Affinity & file types

[Grenpara]

Hello,

This is going to sound silly but in October 2025 Microsoft is retiring Microsoft Publisher.

Only those who have Perpetual verion will be able to keep using product.

Since MS is getting rid out it forever will Affinity add the .pub file type so people who can no longer use or get MS publisher can still open the .pub files?

I ask as I have all your software past and present but also have lots of .pub files which I cant lose and still need to be able to access them.

Since MS is getting rid of publisher maybe they will allow you to add .pub files to your software.

 

Thanks in advance

Gren

[PaulEC]

This question has been asked before, and although (AFAIK) there has been no definitive answer from Serif, it seems most unlikely that they will support .pub files, especially as they don't support their own old file formats from their, legacy, "Plus" range of software. The best option is probably to export your .pub files (while you can) in other formats, such as PDF files, and then recreate them in the Affinity apps.

[Grenpara]

1 hour ago, PaulEC said:

This question has been asked before, and although (AFAIK) there has been no definitive answer from Serif, it seems most unlikely that they will support .pub files, especially as they don't support their own old file formats from their, legacy, "Plus" range of software. The best option is probably to export your .pub files (while you can) in other formats, such as PDF files, and then recreate them in the Affinity apps.

Hello,

Thanks for the reply.
I know it was asked before but I thought they said it was because Microsoft wanted $$$ to allow it.
But since now Microsoft wont have a program to use Publisher files they might not care or want $$$ to use the format.

Thanks
Gren

[walt.farrell]

14 hours ago, Grenpara said:

I know it was asked before but I thought they said it was because Microsoft wanted $$$ to allow it.
But since now Microsoft wont have a program to use Publisher files they might not care or want $$$ to use the format.

 

It is more likely that it is not supported by Affinity because the .pub format was undocumented, and subject to change. Or because Serif determined the market was small enough that they couldn't justify the development cost. And though it may no longer be subject to change, it is still (as far as I know) undocumented and would require significant reverse-engineering. It's unlikely to happen, in my opinion.

In your situation I might investigate alternatives such as the 3rd-party application Markzware, as mentioned here: 

Note that I have no connection with them, and have never used their products, and don't know their pricing. I mention this simply in case it helps you.

 

[Grenpara]

6 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

It is more likely that it is not supported by Affinity because the .pub format was undocumented, and subject to change. Or because Serif determined the market was small enough that they couldn't justify the development cost. And though it may no longer be subject to change, it is still (as far as I know) undocumented and would require significant reverse-engineering. It's unlikely to happen, in my opinion.

In your situation I might investigate alternatives such as the 3rd-party application Markzware, as mentioned here: 

Note that I have no connection with them, and have never used their products, and don't know their pricing. I mention this simply in case it helps you.

 

Thanks for all the info it will come in handy.

I just found out that LibreOffice Draw can open .pub files but cant edit them.

But they say you can export them to various other formats when open.

If they open and I can export them that is most important.

I have way to many files in .pub do spend days or weeks converting them, as I think I have about 2000 files in .pub format.


Anyways thanks again.

Gren

[David in Яuislip]

Libre Draw can be used from the command line e.g.
soffice --convert-to pdf *.pub
will process a folder. Whether it's as good as an export from MS Publisher I don't know but it's much quicker