Opening files from older Publisher versions

PubKeep opens .pub files made in Publisher 2000 and every version since, up to Publisher in Microsoft 365. Files from Publisher 97 or 98 use an older format, so PubKeep upgrades them first.

Open a Publisher 97 or 98 file

1. Open the file as usual. See Open a Publisher file.
2. PubKeep says This file needs an upgrade.
3. Click Upgrade and open. PubKeep sends the file to our secure server, converts it to the modern Publisher format, and opens it for you. This usually takes under a minute.
4. When it opens, save it as a .pubk so you don’t need to upgrade it again. See Save your work.

Your original file on your computer stays just as it is. The uploaded copy is deleted from our server as soon as the upgrade is done.

If it still doesn’t open

It says it couldn’t upgrade the file

Click Try again. If that doesn’t work, click Report an issue and tell us about the file. Nothing was opened, and your original file is unchanged.

I still have a newer Publisher somewhere

You can also open the file in Publisher 2000 or later, save it, and then open that copy in PubKeep.