The Publisher Retirement Kit
A 35-page, plain-English guide plus an Excel inventory workbook that walks you through finding, saving, and replacing your Microsoft Publisher files before Publisher is retired on October 1, 2026.
You do not have to rebuild everything
One of the most important ideas in this kit is simple: not every old Publisher file needs to become a new editable document.
That 2014 picnic flyer? Probably not. The monthly newsletter your organization still updates? Absolutely.
The kit includes a simple file-triage system, so you decide what each publication actually needs instead of spending hours recreating things you only ever needed to preserve:
A complete plan, broken into three parts
Save What You Have
- Find .pub files across your computer, cloud storage, and shared drives
- Inventory what you have and decide what actually needs attention
- Back up your originals safely, before you touch anything
- Convert important publications to PDF, and verify the PDF before you rely on it
- Decide, page by page: is a PDF archive enough, or do you need an editable replacement?
- Gather fonts, logos, photos, and brand assets before you rebuild anything
- Build a “publication snapshot” for anything you make on a recurring basis
Choose What Comes Next
Not everyone needs the same Publisher replacement. Compare your realistic options in plain English, plus dedicated Canva and LibreOffice walkthroughs for moving recurring publications into a cleaner workflow.
Make the Switch
- Rebuild your first active template — one clean success beats 50 half-finished files
- Set up a sensible new folder structure, so future-you can actually find things
- Plan a whole-team migration, with one owner and one plan
- Tell your team what's changing — a ready-to-edit email is included, with a church/nonprofit version
- Work with a commercial printer without surprises
- Troubleshoot the most common migration problems
- Complete a final sign-off checklist so you know you're actually done
One download, two files, yours to keep
1 × The Publisher Retirement Kit (PDF, 35 pages)
The complete guide, plus printable inventory worksheets, a printable whole-team checklist, and a final sign-off page — all built in.
1 × Publisher File Inventory (Excel Workbook)
For tracking dozens or hundreds of files digitally, sorted by status: Active, Archive, Rebuild, Review, or Delete.
Both files are yours to use within your own organization.
Built for real people, not IT departments
You do not need to be technical. This kit was designed for the person who happily used Publisher for years because it worked — and now just wants a clear plan for what comes next.
Questions people actually ask before buying
What exactly do I get when I buy the Publisher Retirement Kit?
One instant download: a 32-page PDF guide (with printable worksheets and checklists built in) and a companion Excel inventory workbook. No physical product, no shipping — you can start working through it in the next five minutes.
Do I need any technical skills to use this?
No. It's written in plain English for people who have never touched a file-conversion tool before, with clear, step-by-step instructions at every stage.
Does it tell me exactly which software to switch to?
It compares your realistic options — Canva, LibreOffice, Word, PowerPoint, and Affinity — so you can choose based on what you actually make, with dedicated Canva and LibreOffice walkthroughs once you've picked.
What if I don't finish before October 1, 2026?
The kit is built around triage, not perfection. The goal is to protect what matters first — you can keep working through the rest of the plan at your own pace, even after the deadline passes.
Can my whole team or organization use one purchase?
Yes — both files are yours to use within your own organization. The kit also includes a team migration plan and a ready-to-edit email (with a version written specifically for churches and nonprofits) for looping in everyone else.
Is this a subscription?
No — it's a one-time purchase and instant download. It's yours to keep, with no recurring charges.
Find your files. Preserve what matters. Choose your replacement. Make the switch.
You don't need to recreate your entire publishing history — you just need a clear plan. This kit walks you through all four steps.
Get the Retirement Kit — $19.99