Importing Word 2000 files (including graphics) into Publisher 2003?

[bbriley]

Hi All,

I am writing to see whether Word 2000 files, including graphics, can be
imported directly into a new Publisher 2003 document. Let me explain:

At work, a few years ago, a special group created some tech manuals -
including screenshots - for social workers in WordPerfect (WP) 8 and 9.
The department (social services) IT soon thereafter stopped supporting
WP and switched us over to Word 2000. These manuals, however, didn't
import into word properly - the screen shots got all fouled up. A year
ago, to preserve electronic copies of these tech manuals (the .wpd
manuals), I used my own WordPerfect 12 to export the manuals into Adobe
Acrobat (.pdf) format.

Right now, these manuals need some editing. This week, the IT
department used Adobe Acrobat 7 Pro to export these manuals into .doc
format. My question is, could Publisher 2003 import one of these new
..doc manuals including screenshots in one "lump" so that I can work
with them in Publisher instead of in Word 2000? If so, I can submit a
request for the department to purchase Publisher 2003 for my use here.
I have Publisher 2000 at work and at home, but it cannot import whole
..doc files with graphics (and the Microsoft website said I should be
able to in Publisher 2003 - which is why I am writing to the group
here).

Thanks for any help here.

Bob R. in New Mexico

 

[Mary Sauer]

You can import Word documents into Publisher. The formatting will need work
especially with graphics involved. You will have no control over the text box
margins. If the file is large it will take a while to convert. The images will not
convert as you will expect. The wrapping will be lost.
Since you already have Publisher 2000 why not create a text box using the margins you
choose, select all the text in the Word document, copy and paste/paste special into
the text box, Publisher will automatically create new text boxes and pages. Copy and
paste the images separately. It is time consuming, but in the long run it will look
better.

 

[BobR]

Hi Mary,

I really appreciated your reply, which was quite helpful. Thank you
very much.

These manuals are pretty large for me (15-55 pages) and - as for many
of us, as you know - my time is limited for such projects. But I am
really considering what you have said. My backup plan is to go back to
the original .wpd doc's using my WP 12 at home (WP isn't supported at
work any more) to do the essential editing required and then export
them again into .pdf.

Your guidance is also very relevant to another project I finished in
October - creating a 22 page user manual in Word for an optional class
on Word 2000 for our Children, Youth and Families Dept employees. Now
I want to do some editing on that and will definitely do what you
proposed!!! I look forward to that project - I am sure that if I had
known what I was doing, I wouldn't have had so much trouble with
screenshot images jumping from page to page with some text editing
(sigh....), regardless of whether the images were placed above or below
the text level. I am betraying my ignorance with that statement!
Anyway, I want to edit that Word manual in Publisher 2000 and will do
just what you proposed. Thank you, with a sigh of relief.

Bob Riley

 

[Mary Sauer]

Good luck with your projects. I'm sure you will work it out okay. I appreciate your
feedback, it is always appreciated.