Convert a Publisher file to Word

Word is on almost every computer, so it's the first place people try to move their Publisher files. It works well for the text, but Word is a flowing-text program and Publisher is a page-layout program. Anything with columns, boxes and pictures placed around the page rarely survives the trip intact.

If you still have Publisher

1. Open the file and choose File → Save As.
2. In Save as type, pick one of the Word document formats and save.

You get the text and basic formatting, but not the layout. That's fine for a letter or a mostly-text bulletin.

Via PDF

Save the .pub as a PDF, then open the PDF in Word (File → Open). Word converts it to an editable document. Simple pages come through well. Multi-column newsletters tend to get jumbled, with text boxes turned into frames and pictures pushed around.

If you need to keep the layout, use PowerPoint instead

For newsletters, flyers, menus and certificates, PowerPoint is a much better target than Word, because it lets you place boxes anywhere, just like Publisher. See how to convert Publisher to PowerPoint and keep the layout.

No Publisher? Get both

PubRescue converts your .pub files with genuine Publisher and gives you a Word file with your text and an editable PowerPoint copy that keeps the layout, plus a print-quality PDF and page images. It works from a Mac or Chromebook too, and you see a free preview before paying.