pages/Layers/aboutLayers.html

 

P.S. I was never fallen on this help page that explains it very well (with subsequent links):

https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/pages/Text/text_general.html

So for Text frames:

Quote

To create a text frame from curves/shapes:

1. Select a previously drawn curve or shape.
2. From the Tools panel, select the Frame Text Tool.

3. Position the cursor close to the curve or within the shape.
   The cursor will change to indicate that shaped frame text will be created.

4. Click to convert the curve or shape to a shaped text frame.
5. Type your text.

— Even though the shape is now converted to a text frame, you can still reshape the frame using the Node Tool at any time.

Alternatively, select a previously drawn line, curve or shape and then, from the Layer menu, select Convert to Text Frame.

 

[walt.farrell]

34 minutes ago, Oufti said:

Actually both become a Text Path (Courber le texte in French), as shown by their lateral icon.

In English, we have:

1. Frame Text (drawn with the Frame Text Tool)
2. Shape Text (drawn with a Shape Tool, then Layer > Convert to Text Frame or click in the shape with the Frame Text Tool
3. Curve Text (convert a Shape to a Curve. Then convert it to a Text Frame or click in the shape with the Frame Text Tool
4. Curve Path Text (draw a curve, click on it with the Art Text Tool)

#3 and #4 have the same icon in the Layers panel, but different Tool Tips.

[Oufti]

17 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

1. Curve Text (convert a Shape [or a Text Frame] to a Curve. Then convert it to a Text Frame or click in the shape with the Frame Text Tool
2. Curve Path Text (draw a curve, click on it with the Art Text Tool)

#3 and #4 have the same icon in the Layers panel, but different Tool Tips.

Thank you for this important precision.
In French, this is what we have:

3. Courber le texte
4. Texte sur courbe

 

[KarinC]

4 hours ago, JamieT said:

So you’re saying that software developers should just stop bothering to improve software now? You’re right, it is way easier, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement! Also, when something has been possible in InDesign for years there’s always the thought of “Can Infinity really not do this or have I just not worked it out?”.

But I do in some ways miss those old days you talk about, when there was a big time and cost to make a change. It would have been nice when I worked at a publishing company and editors would request so many rounds of changes because there wasn’t really any disincentive not to do so!

No, I don't think they should stop developing.

I don't miss the old days. I love working with graphics software. Everything I do is easy. Nothing is hard. I can't complain about something taking an extra step or two and the extra minute or two it would take. I used to make text boxes with a Leroy Lettering set. I never want to go back to that.