For a certain age bracket of computer users (Andrew and I included!), some of your first memories of IT lessons at school probably involve making a poster on Microsoft Publisher!
Preferred by many over Word for ease of moving and arranging text and images, Publisher has been part of the standard Microsoft suite since 1991. However, Microsoft has announced it will finally be discontinued from 1st October this year.
What does this mean?
Most Microsoft users buy their licences via a Microsoft 365 subscription so come 1st October, Publisher will simply disappear from the list of programmes available, and you will no longer be able to open any .pub files. If you have a perpetual or outright licence, you will still have access to Publisher, but it will no longer receive any security updates or support from Microsoft.
What do I need to do?
- Save any Publisher files that do not need future editing into a PDF format so you can still view and print them.
Go to ‘File’ > ‘Save As’ > Select PDF from the drop-down ‘File type’ box. - Copy any Publisher files that you need the ability to edit into Word or PowerPoint files. Word is well-suited to labels and text-heavy documents whilst you may prefer PowerPoint for more image-heavy designs. PowerPoint also has some great built in design suggestions and themes.
- Experiment with other modern design tools such as Canva which provide a huge range of templates and handy features. Try the free version of Canva before signing up for any subscriptions, as this will likely be sufficient for most business needs.
Is there any training available for other design tools?
Canva have produced a handy beginner’s guide with accompanying video tutorials: https://www.canva.com/learn/how-to-canva-beginners-guide/
If you are looking for guidance on creating something specific, it is always worth searching on YouTube where you will find a wealth of step-by-step tutorials.
If you currently rely on Publisher in your business, get ahead of the changes and try the alternatives now. And remember, Wight Computers are here to support and advise!
