Publisher documents

Question

I have a new computer and was unable to obtain a new copy of Publisher due to the discontinuation of the product. I have numerous important documents on Publisher that I am now unable to open. How can I convert my Publisher documents to PowerPoint without them coming out gobbygook!!

I can't even open the documents to coy information for the purpose of creating replacements. This is a big problem.

Answer 1

I've tried online third party options and I get the gobblygook!

Answer 2

Unfortunately, if you cannot open your Publisher documents due to the discontinuation of the product and lack of access to Microsoft Publisher, converting them directly to PowerPoint may be challenging. Here are a few suggestions you might consider:

1. Use an Online Converter: There are various online services that can convert Publisher files (.pub) to PDF or other formats. Once converted to PDF, you can import the PDF into PowerPoint. However, the formatting may not always be perfect.
2. Try a Third-Party Software: Some third-party applications claim to support opening and converting Publisher files. You might want to explore these options to see if they can help you access your documents.
3. Contact Microsoft Support: If you have a subscription to Microsoft 365, you may be able to get assistance from Microsoft support regarding accessing or converting your Publisher files.
4. Use a Virtual Machine: If you have access to an older version of Windows with Publisher installed, you could run it in a virtual machine to access your documents.
5. Seek Help from a Professional: If the documents are critical, consider reaching out to a professional data recovery service that may have the tools to recover or convert the files for you.

Unfortunately, without the ability to open the documents, options are limited. It's advisable to back up important files in the future to avoid similar issues.

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References:

• Large Publisher files open in read-only mode