Question: I am teaching myself the very basics of design using [Affinity Designer](https://affinity.serif.com/) - and I haven't been able to figure out how to create a single shape from multiple vectors. 

For instance, if I am creating a basic outline of a car and need to start and stop lines - when I use the `join lines tool` it doesn't join two unrelated lines together - rather it completes the "circle" (path) of one line only. 

If I use the `join shapes tool` it completes all the unconnected lines, and fills in those spaces too - so I lose the shape I am after. 

AD's help index is not very helpful to someone with my near non-existent skills - so I'd be thrilled if someone on this forum can help.

Answer: 
With the node tool (hit A) shift-select both curves you want to join together. Then, in the context toolbar at the top there are a bunch of buttons labelled "Action" - they look like this:
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AWsIC.png)

the fourth button along from the left is "Join Curves" (you'll see that when you hover over it) and clicking on that will join the two separate lines together. Hope that's what you're after...
Just to clarify a bit, I think you mean this: Say you had a line with 3 nodes, a,b, and c, with a and c being the endpoint of the nodes. You wish to attach another another line with two nodes d and e. You wish to connect the nodes b and e.

As of right now, I can't seem to find functionality of the program where it attaches two unrelated lines that AREN'T endpoints of each line.

I think the Pen module Affinity designed assumes you are always wanting to produce an endpoint to endpoint shape. But unfortunately, when creating lambda shapes, asterisks, x's, f's, $'s, etc. you're going to run into some issues. I would love to see the ability of the pen to create complex shapes that are much less dependent on endpoint snapping.