Can't open affinity photo files

[HollySand]

It says 'You need to authenticate before accessing this item' but I have no idea how to do this. When I try to open them it just doesn't open. Any thoughts?

[fde101]

First, don't try to open Affinity documents that are stored in a cloud service.

Copy them to your computer and open them from there.

There are a handful of other threads floating around the forums which explain why - but the short version is that trying to work with Affinity documents which are stored in cloud services can corrupt them.

[walt.farrell]

That's certainly true, @fde101, and a good recommendation.

But still, they should Open if one tries.

Welcome to the Affinity forums, @HollySand. It probably would have been better to post this in one of the Questions forums, probably Affinity on Desktop Questions (macOS & Windows) if you're using macOS as I suspect you are. A moderator can move it for you, but it's better to start there as it saves work and gets more attention from the proper staff and the users.

Please confirm which OS you're using, and when you say "it says you need to authenticate ..." please clarify what is saying that to you. What exactly have you done to get to that dialog that you showed us? And can you show us the message, too? Also, which Affinity application are you using.

Also, you might want to click the Follow button on the top right of this topic so if/when a moderator moves it you will still be able to find it easily and be notified of responses.

[fde101]

1 hour ago, walt.farrell said:

What exactly have you done to get to that dialog that you showed us?

That is the standard File -> Open dialog under macOS, in Icon view, grouped by one of the date fields.

I can easily get that by choosing "Open" from the "File" menu (except I use column view and I don't group mine or use iCloud - but if I change those view settings it essentially matches what is in the screenshot).

From that, the OP is clearly using macOS.

I am curious as well though as to what is asking for authentication.

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, fde101 said:

That is the standard File -> Open dialog under macOS, in Icon view, grouped by one of the date fields.

I can easily get that by choosing "Open" from the "File" menu (except I use column view and I don't group mine or use iCloud - but if I change those view settings it essentially matches what is in the screenshot).

From that, the OP is clearly using macOS.

Thanks. But is it also what you would see using, for example, the Finder directly? Or is that specifically the Open menu from within Photo? Or perhaps from within some other application such as Designer?

Details of exactly what was done may help figure out why the prompt is happening.

[fde101]

58 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

But is it also what you would see using, for example, the Finder directly?

Similar, but not the same.

 

59 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

Or perhaps from within some other application such as Designer?

That is possible.

 

59 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

Details of exactly what was done may help figure out why the prompt is happening.

Agreed.