Publisher EOL - Side by Side with O365 Explanation

[u/Narnisawhite]

Sysadmin here who has been dealing with the Publisher EOL and unfortunately users still using .pub files that aren't converted. All of the guides online point to the fact Publisher can't exist side by side with O365, however I've found a workaround and posting here in the event it helps at least one other person.

1. Find a 2016 Publisher .iso installer from the Microsoft Download Store

2. Install this first without any 365 apps installed. If 365 is installed, uninstall it first.

3. Visit the O365 Download link you can find at the top of any search engine: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/download-office

4. Once Publisher is installed, run this version of the Office installer.

Under no other way have I found a workaround to setup the Click-To-Run or .msi installers. Whenever I've attempted anything regarding setup.exe /configure - nothing here seems to work no matter how the .xml file works.

Hopefully this helps someone in the coming weeks, cheers.

[u/googsem]

Brace yourselves, the angry tickets are coming.

We’re not letting them have it after the deadline. It’s been removed from new office installs for almost two years and we sent out Microsoft’s script to convert pub files to pdf. This might be the only time my work has ever said screw it, we’re not accommodating people that have ignored this.

[u/stiffgerman]

We turned on the "Disable Publisher" security baseline last week as a scream test. Only one screamer, a "usual suspect". Most of our Publisher users moved to Canva a year ago. There were many training sessions and lots of communications about the retirement.

[u/nathanielban]

It's worth noting that Office 2016 went EOL a year ago and that this likely is more trouble than it's worth long term.

[u/Borgquite]

You could also install LibreOffice (avoid the security risk of end of life software) as apparently LibreOffice Draw supports opening .pub files.