How to Open a Pub File on a Mac

To read or print a .PUB file on a Mac, convert it to PDF. To edit the file, open it using the open source LibreOffice Draw application.
To read or print a Microsoft Publisher PUB file on a Mac, convert the PUB file to PDF format to view and print the PDF. To edit a PUB file on a Mac, open the file using the free, open source LibreOffice Draw application.
Read or Print the File
Converting a PUB file to PDF format enables you to view and print it on the Mac. Several websites convert PUB files to PDF files at no charge, including Online2PDF, Zamzar, PDFConvertOnline and freePDFConvert.com.
To use each of these sites, open the site and follow the step-by-step instructions.
Select the PUB file to be converted and -- depending on the site -- you may need to set the output format to PDF and enter your email address. Then press the Convert or Convert Now! button.
When the conversion is complete, each site gives access to the converted file in different ways; the converted file downloads automatically, you're sent an email with a link to download the converted file, or you're taken to a Web page with a link to download the converted file.
These sites work well if all you need to do is view or print the PUB file, but they do not allow you to edit the file. The converted PDF file is not editable like a normal PDF file, even if you have an application that can edit PDF files.
Tip
Some sites also allow you to convert PUB files to other formats such as Microsoft Word. But even in other formats the converted file may not be editable using normal text and formatting operations.
Edit the File
LibreOffice is an open source suite of applications that provides functions similar to Microsoft's Office suite. LibreOffice Draw version 4.0 and above for both Mac and Windows can open and edit Microsoft Publisher files. To open and edit a PUB file on your Mac, download and install LibreOffice.

Open LibreOffice and double-click Open File on the side bar.

Browse and select the PUB file and press the Open button.

Tip
LibreOffice version 4.0 and above opens PUB files created in Microsoft Publisher version 2003 and higher. To open PUB files created in earlier versions of Microsoft Publisher, first open the file in Microsoft Publisher 2003 or higher and save to Microsoft Publisher 2003 format before opening in LibreOffice Draw.
Saving the File in Alternate Formats
The PUB file is imported into LibreOffice Draw as a fully editable document, but the file is not compatible with other word processing, presentation or drawing programs. You can only save the file in one of the ODF Drawing format file types -- ODG, OTG, or FODG. To save the document in a format other than ODF Draw, open the PUB file in LibreOffice.

From the File menu, create a new document in another LibreOffice application that supports the format you want to save in. For example, for Microsoft Word format, select Text Document, for Microsoft Excel format select Spreadsheet, and for Microsoft PowerPoint format select Presentation.


In the LibreOffice Draw window, select all the elements of the drawing -- including all text boxes, images and objects -- and copy them. In the LibreOffice window for your new document, right-click and select Paste.
All the selected elements are copied in the same position in the new document. After they are copied into the new document, each individual element may be edited separately, and the document may be saved in any format supported by the selected LibreOffice application.