Common issues with .pub files | .NET

Every software therefore every file format has its pros and cons. This article is about to help you find solutions to most issues you may get working with MS Publisher. Among them are: comparability issues, missing fonts or images, printing problems, and corrupted files. Let’s dig in!

Missing fonts or images

This common issue occurs when sharing .pub files between devices that don’t have the same fonts or images installed.

What to do if fonts are missing in a .pub file?

• Install the missing fonts. - For this, you first need to find out which font is missing and then install it on your device.
• Substitute the missing fonts.- In case you cannot install the missing fonts, - try substituting them with similar fonts that are available on your computer. This will require taking the following steps:

1. When you open a .pub file you will receive a notification that some fonts are missing.
2. Click on the “Options” button in the notification window.
3. Here you will get the “Font Substitution” dialog box with a list of missing fonts and the options for fallback. Examine the list of suggested substitutes and select the one you are satisfied with.
4. Click on the “Substitute” button.
5. Repeat the procedure for all the rest missing fonts(if they are there).
6. Save the file.

• Embed the missing fonts. - The option that is correct if only you are the creator of the file, if not, - you may ask the creator to do it for you so anyone who opens the file will be able to see the correct fonts. For this follow the order.

1. Open the needed file.
2. Click on the “File” tab and select “Options”.
3. There click on “Save” in the left-hand menu.
4. Check the box next to “Embed fonts in the file”.
5. Here you can choose either “Embed only the characters used in the publication” or “Embed all characters”. The first option will let you decrease the file size.
6. Click “OK” and close the dialog box. Then save the file.

• Convert the pub file.- If none of the above options work, you can try converting the pub file to a different, more popular, and supported file format, such as PDF. PUB to PDF Conversion will ensure that the fonts are embedded within the file and will be available to anyone who works with it.

What to do if images are missing in a .pub file?

• Check the place where the images are. - If the images are not in the folder where they are supposed to be, MS Publisher is not able to find and use them. You need to locate and place them in the original folder.

• Check if the images are embedded. The software allows you to embed images in the file itself, rather than linking to an external file. To find out if the missing images are embedded in the .pub file you need:

1. Select the image in Publisher, right-click on it, and choose “Format Picture”.
2. In the appearing dialog box, click on the “Picture” tab. 3 Check if the “Link to File” option is selected. If not, - the image is embedded in the file.

• Check if the images were deleted. - You could accidentally delete them so it would be helpful to check your Recycle Bin. If they are there, just restore them.
• Check if the images are corrupted. - For this, try opening the images in a different program to see if they are still accessible or damaged. If they are ok, you can try to reinsert them into the file.
• Recreate or replace the missing files. - This step is helpful if nothing else helps.

Formatting errors of .pub files

Formatting errors are ones like when text boxes or images are not aligned correctly, or when page margins are not proper. Here are a few suggestions to fix such issues:

• Check the formatting. Inspect the document to find the formatting errors there.
• Use the “Repair” function. - To do this follow the order:

1. Go to the “File” menu.
2. Click on “Open”, and select the problematic file.
3. Click on the “Open” drop-down arrow and select the “Open and Repair” option.
4. Using the hints, repair the file.

• Copy and paste the broken part. You will need to create a new document for this.
• Update the software. Formatting issues may occur because you use an old version of MS Publisher. It may be helpful to update to the latest version.
• Seek professional help. If none of these solutions work, ask technical support for help.

Compatibility issues

.pub files sometimes have compatibility issues. They may happen when files are opened on different versions of Microsoft Publisher or other software. If you have them, here are some suggestions to try:

• Save the file in a compatible format. This will help prevent such problems, especially if you save the file in a format supported by most devices. For this click on the “File” menu, select “Save As”, and choose a desirable format.
• Convert the file to a different format. This is an option if you cannot open the PUB file in any program or do not have MS Publisher on your device. If you do have the program, then the conversion can be done using the “Export” option of the “File” menu.
• Update the software. - This also may be helpful to solve the problems of compatibility.
• Use a compatibility pack. - If you are trying to open a PUB file in another program such as Microsoft Word, you might use a compatibility pack that allows you to open and edit PUB files in other MS Office programs. You can download one from the Microsoft official website.
• Seek professional help. Again, if none of these solutions work, ask technical support for help.

Printing problems

Users may encounter printing issues when working with .pub files. It can be poor print quality or wrong page orientation. Let’s try to solve some of them.

Issue	Description(Example)	Suggested solution
Incorrect formatting	The issue may happen with any file format. If, for example, the margins or page size are set incorrectly, the content of the page may not fit on it or shift from the expected position when printing.	Ensure that the paper size and orientation settings are correct. Open the file in Microsoft Publisher and check for any formatting or layout issues. Fix them if there are any.
Corrupted file	The issue may happen due to a number of reasons, such as a software error or file damage during transmission. The pages could miss parts of the content, or even empty pages can be printed	Try to open the file on another device, to see if the problem is linked to the software or not. If not, use one of the suggestions from the next paragraph.
Missing fonts	If the .pub file uses fonts that are not available on the printer, the document may not print correctly with the text appearing differently or not at all.	Add or replace the missing fonts as it was described in the previous chapter.
Printer driver issues	If the printer driver is outdated or does not support the .pub file format, you may not be able to print out your documents.	Make sure that your printer is set up correctly and that it is selected as the default printer. Visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your printer.
Low ink or toner	This is not actually a problem with the PUB format but is also worth mentioning here. When the printer is running low on ink or toner, the printing result may be faded or incomplete.	You need to charge the cartridge with the ink.
Printer hardware issues	Again, this is not actually a problem with the PUB format. If the printer itself is malfunctioning, it may not be able to print the .pub file or any other file correctly.	Take your printer to the service office.

If the issue is not linked to the printer itself but to the format, you may also consider converting pub files to another format with better printing support, like XPS or PDF.

Corrupted PUB files

If you found out that your .pub file is broken you may try the next suggestions to fix it(but first make sure the issue did not appear due to the software malfunctioning):

• Open the file in Safe Mode. - It will disable some features that may be the root of the problem, such as add-ins, custom toolbars, and some settings. To open a Publisher (PUB) file in safe mode, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
2. Make double-click on the desired file.
3. When the file opens in safe mode, you will see a message at the top of the window that says “Publisher has detected a problem with this file. Opening the file in safe mode will help you correct or eliminate the problem.”
4. Click “OK” to continue.
5. Now you can edit and change your file as you wish.

• Use the AutoRecover feature. The program has an AutoRecover feature that automatically saves a copy of your file every few minutes. You can use this feature to recover the file. To do so, follow the next order:

1. Click on the “File” tab and select “Info”.
2. Click on “Manage Document” and select “Recover Unsaved Documents”.
3. Browse to the location where your file was located.
4. Pick up the file you want to recover and click “Open”.
5. If it can be recovered Publisher will open it in a new window.
6. Now you can save the document to your desired location.

• Check for backup copies. If you have enabled the backup feature in Publisher, you may have a backup copy of the file. For this take the steps described in the previous paragraph. Do not forget to save your file regularly when working with it so you do have backup copies to use.

If none of these solutions work, you may have to recreate the file from scratch. Now you know that it is a good idea to regularly back up your files to avoid losing important data.

MS Publisher cannot open the file

If you cannot open pub file and you are sure that your document is not corrupted, follow these steps to resolve the issue:

• Check the file format to see if it is in a compatible format for Microsoft Publisher. The program typically supports files with extensions like .pub, .pdf, .docx, and more. If the file is in a different format, you might need to convert it or find a suitable tool to open it.
• Update Publisher to the latest version. Updates can include bug fixes and improvements that may fix file compatibility issues.
• Try opening the file on another computer with Microsoft Publisher installed to see if the issue is related to the file itself or your system/device.
• Check for errors or messages that Publisher might display. They provide information about why the file can’t be opened.
• Try to open a file in a different compatible application (e.g., Microsoft Word for .docx files, Adobe Acrobat for .pdf files). This can help find out if the issue is with Publisher or the file itself.
• Use conversion tools if the file is in a non-compatible format to transform it to a format that Publisher can open.
• Check if you have the necessary permissions to access and open the file. File permissions and access rights can sometimes prevent you from opening files.
• Reinstall Publisher if nothing mentioned works. Make sure to back up any important files before uninstalling.
• Contact Microsoft Support who might be able to provide further guidance based on your specific situation if nothing else worked.

Remember to keep backups of your important files to avoid potential data loss during fixing the issue with opening .pub files.

MS Publisher cannot save the file

If MS Publisher cannot save the file, try taking these steps to fix the problem:

• Check the file name to make sure it doesn’t contain any special characters, spaces, or symbols that might be causing issues. If you’re using special characters in the file name (e.g., “&,” “#,” “$”), try removing them and saving the file with a simpler name.
• Make sure that you’re saving the file in a compatible/supported format for Microsoft Publisher.
• Check file location to find out if this is a location where you have the necessary permissions and access rights. Sometimes, saving to certain folders or network locations might be restricted.
• Check the file size as extremely large files might encounter issues when saving. If your file is very large, you can reduce its size by compressing images or removing unnecessary elements.
• Check available disk space to make sure you have enough of it to save the file. Insufficient disk space can prevent files from being saved.
• Check for unsaved changes or errors, because MS Publisher might prevent saving the document if there are any.
• Try saving a file in a different format. This can help identify if the issue is specific to the Publisher format.
• Restart MS Publisher. Close the program and reopen it, then try saving the file again.
• Make sure you’re using the latest version of software.
• Run disk cleanup to clear temporary files and potentially resolve saving issues.
• Contact Microsoft Support.

Conclusion

When working with any file format you may face different problems. For MS Publisher files they are: missing fonts, images, or other content, errors with formatting, issues with compatibility, corrupted files, and problems with printing. Every of these issues have ways to resolve them but sometimes the only option left is to convert the file or to create it from scratch.