Please Improve Export Folder Behavior

[dozd]

Hello,

I work with multiple Affinity designs spread across different directories. Every time I want to export from a design, I have to manually find and select the correct export folder again - because Affinity only remembers a single global export folder. This is incredibly frustrating.

Please, consider a simple UX improvement: remember the export folder on a per-file basis, not globally.
This small change would massively improve the usability of your software * easily by 1000%!

Honestly, it feels like no one on the team uses the software the way we do, or this would have already been fixed. Having to navigate to a different directory for every single open file is tedious and extremely annoying.

Thank you for considering this!

[Granddaddy]

You call attention to one of the compelling reasons that caused me to switch to a competing photo editor for most of my work. On1 Photo Raw has a simple, flexible, sophisticated export system that is a joy to use.

Sadly, Serif has ignored a decade of user requests for an enhanced APhoto export function. Indeed, it is often argued in these forums that APhoto's deficient system is all that anyone needs, as if users themselves really do not understand their own needs. It's a sad tale often repeated concerning Affinity software.

[Bound by Beans]

On 4/30/2025 at 10:52 PM, Granddaddy said:

Sadly, Serif has ignored a decade of user requests for an enhanced APhoto export function. Indeed, it is often argued in these forums that APhoto's deficient system is all that anyone needs.

They have 25% subject knowledge, 5% experience with advanced professional software, rarely any industry experience, have never sold anything themselves, and either can only afford Affinity or are only willing to pay for Affinity — yet somehow have 150% confidence in advising 8 billion people based on that foundation. Welcome to the internet.

Yes, I could have dismissed Photo based on the export folder issue alone, but there were so many other reasons, there was a line.

On1 is probably the only program I haven’t used. I don’t need more, but now I’m professionally curious.

[ReckleyPhotos]

Yes, please! Having the Export location be something random each time (at least in my usage) is very amateur feeling as far as quality of Software. I'll add, not only remember the last Export location used, but the last Import as well! I hate trying to import batches to subsequent HDR or Stack sessions and having to retrace steps to find the Raw files every time. Very annoying.

[dozd]

It's not random. But all the locations are not stored per file but per app. But that's non sense.

Those are very tiny improvements not requiring much of the sw engineering effort improving the product UX greatly Serif Team. You shouldn't ignore it, as that means you'll be left behind. This UX are what defines good products.

[Lunity]

Get where you're coming, this has tripped me up too when juggling multiple projects in different folders. Having to re-navigate every time slows things down, especially when you’re deep in a workflow. Remembering the last export folder per file sounds like a small thing, but it would make a big difference for anyone working across several assets. Hopefully, the devs take note, because you're not the only one frustrated by this.

 

 

 

[dozd]

2 minutes ago, Lunity said:

Get where you're coming, this has tripped me up too when juggling multiple projects in different folders. Having to re-navigate every time slows things down, especially when you’re deep in a workflow. Remembering the last export folder per file sounds like a small thing, but it would make a big difference for anyone working across several assets. Hopefully, the devs take note, because you're not the only one frustrated by this.

 

 

 

 

Yes, it's super frustrating. Any reasonable dev working with their app would fix that first day working with that app.

[Meliora spero]

18 hours ago, dozd said:

Yes, it's super frustrating. Any reasonable dev working with their app would fix that first day working with that app.

The problem runs from top management down. A company that has been in the industry since 1987 but still lacks a deep understanding of customer workflows - and the real cost of interrupted or inefficient processes - ultimately doesn't understand the industry or quality in any meaningful way. That disconnect inevitably shows up in shortcomings, such as inconsistent folder behavior.

And so, from day one, they effectively shut themselves out of the enterprise market with Affinity. After a decade on the market, everyone knows - clearly and with certainty - what Affinity truly stands for, and especially what it doesn't. No marketing can fix that. Cheap or not.

[2ddpainter]

@dozd

Apart from using links to reach the desired folder.
There are a workaround I once developed by using
an AutoText tool.

Instead of clicking on the desired folder, you can also
enter a folder path in the "Open" or "Save" dialog box.
For example: F:\My Graphic Files\Affinity Files

This can be shortened using an AutoText tool which works
across the system. There are also free ones.

You use such a Tool usually to shorten "Sincerely" to "#sc".
But you could use it also for File Paths. The "#" serves to
distinguish the abbreviation from normal text.

The above example "F:\My Graphic Files\Affinity Files" could be
replaced with abbreviation "#af."

Call up "Open File" or "Save" in any program, type "#af" in the Dialog box,
the Autotext Tool will replace #af with the Path "F:\My Graphic Files\Affinity Files"
press "Enter" and you are in the folder "F:\My Graphic Files\Affinity Files".