Death of another Publisher: Microsoft will end support for Microsoft Publisher this October. You will no longer be able to open files in the .pub format once Microsoft hits the remote kill switch.

What is Publisher?

Younger folks may not know that Microsoft actually had pretty desktop publishing program as part of the Office suite since 1991.You could use it to design flyers, brochures, artwork, even web pages. It was basic, most graphic designers cringe at its mention but for a small business owner in need of a quick graphic or gussied up report it did the job. You know like Canva does now.

What to do with your Publisher files?

You have to convert your Publisher files into PDF format to be able to read and print them again. Microsoft has supplied a script to mass convert .pub files into .pdf.

Once the file is in PDF, Microsoft advises you to open the PDF in Word. No, really. Anyone who has ever tried to format Word with pictures knows a waste of time that is.

PowerPoint will only work for one of my Publisher using clients as a replacement. One.

There is a complete list of whether to use Word or PowerPoint based on document type plus other Publisher End of Life (EOL) details here.

Try Canva

If you haven’t already, try Canva. Canva is everything Publisher should have been if Microsoft had bothered to update it. I think that Microsoft couldn’t figure out how to create an online version of Publisher so they stopped development just when business owners needed a quick way to generate graphics for social media. Or given their weird relationship with Adobe, Microsoft decided not to compete in this market. Microsoft massively missed this opportunity.

Canva recognized the need for true desktop publishing and acquired Affinity software which was created to replace Adobe Creative Suite. Affinity by Canva is bundled with the Canva fee subscription and lets you edit and design vectors, pictures and design print layouts. Canva Pro gives you more toys, I mean tools. Details on Canva pricing here.