Why is Publisher being phased out, and what is Microsoft replacing it with? Will Microsoft 365 be cheaper since they are phasing out the program?

I have started several non-profits over the years, run my own business, and now homeschool my children. In all of these endeavors, I served as the graphics, flyer, and document designer. Over time, I have created hundreds of files and templates in Publisher (after transitioning from PageMaker). Unfortunately, these files do not convert well to Word, as Word does not handle graphics placement and layering objects effectively.

Word is excellent for text-based documents, and I have hundreds of files in Word format. However, Publisher has always been uniquely suited for graphically rich, visually appealing publications—especially those intended for print. There is simply no way I can convert all my files and templates to a usable format in Word or PowerPoint by October, and I feel it may be time to transition to Adobe.

I am deeply disappointed by this discontinuation and the lack of a patch or file transfer solution for loyal users—many of whom share my frustration. I have always loved Publisher and always will.

I am truly disappointed that Microsoft would even consider retiring Publisher. Have you even considered the Desktop Publishers who depend on it for income. I subscribe to Microsoft 365 but mainly for the Publisher app. Early in my Desktop Publishing career (in the 90's) I tried several publisher apps and Microsoft Publisher (the most user friendly) won my loyalty. (1) No other app allows the user to move and place elements exactly where you want them. (2) The powerful simplicity of use for end users is unparalleled. (3) The workspace around the actual document is not found in other Microsoft apps and elements like pictures are difficult to manage and even disappear off the edge of the document. (4) Approximately 85% of my thousands of self-created reusable documents and templates are in Publisher. NO, NO, NO, Word and PowerPoint can't even come close to Publisher for me. And converting all my Publisher docs to some other app is going to be a nightmare. I hope whoever made this decision will reconsider. The learning curve of a new publisher app will require time I can hardly afford. However, I probably need to research other similar publisher apps and that will easily create my books, calendars, booklets, flyers, mailing lists, certificates, etc.

This decision makes me very angry and now I feel I cannot trust Microsoft in the future.

If one day I think to maybe move to Office 365, I will always remember the Publisher case and will say NEVER NEVER AGAIN.

With Office 265, Microsoft can daily add/remove/change functionnalities or products.

One day Microsoft can suddenly decide to stop one product and WE ARE DEAD !!!

Now I know Microsoft does not care about its loyal customers so I have to seriously consider alternatives as open office, libre office, canva, etc

Hello Adaeze,

While I appreciate your response, I also know that Word and PowerPoint do not do what Publisher does. I sometimes use Word, but it is clunky when incorporating pictures and such and the pictures will all of a sudden move and all formatting will take HOURS to get back to the place where you want it. Also, Publisher has much better picture options. You can move things any where and position text boxes anywhere and then move them if you decide to shuffle things around! It is great!

As far as PowerPoint goes, it has way fewer perks and is very limited.

All around, Word is nothing when it comes to creative docs. Publisher is much more user-friendly and, well, just better.

I really hope that Microsoft will actually listen to its users for once and keep a valuable product available to its users!

Thank you!

SaraSandra

Carol,

I too have decades of files I don’t want to lose artwork from. Not happy with the solutions Microsoft has offered thus far. I hope they hear from enoughnof us to swaybthem to keep Publisher as it so much more versatile than anything else they present as an alternative. Word is grossly lacking in functionality. But here's an alternative I found to the tedious task of saving files to pdf as a last resort.

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