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J
JenB88
Participant
October 21, 2013
Answered

Converting Publisher files to InDesign

  • October 21, 2013
  • 3 replies
  • 81446 views

I'm currently searching for a cost efficient and reliable way to convert Publisher files to InDesign. Any suggestions for converting these files would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Barb Binder

They offer a file conversion service: File Conversion Service | Markzware

3 replies

J
jamieb98014406
Participant
January 3, 2016

‌I sometime get publisher files sent to me from clients. Makes me feel awkward to ask them to either supply printed copies or PDFs to me to recreate as I don't have publisher on my Mac. But I found this online paid (but cheap) service To convert one-off files easily. http://www.convertquarktoindesign.com/shop/convert-microsoft-publisher-to-indesign/

You can also convert quark files to indesign as well as well as a few other file types

Was DYP
Was DYP
Inspiring
October 21, 2013

A lower cost but more painful way is to create a pdf of the Publisher files open in Illistrator and them copy and paste into Indesign. May be a lot of work or not depending on how complex the document is.

Or edit the file in Illustrator and place in ID if you need to.

E
Community Expert
Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 21, 2013

Illustrator is not a multipurpose PDF editor. In any way, shape or form.

It would be better to use Acrobat.

Save the file as a RTF - delete all the imagery from the RTF in Word

Extract all the Images/Diagrams/Graphics from the PDF using the Edit Object command.

Raster images will open in Photoshop and Vector in Illustrator (can be setup up through Acrobat preferences)

Reassemble the layout in InDesign.

But whatever you do *Don't open the PDF in Illustrator. And don't start copying and pasting from Illustrator to InDesign*

Do it right - or else face headaches down the road later on.

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Steve WernerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 21, 2013

    The Markzware PUB2ID product is the only I know that does a conversion:

    http://markzware.com/products/pub2id/

    R
    Rickyaz
    Known Participant
    January 4, 2015

    $ 200 FOR A CONVERTER !! They must be comedians.   You're better off just copying and pasting the text into Indesign.   JEEZE.   

      Was DYP
      Was DYP
      Inspiring
      October 27, 2017

      I have a grumpy tendency to return Publisher files to the client. The filespec is almost the publishing equivalent of deep encryption, and print vendors despise it. The contents of a publisher file might as well be locked away in the Arc of the Covenant.

      I do see the investment point of the $200 price tag, might very well be worthy if you have to to a lot of it - i.e. in an institutional situation and Publisher is the management decreed application, and you're the poor sap responsible for making well-meaning, but unprofessionally prepared documents actually printable. or getting a bunch of edits and revisions - after you've gotten the file. That never happens.

      But the majority of Publisher files that come across my desk are essentially in the category of "If you wanna help, don't help!"

      Given that Markzware has discontinued the plugin and if you're dealing with a fair number of the beasties - it might almost be practical - even cost effective to just get a copy of Publisher (heresy!) just for the purpose of extracting the text and images! I am already running Windows in Parallels for Mac on one of my workstations for the primary purpose of testing email campaigns in another legendary PITA - MS Outlook.


      Do you know that you can open Publisher files in Open Office variants. I know you can for sure with LibreOffice.

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