Open older version (Publisher 2000)

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I have received files from a client that are in a different version of Publisher. When I try to open them with my version of Publisher, I get the message “Publisher cannot open files from a different version.” I’ve checked the MS web site for a viewer or converter, but the only help they have is how to convert files to a different format (like pdf, or mht formats), but you have to be able to open the document first, then save it. Is there any way to get these documents printed (which is all I really need to do with them) when I can’t open them first in Publisher?

Thanks.

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Your subject is ‘open older version’ but the error you are getting sounds like you are trying to open files created by a newer version of Publisher. For example the files were created by Publisher 2000 but you are trying to open them using Publisher 98. If this indeed is what you are trying to do, sorry, it can’t be done.

Faced with this problem myself (Pub 2000 files but only Pub 98 program) I asked this forum if there was a file viewer available. Attached is a text file containing the main response I received in reply.

stuck

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Publisher 2002 (the Office XP version) will both open and save publisher files in 2000 and 98 formats. So, if you have Publisher 2000 and the source of the files is Publisher 2002 then you need only ask them to perform a “save as” and choose a file type of Publisher 2000 (the same goes if you have Pub 98, you would ask them to save as Publisher 98.
If there is some reason why you would not want to ask the client to do that then you need to find some willing person with the same (or newer) version to do that for you.
HTH
Ian

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Thanks folks for all your responses. We did have to have the client go back and save all the files (and there were dozens of them) in Publisher 2000. Then we were able to print them out. Also found out that XP Professional does not come with Publisher. Now, why is that? So I guess we’ll be buying the XP Version when we upgrade everything.

Thank for your time and effort. I knew if someone here could not find a way to do it, it could not be done!

Tia

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