As a service provider, I never want to say, “Can you send that again? I don’t know how, or I can’t open that file type.”
Instead of asking for a different file type, I usually use one of the MANY online converters.
Convert Microsoft Publisher to a PDF
For instance, just today, I used a Pub to PDF (https://www.zamzar.com/convert/pub-to-pdf/) converter to view the details of a Publisher file a client emailed over. This client emailed me the Microsoft Publisher file rather than an image or a PDF file. I just needed to read the details of the files and capture the date, time, and cost, so using an online converter was the perfect tool for the job.
Caveat
Now, as a caveat, if a client sends a low-res JPG and I need a vector file, I’ll ask them to keep digging until they find an editable file I can use and manipulate. However, if they send me a Publisher file and I don’t use Microsoft Publisher, I will not ask them to send it again.
New designer tip: use online converters
Online converters are excellent for changing video and audio file extensions — especially for HEIC or AVIF image file conversion.
Essentially, if a client sends you a file, you can convert it to anything you need with online converters.
Use an online converter to turn this native Microsoft Publisher file ending in a .pub extension into a PDF. A good example is the Pub to PDF online converter.
