[CoLoCo] open source alternative to MS Publisher?

[Neal McBurnett]

A friend asks me this question, but I know almost nothing about
Publisher or Scribus. Any advice for him?

> Do you know of a good open-source alternative to Microsoft Publisher
> - one that might even be somewhat compatible with Publisher (able to
> open Publisher files, etc.)? Our organization is weaning itself from
> Microsoft (Open Office instead of Microsoft Office, etc.) but we
> heavily use Publisher. I know about Scribus - but the method of
> getting a pub file into Scribus isn't at all straightforward or
> reliable... Any advice?"

Neal McBurnett http://neal.mcburnett.org/

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[Andrew Barney]

I've tried to use scribus myself. It's usable i suppose, but i never really liked the interface. If one can get used to the interface it probably would be an ok alternative. I dont think it can open publisher files. Fullcirclemagazine has some nice scribus tutorial articles. http://fullcirclemagazine.org/download-manager.php?id=1

I myself was introduced to Adobe InDesign in a graphics art class. Since then i never could settle for any other program. I use InDesign in virtualbox. Its proprietary, but way better than publisher in my opinion. I've heard good things about Quark too, but again its another proprietary software. Perhaps there is a chance to use the money you save on msoffice to buy indesign? heh heh

If he wants any chance to use his old files with Scribus or InDesign, or any other program his best bet would to export into EPS or PDF files.

Thats my two cents. take it with a grain of salt.

-Andrew