PUB (Publisher)
Also known as: .pub file, Microsoft Publisher document, Publisher file
PUB is the file format of Microsoft Publisher, a desktop-publishing app for flyers, newsletters, and brochures. The format is proprietary to Publisher, so other programs open it poorly — most people export to PDF for sharing.
- Microsoft Publisher desktop-publishing layout
- Proprietary; poorly supported outside Publisher
- Export to PDF for reliable sharing
What Publisher files contain
A .pub file holds a page-layout design: text boxes, images, and graphics arranged for print, the way you would build a flyer or brochure. Publisher targets simple desktop publishing rather than long word-processing documents.
The format is tightly tied to Microsoft Publisher and is poorly supported elsewhere, which makes .pub awkward to open if you do not have the app installed.
Sharing and opening PUB
To send a Publisher design to someone, export it to PDF from within Publisher — that preserves the layout and opens anywhere. Some office suites can import .pub with limited fidelity.
Publisher files can carry embedded images, so size depends on the artwork inside. For an end result that is universally viewable, a PDF export is almost always the right format.