Developer(s) | Microsoft | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Initial release | 1991; 29 years ago | |||
Stable release(s) | ||||
| ||||
Operating system | Microsoft Windows | |||
Type | Desktop publishing software | |||
License | Trialware | |||
Website | products.office.com/publisher |
Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing application from Microsoft, differing from Microsoft Word in that the emphasis is placed on page layout and design rather than text composition and proofing.
Overview[edit]
Publisher is included in higher-end editions of Microsoft Office, reflecting Microsoft's emphasis on the application as an easy-to-use and less expensive alternative to the 'heavyweights' with a focus on the small-business market, where firms do not have dedicated design professionals available to make marketing materials and other documents.[3][4] However, it has a relatively small share of the desktop publishing market, which is dominated by Adobe InDesign and formerly by QuarkXPress.[3]
While most Microsoft Office apps adopted ribbons for their user interface starting with Microsoft Office 2007, Publisher retained its toolbars and did not adopt ribbons until Microsoft Office 2010.[5]
If you are interested in creating a brochure, flyer, or calendar in Microsoft Publisher, photos are a great way to make your publication more attractive to the eye.There are several ways to do all. Microsoft Publisher 2007 offers all sorts of tools, including shortcuts keys for navigation and formatting, to help you turn text and graphics into published material. And, before you publish, you need to design your publication and talk to your printing service about the technical aspects. Open Microsoft Publisher and click on Built-In from the Start page Click a template and check the description to see if the template is designed for your Avery.
Compatibility[edit]
LibreOffice has supported Publisher's proprietary file format (.pub) since February 2013.[6]Corel Draw X4 features read-only support.
Publisher supports numerous other file formats, including the Enhanced Metafile (EMF) format, which is supported on Windows platforms. The Microsoft Publisher trial version can be used to view .pub files beyond the trial period.[7][8]
Adobe PageMaker also saved files with a .pub extension, but the two file formats were unrelated and incompatible.
Release history[edit]
Name | Version number | Release date[9] | Editions of Microsoft Office included in |
---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Publisher | 1.0 | Late 1991 (approx.) | N/A |
Microsoft Publisher | 2.0 | Jul 12, 1993 | N/A |
Publisher for Windows 95 (beginning to transition to 32-bit) | 3.0 | Aug 24, 1995 | N/A |
Microsoft Publisher 97 | 4.0 | Oct 21, 1996 | Small Business Edition |
Microsoft Publisher 98 (first fully 32-bit) | 5.0 | Mar 23, 1998 | Small Business Edition 2.0 |
Microsoft Publisher 2000 | 6.0 | Jun 7, 1999 | Small Business Edition, Professional, Premium, Developer |
Microsoft Publisher 2002 | 10.0[a] | May 31, 2001 | Professional OEM, Professional Special Edition |
Microsoft Office Publisher 2003 | 11.0 | Oct 21, 2003 | Small Business, Professional, Professional Plus, Enterprise |
Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 | 12.0 | Jan 30, 2007 | Small Business, Professional, Ultimate, Professional Plus, Enterprise |
Microsoft Publisher 2010 | 14.0[b] | Jun 15, 2010 | Standard, Professional, Professional Plus |
Microsoft Publisher 2013 | 15.0 | Jan 29, 2013 | Professional, Professional Plus, Standard (volume licensing), all Office 365 editions |
Microsoft Publisher 2016 | 16.0 | Sep 22, 2015 | |
Microsoft Publisher 2019 | Sep 24, 2018 |
- ^Starting with Publisher 2002, the version number jumps to 10.0 to tally Microsoft Office versions.
- ^Version 13 was skipped due to the superstition attached to the number 13.[10]
See also[edit]
- Ventura Publisher, the first popular desktop publishing package for IBM PC compatible computers
- Timeworks Publisher (a major competitor in the marketplace in the early 1990s)
References[edit]
- ^'Release notes for Current Channel releases in 2020'. Microsoft Docs. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^Tom Warren (September 24, 2018). 'Microsoft launches Office 2019 for Windows and Mac'. The Verge. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ ab'Desktop Publishing Software 2007 Style'. Computor edge. July 27, 2007. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^'Office Publisher 07'. PC World Australia. IDG. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012..
- ^'User interface differences in Office 2010 vs earlier versions'. TechNet. Microsoft. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Where is the Publisher viewer?'. Microsoft. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
- ^'Where is the Publisher viewer?'. Microsoft. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^'Publisher Life-cycle'. Microsoft. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
- ^Paul Thurrott (May 14, 2009). 'Office 2010 FAQ'. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Microsoft Publisher blog (last updated December 2009) on MSDN Blogs
Microsoft Office Publisher files are perhaps one of the easiest and most common desktop publishing applications for anyone to use for creating print publications. With a few tips on how to use MS Publisher, you can start using the application like a professional editor.
Despite all its features and advantages for the common user, though, MS Publisher is notorious for its lack of compatibility with other applications. MS Publisher files aren't as universal as you would assume.
It poses a major obstacle for collaboration, reviewing, and sharing Publisher content, which is an essential part of publishing print material. Limitations arise if a user doesn't have a copy of MS Publisher installed. MS Publisher doesn't have a dedicated viewer for opening or viewing its native file format. Moreover, MS Publisher files are pretty much the one Office format that causes problems for macOS users, because MS Publisher isn't offered in Office for macOS.
Sound familiar?
In this post, we cover a few tips, hacks and suggestions that can help you open or view Microsoft Publisher files.
1. Convert PUB to PDF
When dealing with a limited file format, the first solution that comes to mind is to turn it into an unlimited, universal one that anyone can view – we're talking about the PDF file format. Because PDF files lock down and preserve the formatting of its original content, it's perfect for viewing Publisher content as is. There are two ways you can go about this:
- Convert PUB to PDF with Able2Extract Professional:
If you have Able2Extract Professional, you can easily create a PDF of your MS Publisher file. You can download a free trial.
Once installed, follow these steps:
- In the File tab, click on the Create PDF button.
- Select Create a PDF from an Existing Document and click on Create.
- Browse for and select the PUB file you want to transfer to PDF.
Once the file is open, click on the Save As button in the File toolbar to name and save your file on your computer.
- Convert PUB to PDF Online:
For those who need a quick, touch-and-go conversion, there's Publishertopdf.com. This web service does exactly what its name suggests. It does nothing but convert MS Publisher to PDF. Here's how:
- Go to Publishertopdf.com
- Upload your file. You can do this in a few ways:
- Click on the Upload button and select your file from your computer.
- Drag and drop your .pub file.
- Upload your file from your cloud storage service of choice: Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.
- Wait a few seconds. The conversion will start automatically.
- When it's done, save and download your newly converted PDF file.
This tool is free, no email is required, and uploaded files are deleted after 6 hours.
2. Get MS Publisher Content Saved as an Image File
One of the simplest ways is to have the author save the PUB file as a different format. Looking at the options MS Publisher has to offer, image formats are by far the easiest and most common formats to view. Have them do the following:
- With the .pub file open, go to the File menu.
- Go to Export > Change File Type.
- They will be presented with image file options: PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP and JPG. We recommend either PNG or JPG as the most hassle-free and accessible formats.
- Click on Save As.
- Name and save the new image to their computer.
From there, the author can send the image to you as desired.
3. Get MS Publisher Content Sent in an Email
If you get a Publisher file you can't open, try going back and asking the sender to use the application's emailing functionality to send the content in the message body as HTML. Note that this option, however, sends only the current page.
To have them send a MS Publisher page in the body of an email, they must have either Microsoft Office Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail installed. They can follow the below steps:
- Click the File tab.
- Go to Share.
- Select Send Current Page.
Before the sender does this, he or she can preview how the page will look by clicking on Email Preview below the Email option. It will open in a new browser window just as it appears in MS Publisher.
- If Microsoft Office Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail is set up properly – it only takes a few seconds to set up with a hotmail email address (they can just follow the prompts) – the sender will see the below email interface in MS Publisher where he or she can insert recipient info (ie. your email address), a subject line, and copy others on the email:
- Click on Send to send the email.
4. Get MS Publisher Content Exported as HTML/Webpage
This step is similar to the above in that you have the author send it in an HTML or web page format. However, this step allows them to send it as an attachment by using a different email client, like Gmail, for instance. In MS Publisher:
- Go to the File tab and select Export.
- Choose Publish HTML.
- Choose to export your file in one of two formats:
- Web Page (HTML): This option produces an HTML document with a folder containing necessary files (images, sounds, etc.).
- Single File Web Page (MHTML): Selecting this will create a single MHT document. All the necessary supporting files will be embedded.
Microsoft Publisher Free Download Windows 10
- Set any Advanced Options if applicable (these are accessible below the drop down menu).
- Click on Publish HTML.
- In the Save As dialog, name your file and the location you want to save it to.
The author can then send it by attaching it to an email, and you instantly get an accessible version of their MS Publisher content.
Compatibility[edit]
LibreOffice has supported Publisher's proprietary file format (.pub) since February 2013.[6]Corel Draw X4 features read-only support.
Publisher supports numerous other file formats, including the Enhanced Metafile (EMF) format, which is supported on Windows platforms. The Microsoft Publisher trial version can be used to view .pub files beyond the trial period.[7][8]
Adobe PageMaker also saved files with a .pub extension, but the two file formats were unrelated and incompatible.
Release history[edit]
Name | Version number | Release date[9] | Editions of Microsoft Office included in |
---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Publisher | 1.0 | Late 1991 (approx.) | N/A |
Microsoft Publisher | 2.0 | Jul 12, 1993 | N/A |
Publisher for Windows 95 (beginning to transition to 32-bit) | 3.0 | Aug 24, 1995 | N/A |
Microsoft Publisher 97 | 4.0 | Oct 21, 1996 | Small Business Edition |
Microsoft Publisher 98 (first fully 32-bit) | 5.0 | Mar 23, 1998 | Small Business Edition 2.0 |
Microsoft Publisher 2000 | 6.0 | Jun 7, 1999 | Small Business Edition, Professional, Premium, Developer |
Microsoft Publisher 2002 | 10.0[a] | May 31, 2001 | Professional OEM, Professional Special Edition |
Microsoft Office Publisher 2003 | 11.0 | Oct 21, 2003 | Small Business, Professional, Professional Plus, Enterprise |
Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 | 12.0 | Jan 30, 2007 | Small Business, Professional, Ultimate, Professional Plus, Enterprise |
Microsoft Publisher 2010 | 14.0[b] | Jun 15, 2010 | Standard, Professional, Professional Plus |
Microsoft Publisher 2013 | 15.0 | Jan 29, 2013 | Professional, Professional Plus, Standard (volume licensing), all Office 365 editions |
Microsoft Publisher 2016 | 16.0 | Sep 22, 2015 | |
Microsoft Publisher 2019 | Sep 24, 2018 |
- ^Starting with Publisher 2002, the version number jumps to 10.0 to tally Microsoft Office versions.
- ^Version 13 was skipped due to the superstition attached to the number 13.[10]
See also[edit]
- Ventura Publisher, the first popular desktop publishing package for IBM PC compatible computers
- Timeworks Publisher (a major competitor in the marketplace in the early 1990s)
References[edit]
- ^'Release notes for Current Channel releases in 2020'. Microsoft Docs. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^Tom Warren (September 24, 2018). 'Microsoft launches Office 2019 for Windows and Mac'. The Verge. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ ab'Desktop Publishing Software 2007 Style'. Computor edge. July 27, 2007. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^'Office Publisher 07'. PC World Australia. IDG. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012..
- ^'User interface differences in Office 2010 vs earlier versions'. TechNet. Microsoft. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Where is the Publisher viewer?'. Microsoft. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
- ^'Where is the Publisher viewer?'. Microsoft. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^'Publisher Life-cycle'. Microsoft. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
- ^Paul Thurrott (May 14, 2009). 'Office 2010 FAQ'. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Microsoft Publisher blog (last updated December 2009) on MSDN Blogs
Microsoft Office Publisher files are perhaps one of the easiest and most common desktop publishing applications for anyone to use for creating print publications. With a few tips on how to use MS Publisher, you can start using the application like a professional editor.
Despite all its features and advantages for the common user, though, MS Publisher is notorious for its lack of compatibility with other applications. MS Publisher files aren't as universal as you would assume.
It poses a major obstacle for collaboration, reviewing, and sharing Publisher content, which is an essential part of publishing print material. Limitations arise if a user doesn't have a copy of MS Publisher installed. MS Publisher doesn't have a dedicated viewer for opening or viewing its native file format. Moreover, MS Publisher files are pretty much the one Office format that causes problems for macOS users, because MS Publisher isn't offered in Office for macOS.
Sound familiar?
In this post, we cover a few tips, hacks and suggestions that can help you open or view Microsoft Publisher files.
1. Convert PUB to PDF
When dealing with a limited file format, the first solution that comes to mind is to turn it into an unlimited, universal one that anyone can view – we're talking about the PDF file format. Because PDF files lock down and preserve the formatting of its original content, it's perfect for viewing Publisher content as is. There are two ways you can go about this:
- Convert PUB to PDF with Able2Extract Professional:
If you have Able2Extract Professional, you can easily create a PDF of your MS Publisher file. You can download a free trial.
Once installed, follow these steps:
- In the File tab, click on the Create PDF button.
- Select Create a PDF from an Existing Document and click on Create.
- Browse for and select the PUB file you want to transfer to PDF.
Once the file is open, click on the Save As button in the File toolbar to name and save your file on your computer.
- Convert PUB to PDF Online:
For those who need a quick, touch-and-go conversion, there's Publishertopdf.com. This web service does exactly what its name suggests. It does nothing but convert MS Publisher to PDF. Here's how:
- Go to Publishertopdf.com
- Upload your file. You can do this in a few ways:
- Click on the Upload button and select your file from your computer.
- Drag and drop your .pub file.
- Upload your file from your cloud storage service of choice: Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.
- Wait a few seconds. The conversion will start automatically.
- When it's done, save and download your newly converted PDF file.
This tool is free, no email is required, and uploaded files are deleted after 6 hours.
2. Get MS Publisher Content Saved as an Image File
One of the simplest ways is to have the author save the PUB file as a different format. Looking at the options MS Publisher has to offer, image formats are by far the easiest and most common formats to view. Have them do the following:
- With the .pub file open, go to the File menu.
- Go to Export > Change File Type.
- They will be presented with image file options: PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP and JPG. We recommend either PNG or JPG as the most hassle-free and accessible formats.
- Click on Save As.
- Name and save the new image to their computer.
From there, the author can send the image to you as desired.
3. Get MS Publisher Content Sent in an Email
If you get a Publisher file you can't open, try going back and asking the sender to use the application's emailing functionality to send the content in the message body as HTML. Note that this option, however, sends only the current page.
To have them send a MS Publisher page in the body of an email, they must have either Microsoft Office Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail installed. They can follow the below steps:
- Click the File tab.
- Go to Share.
- Select Send Current Page.
Before the sender does this, he or she can preview how the page will look by clicking on Email Preview below the Email option. It will open in a new browser window just as it appears in MS Publisher.
- If Microsoft Office Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail is set up properly – it only takes a few seconds to set up with a hotmail email address (they can just follow the prompts) – the sender will see the below email interface in MS Publisher where he or she can insert recipient info (ie. your email address), a subject line, and copy others on the email:
- Click on Send to send the email.
4. Get MS Publisher Content Exported as HTML/Webpage
This step is similar to the above in that you have the author send it in an HTML or web page format. However, this step allows them to send it as an attachment by using a different email client, like Gmail, for instance. In MS Publisher:
- Go to the File tab and select Export.
- Choose Publish HTML.
- Choose to export your file in one of two formats:
- Web Page (HTML): This option produces an HTML document with a folder containing necessary files (images, sounds, etc.).
- Single File Web Page (MHTML): Selecting this will create a single MHT document. All the necessary supporting files will be embedded.
Microsoft Publisher Free Download Windows 10
- Set any Advanced Options if applicable (these are accessible below the drop down menu).
- Click on Publish HTML.
- In the Save As dialog, name your file and the location you want to save it to.
The author can then send it by attaching it to an email, and you instantly get an accessible version of their MS Publisher content.
Software Publisher
The next time you have an MS Publisher file you can't open, don't panic. One of the tips above is bound to help you access that content.