Chromebooks and publisher files

[caffrey]

How have you all dealt with .pub files when moving to chromeos ? I know of lucid press but that can't import them directly

[j224]

We've not found a solution. We're 99% Chrome OS. There's a couple of admin PCs and I use a Win 10 laptop.

 

To be honest, the only thing we use Publisher for is printing various stickers with mail merge. The kids used to do photo collages/posters with it, but that's easily been replaced by GSlides.

[paulkerton]

I've dealt with them by begging people for the last 15 years not to use Publisher because it's awful. Things like overlapping elements increasing file sizes 10 fold, just show you the issues with it. Take away the overlap, and magically the file is smaller again.

I've asked people, if they have to keep the file, to turn them into PDFs. If they feel they need to change them in the future, either use Google Slides formatted into A4 size to create new ones, or a tool like Canva.

[caffrey]

Thanks, thought not

 

I'm creating new shared drives for them and I noticed Publisher files in there so I'm bound to be asked the question. We will have areas that still have windows desktops so they can use those if they really must.

[paulkerton]

Thanks, thought not

To be fair in 2010 or so when a significant number of headteachers got drawn into Apple like magpies to shiny things, the same issue occurred. I've had plenty of time to be converting people away. It truly is the worst part of Microsoft Office. I'd be very surprised if they keep it in the long term, as it really hasn't been given any attention for a decade.

[caffrey]

Indeed, just notified staff that they will be Chromebook only from September. It's been an interesting few days for sure...