Saving Interface Layouts

[ZufDraw]

+1

[jaftwo]

Since the program obviously already saves the current configuration upon exiting and loads that configuration upon starting, all that's needed is code  to "save configuration as" and "load configuration".  Why is that so difficult? (✿◕‿◕✿)

[walt.farrell]

4 hours ago, jaftwo said:

Since the program obviously already saves the current configuration upon exiting and loads that configuration upon starting, all that's needed is code  to "save configuration as" and "load configuration".  Why is that so difficult? (✿◕‿◕✿)

Something a delay in implementation is not due to something being difficult, but merely to it having a low priority among all the other things that Serif is working on. Or, sometimes, it really is more difficult than we might realize, since we can't see the code

In this case, Serif have said that we should watch for an implementation of studio presets in the 1.9 beta. With luck that will satisfy this request.

[thomaso]

17 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

not due to something being difficult, but merely to it having a low priority (...) more difficult than we might realize, since we can't see the code

I understand this thought concerning priority and effort for bug solutions. ... But compared to the complexity of the new "New..." window an UI for saved panel sets appears...

[ZufDraw]

Fingers crossed. I recently lost my layers panel and had to reset my (meticulously created custom made.. ;0) layout.. About priority, I agree there are more important issues. Like Contiguous filling with all layers (and one that does not crash on big files) ...

[jaftwo]

1 hour ago, walt.farrell said:

Something a delay in implementation is not due to something being difficult, but merely to it having a low priority among all the other things that Serif is working on. Or, sometimes, it really is more difficult than we might realize, since we can't see the code

In this case, Serif have said that we should watch for an implementation of studio presets in the 1.9 beta. With luck that will satisfy this request.

Yes, I understand that and realize my post was a bit "pushy".  This request is three pages long and was started in 2017.  I'll have a look at how the config is saved now and make a backup script to restore it for now.

[thomaso]

18 minutes ago, jaftwo said:

I'll have a look at how the config is saved now and make a backup script to restore it for now.

In case you are in Windows this might help:
 https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/93612-windows-spaceman-workspace-manager-for-affinty/

[jaftwo]

15 minutes ago, thomaso said:

In case you are in Windows this might help:
 https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/93612-windows-spaceman-workspace-manager-for-affinty/

Thanks, I'll give it a look.  However, if the developers of Photo change the format of the xml code, it may not work, so keeping a backup of WindowProfile.xml is the way go for now.

[Zoprzero]

+1 To saving an interface layouts. Adding to that, sharing the layouts in round-tripping. If I set up my interface in Photo with a bunch of my palettes on my second monitor I would also like it if that information was a global pref that Publisher can read. It's annoying when I'm in Publisher and I click on the Photo button and all of my palettes that were arranged with care are no longer in place. I'm back to the default UI for Photo.

[D_WW]

On 5/19/2020 at 4:00 PM, thomaso said:

In case you are in Windows this might help:
 https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/93612-windows-spaceman-workspace-manager-for-affinty/

I'd just like to confirm I've tried this Spaceman program on Windows (with Photo) and it runs fine, but there are a few points to it working:

1. You need to exit your current Affinity window to "save" your existing layout.
2. Then run the spaceman.bat (don't run as admin, it doesn't need it)
3. Save the backup as whatever you like, but it's best not to use spaces. For example, I named mine: affinity-photo-workspace-1
4. Open Affinity again and if you want to test the backup works, go to Views > Studio > Reset Studio
5. Run the spaceman.bat again and restore the backup you created

(NB. This doesn't work on MacOS)

Remember that in the same place (probably Downloads) you opened the spaceman.bat and created the backup, there will be a folder called "Workspaces". You need to make sure that is in the same location when you open spaceman.bat to restore the workspace backup (but spaceman.bat shouldn't be in the Workspaces folder)

To keep it simple, I created a folder in Program Files called Affinity Spaceman (like this: C:\Program Files (x86)\Affinity Spaceman), see image:
 

Edited June 7, 2020 by D_WW
Edit1: Added Quote to Spaceman link. Edit2: Made instructions clearer

[Snap]

Is this a feature yet? It's mid 2020

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, Snap said:

Is this a feature yet? It's mid 2020

Serif have hinted they've implemented something in 1.9, but we don't know for sure when the beta for that release will be available.