There is currently an issue in that AP installs as a "Store" app and that means that the expected .exe file is not readily available. This beaks programs that only allow .exe files to be added for extra functionality eg DXO Photolab "Export to Application", hardware devices like the Stream Deck.
Serif are aware of this issue but have disappointedly come back with "it's up to the other people to find a solution".
Our developers have been investigating this, and have confirmed the following:
Certain applications do not like using the generic %LocalAppData% path, instead please try the following:
- Affinity Photo V2:
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsAppsAffinityPhoto2.exe
- Affinity Designer V2:
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\AffinityDesigner2.exe
- Affinity Publisher V2:
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\AffinityPublisher2.exe
They have also confirmed that these are 'execution alias' .exe files, and some third party applications don't yet appear to be compatible with these - unfortunately it is down to each third party app to support execution alias .exe files when launching external applications.
I hope this clears things up!
I can't see the path for Affinity Photo on my Win 10 Pro machine and I have show hidden files selected in File Explorer, how many can see this path?
This incompatibility breaks the workflow in many instances and I would have hoped Serif would have been more supportive. Certainly worth checking if this will impact you.
Ian
What is the purpose (Reason) for installing as a "Store" app ?
This is what Affinity has to say about why they are installing as an MSIX "store" app:
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/in...why-are-we-using-msix-for-windows-installers/
From the list, it looks like it was good intentioned, but obviously they missed some compatibility issues with other apps. I think the Affinity folks are more than competent and will get this sorted out in time. I am a bit surprised that this issue didn't arise in their beta testing.
I've had to use the batch file work-around in one place, but haven't figured out how to make things work with Capture One v22 yet other than manually selecting the batch file in the file system (which is quite inconvenient) every time I want to do "Edit With" from inside of Capture One v22.
AP2 worked fine with C1. C1's "Open With" plugin works by automatically registering programs that are registered by the OS as image editors.
Not all programs do this and then you need to use File Manager, right click on a jpg, select "Open With", choose the program that isn't yet registered and after the image has opened, you can close the program and the new program will appear in the "Open With" plugin.
Edit: You do have to reset Windows default program settings.
Ian
I do understand that in situations when your image software refuses to open an affiliated software, you can right-click on file, you want to open, select "open with" and point on Affinity, and Operating System does the job.
OK, I have Affinity 2 recently installed on W11 Pro OS via download from website, and W11 perfectly follows the order and opens Affinity. No problems here
There's no problem manually opening AP2 in Windows 10, either.
The problem (now solved with the simple batch file workaround) is to get other programs to invoke it, and to then remember how. So, for example, if you want FastStone to offer it as an external editor when you right-click on an image file, there's no obvious way to set up the link. Finding the hidden AP2 exe file with the obscure name seemed like the solution, but it isn't. But, luckily, some clever soul devised a neat, simple, workaround.
For example, I now have PhotoLab set up to export to Ape:
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