Microsoft Publisher

[quartet-man]

Our administrative assistant and a volunteer assistant at work use Microsoft Publisher for Newsletters, bulletins etc. I am taking over as the webmaster. Is there a good, easy way to convert files created in these for web use? They like to work in this program better than any other, so it is difficult, if not impossible to get them to use anything else. :)

[glc]

Publisher has a builtin HTML converter, just save as webpage. Try it. You can also simply convert to PDF with a free converter such as CutePDF and use those.

[quartet-man]

Thanks. I am not sure what the problem is. The lady who does some of our power point and such has problems dealing with it. I'll have to talk with her and see what the issues she has are and what she is trying to do. I have never used Publisher. :) I usually use Word. I can't remember if our former webmaster had problems with the Publisher files or if he ever tried.

Is converting from Acrobat, Word or other Microsoft products to Publisher difficult? I know Microsoft is really protective.

[glc]

You cannot "convert" anything TO Publisher - but you can copy/paste into it all day.

[quartet-man]

Thanks. I was thinking of ways to go with their way of doing things. I thought if I weren't around and something they created needed put online, they could email them to me. I have publisher at home, but it is 2000.

[glc]

If something they create needs to go online, just have them save it in Publisher 2000 format and send it to you - then you open it and save it as a webpage. Review and tweak the code and upload it.

[quartet-man]

Great, that is what I had in mind. Thanks. Up until now I have never even opened Publisher (and never knew I had it for a long time.: ) ) It came with my Works 2000.
I think that one of the computers there (the one not online) has 2003 or later. The one online has 2000 or earlier. :) Mine at home has 2000 and I think I have a 2003 version at work (but have never used it.)

[mairving]

You are going to have a lot of scrubbing to do. Publisher writes the most bulky, propietary code around.

[glc]

That is definitely true - which is why I also mentioned the PDF. I think I'd rather put newsletters up in PDF anyway.

[quartet-man]

Thanks guys. I think PDF will be the way to go since the ladies insist on using publisher. :)

[glc]

Simple. Install CutePDF, print the finished document to it, save it, upload it, and put a link on a page.

[quartet-man]

Thanks, I did kind of mess with it a few days ago. However, the secretary has Publisher 98. I emailed it to myself from there and just tried to open it with my 2000 and it will not open.It has the oh so helpful message that it could not be opened. Any ideas? :)

[glc]

It probably got corrupted. Why e-mail it? Just do the PDF conversion there then dump it onto a USB flash key.

[quartet-man]

It probably got corrupted. Why e-mail it? Just do the PDF conversion there then dump it onto a USB flash key.

Because what I need the ability to do is for the secretary to email me these things when she needs them posted if I am not at work to get them myself. I'll have to see if the file opens from work. She has said that she and the other secretary have trouble working on things back and forth. The other one has Office 2003 I think. Both use XP, but the one who would do the emailing has Publisher 98. Would that version have trouble with XP?

[glc]

It will have problems with Publisher 2003. Everyone has to save as the oldest version that will be working with it. Publisher 98 runs fine on Windows XP.

Can't you have your secretary do the PDF conversion and e-mail you the PDF?

You need to get everyone on the same version of Office and Publisher to keep things from getting squirrely. I hope you are using a network and not a sneakernet.

[quartet-man]

I understand something originating in 2003 would not work in 98 or if converted to 2003 format not be read again. I am not sure but that might be what they are trying to do. I presume if she originated in 98 I should be able to read in a newer version, right?

I had thought about getting her to do the conversion, but she has her set ways of doing things and doesn't like to change them. :) I know she can learn and does good with what she does, however I don't think she likes the hassle of learning things that are too difficult especially since she has a lot to take care of.

As far as versions, we cannot afford to get new computers all at the same time. Of course Microsoft software itself is really pricey too. We are a non profit. I mean that literally too. ;)

Yes, she, I and another employee are all networked (as far as DSL). The other computer (with the 2003) isn't because of the difficulty in its location in a stone building. I hope it gets added sometime too. I don't know anything much about networks and how they worked. Someone else did that for us. I had never heard of sneakernet, but I just found out what it is. :) Yeah, that is the way it gets done there. :)

I may try installing the conversion software and see if she can do that. Thanks.