# Microsoft Publisher

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 15, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991 "2004-12-15T16:59:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991/1 "2004-12-15T16:59:30Z")

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Is there any way to view a .pub file if you do not have Microsoft Publisher? I was sent a file that I want to view, but cannot open it.

This [article](http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/publisher/f/share_pubfiles.htm) says that, “There are currently no plug-ins, viewers, or shortcuts for .pub files.”

Anyone know of a way?

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**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991/2 "2004-12-15T17:03:42Z")

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Does [this help](http://www.microsoft.com/office/previous/xp/columns/column16.asp) ?

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**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991/3 "2004-12-15T17:08:46Z")

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Saw that article. It doesn’t help, because it assumes that you already have publisher, and are trying to make your file viewable by people w/o publisher, not the other way around.

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**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991/4 "2004-12-15T17:14:28Z")

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I _think_ (can’t find the latest literature) that Adobe InDesign CS for Windows (though not for Mac) can import .pub files, and then export in a wide variety of formats.

Alternatively get back to the sender and ask for a PDF.

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**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991/5 "2004-12-15T17:17:56Z")

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You can get a free trial version of Publisher that’s only good for a limited time. Cost is only shipping & handling. Go to [http://www.microsoft.com/Office/publisher/prodinfo/trial.mspx](http://www.microsoft.com/Office/publisher/prodinfo/trial.mspx)

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**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-publisher/279991/6 "2004-12-15T18:25:38Z")

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> [@Bone](#):
>
> Saw that article. It doesn’t help, because it assumes that you already have publisher, and are trying to make your file viewable by people w/o publisher, not the other way around.

Sorry about that. I should have read closer. I thought you were looking for a way for the emailer to send it to you, so you could read it.