microsoft publisher files

[sfoster95]

Your website clearly states the following
Use documents of all kinds

LibreOffice is compatible with a wide range of document formats such as Microsoft® Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) and Publisher. But LibreOffice goes much further with its native support for a modern and open standard, the OpenDocument Format (ODF). With LibreOffice, you have maximum control over your data and content – and you can export your work in many different formats including PDF.

However I am unable to open any Publisher files.
How do I go about opening them?
Shannon

[msaunders]

Hi Shannon, can you provide more information please? Like, what does “unable” mean - do you see a specific error message? Does LibreOffice stop working? What operating system are you using? Are you trying to open the files by double-clicking them in a file manager, or directly in LibreOffice via File > Open in the menu?

With more information, it should be easier to help!

[Giomach]

Not an answer but confirmation. I tried to open a .pub file using LO 6.1.0.3 (x64) on Win 10, but all I got was a blank sheet. I can click on it and see various box outlines, but there is no content visible in the boxes or on the sheet at all. See the attachment.

The result is the same whether I double click on the file icon, or start up LO and use “open file.” I gave up after waiting 15 minutes.

I knew I had viewed this file years ago on another computer, which fortunately is still working. It has LO 4.3.7.2 under Windows Vista. It opened the file perfectly in seconds. Any reason for this apparently backward step?

EDIT: Bugzilla bug reference tdf#130289.

(edit: activated screenshot)

[Hrbrgr]

I would report that as a bug on Bugzilla.

You can also check there if there is already a bug entry.

Please announce the link from the bug here.

To do this, edit your initial question. Thanks.

[keme]

Also, not even Microsoft Publisher can reliably open Microsoft Publisher files. Back when Publisher was in regular use where I work, every new version of Publisher meant that some older files did not open properly. More than once I have had the questionable pleasure of trying to determine which storage format(s) could work as “common ground”, to make files available on the upgraded install.

That is Microsoft format “standards” in a nutshell. When the “greatest enterprise of all” are not always able to ensure compatibility on home ground, compatibility problems for third party apps (like LO) are to be expected.

By all means report it, but make sure you attach a sample file. Without it, the bug report gets nowhere.