Publisher replacement ideas

Will this work here in the UK?  Do you sell to the UK?

We built PubKeep (https://pubkeep.com/desktop) to be the best Microsoft Publisher replacement. It opens and can edit all your .pub files. No need to convert or rebuild your designs in another tool. Over 700 churches, 300+ nonprofits and 150+ businesses helped us shape it to open their designs just right.

Hey all - I was very frustrated that Publisher was leaving as many of you are.

My husband created a mass conversion (into PPT) program that allowed me to convert my 4500+ files more efficiently than one by one. I know this is the last day, but here is the link to purchase in the Microsoft store if that can help you. The PPT files aren't perfect but at least I have access to my info for now. You do need Adobe Pro installed as well as your Publisher in order for this to work. You can download it for free with 3 free conversions to see if it's a fit for you.

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9MT750S78B1Q?hl=en-us&gl=CA&ocid=pdpshare

or search "PubBridge" in the Microsoft store if this doesn't work.

Good luck!

I have a different idea: why replace Publisher at all?

Microsoft could offer a Microsoft Publisher Legacy Edition for a small one-time fee, for example €9.99-€19.99.

It would not need new features or continuous development. It could simply be the final stable version of Publisher with:

- full opening and editing of existing .pub files
- a permanent one-time licence
- a complete offline installer
- permission to make a personal backup on DVD or USB
- limited or no technical support

Microsoft would have almost no physical distribution costs because users could download it themselves, while Microsoft could still receive revenue from an existing product.

Most importantly, people could continue using the thousands of Publisher files and layouts they have created over many years.

Even €9.99-€19.99 from a large number of existing Publisher users would be better than abandoning the product completely.

Download it, keep it, back it up and continue using Publisher.

I believe this could be a simple solution for both Microsoft and Publisher users.

Since I first posted, I’ve been using the Pro version of Canva. I decided It was time for me to quit whining and save my work. 

The positives: You can copy and paste from Publisher and it pretty much keeps your formatting, so that’s great. It’s easy to add text boxes and place them anywhere, so that’s also great. I’m finding it easy to add graphics of all kinds, so all in all, I don’t hate Canva. 

The negatives:  I find it very difficult to outline a text box. I hate having to google how to do things, and in my opinion, that alone means it’s not user friendly. The tool bar should have a lot more functionality. Also, when you copy and paste a text box from Publisher, you can’t add anything in the box without deleting all contents, and then adding contents back inside. However, if the contents are stationary, you’re good to go. 

Thank you all for this free therapy session. Microsoft still sucks and I’ll forever be angry about this 💩💩💩 decision. 

Come on Microsoft.  Help us fix this!  Don't you even care??????

Seemingly not................and for that I say shame on you.

I’m very disappointed that Microsoft is retiring Publisher.

For me, Publisher has never just been a tool for producing brochures or newsletters. I’ve found it uniquely useful as a visual workspace for developing ideas - pasting in sketches, photographs, screenshots and bits of text, moving them around freely, and gradually turning rough ideas into a finished layout.

Word is not a replacement for this, and PowerPoint is built around slides rather than pages and publications. Publisher sits in a very useful space between a simple document editor and a professional design application.

I also have important existing .pub files that I still need to open and edit. If Microsoft is going to retire Publisher, it should at least provide a proper migration path that preserves the layout and editability of existing Publisher files.

I would genuinely like Microsoft to reconsider retiring Publisher, or at minimum continue making it available for existing users who rely on it.

This issue IS NOT SOLVED

None of the above can easily replace the ability for me to design my business card 8.5cm x 5.5cm and print it 9 times on an A4 sheet of card.

I just looked for Affinity Publisher and see that it too has been discontinued and has been taken over by Canva

This issue is NOT solved. I am crushed that Publisher will no longer be available and I am not sure why it is being abandoned. At least Microsoft could sell a standalone version. I have many templates that I designed in Publisher and now I will be starting over. My colleagues feel the same way. There is no customer satisfaction here.