MS Publisher alternative?

[Thore]

I've been using MS Publisher 97 for a few years making a monthly
magazine for my motorclub.
The magazine is a small 20-pages one, but the finished *.pub-file is
about 30 MB ...

Recently I've got problems, when the amount of pictures increases (I
think ithe reason is the pictures...)
It's small pictures 40-50 KB and about 10-18 pictures a month.
+ some text.

This evening I had to rewrite most of it because the program said:
"MS Publisher 97 found an error and are shutting down. Send a message to
Microsoft..." (well, something like that - it's in danish)

Is there an alternative to MS Publisher out there?
Running WinXP ... but had the problem 1 year ago also on a Win98
machine. Im looking for something like the Publisher-program...I sort of
like the user interface, but I don't like that nothing else can read the
*.pub-file though..

--
Venlig hilsen / Best regards
Thore Sorensen
DK-2700 Bronshoj / DK-2620 Albertslund

(Erstat evt. AT med @ hvis du mailer direkte)

 

[Don Boring]

I've been using MS Publisher 97 for a few years
Is there an alternative to MS Publisher out there?

This email details both the PAID and FREE versions
of Pageplus from Serif. Please read all before making
your mind up.

I BOUGHT Serif Pageplus 8.0 PDF version a few years
ago for about $20 (a chance 2 day sale I got in on) and
have been upgrading ever since.

This program is in my opinion as powerful as Quark and
better than Adobe Pagemaker for the type of stuff you
are describing, and it only cost $130.

Current version is PagePlus 10.04

But, if you contact http://www.serif.com and call their
customer service number they MIGHT sell you a copy
of the previous version (PagePlus 9.04) on the cheap.
It DOES allow for making PDF files that can be used
by commercial printers.

I HIGHLY recommend this program. I do a monthly
newsletter and flyers on it for a couple of organizations
as well as a 2 color Newspaper on a quarterly basis.

While I am decent at DTPing I am an amatuer and can
assure you that if you use Publisher you could learn PP10
in about 10 minutes. And it is so much more powerful.

PagePlus 10.04 http://serif.com/pageplus/pageplus10/
You can also download a FREE version but it doesn't
have the capability to make a PDF file which allows for
commercial printing. Free program can be found here:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PagePlus/default.asp

HTH,

Don Boring
Glendora, CA USA

 

[d@Za]

PagePlus 10.04 http://serif.com/pageplus/pageplus10/
You can also download a FREE version but it doesn't
have the capability to make a PDF file which allows for
commercial printing. Free program can be found here:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PagePlus/default.asp

PDFing from any program is easily acheived via PDFCreator, a PDF printer
driver, which does version 4 compatible PDFs.
http://sector7g.wurzel6.de/pdfcreator/index_en.htm

So there's a one-two that sounds brilliant =)

 

[Mike Dee]

Is there an alternative to MS Publisher out there?

I find RagTime Solo to be an excellent freeware choice
<http://www.ragtime-online.com/>

"RagTime Solo" is freeware for private use, so it's painless to try out
for discovering if it's a suitable alternative to Publisher.

Cross-platform for Windows and Mac OS's.

It won't open your Publisher files (not many apps do, if any).

 

[Thore]

PDFing from any program is easily acheived via PDFCreator, a PDF printer
driver, which does version 4 compatible PDFs.
http://sector7g.wurzel6.de/pdfcreator/index_en.htm

So there's a one-two that sounds brilliant =)

I forgot to say, that I am, when the 20-pages "book" is finished, I
"print" to PDF Creator (earlier Pdf995), and one of the clubmembers
(working with Canon copiers/printers every day) finish the magazine, so
all I have to do after that is to put labels and stamps on it..

I'll try it out..Thank you everyone

--
Venlig hilsen / Best regards
Thore Sorensen
DK-2700 Bronshoj / DK-2620 Albertslund

(Erstat evt. AT med @ hvis du mailer direkte)

 

[Thore]

I find RagTime Solo to be an excellent freeware choice
<http://www.ragtime-online.com/>

"RagTime Solo" is freeware for private use, so it's painless to try out
for discovering if it's a suitable alternative to Publisher.

Cross-platform for Windows and Mac OS's.

It won't open your Publisher files (not many apps do, if any).

Downloading it right now...Thank you..

--
Venlig hilsen / Best regards
Thore Sorensen
DK-2700 Bronshoj / DK-2620 Albertslund

(Erstat evt. AT med @ hvis du mailer direkte)

 

[jmatt]

Here is another to look at.

PrintMaster Express
http://expressit.broderbund.com/400_co_branding/internationalpaper/printmasterse.asp
PrintMaster Express is a free downloadable print creativity
application that lets you add personality and flair to any occasion!
It is modeled after the award-winning PrintMaster brand of software
that has been recognized by Family PC Magazine as being "Top-Rated"
and "Family Tested and Recommended."
With PrintMaster Express you can easily create Greeting Cards, Note
Cards, Banners, Calendars, Photo Projects and so much more. Other
features include an address book complete with event reminders for
birthdays and anniversaries, plus mail merge capabilities that let
you send personalized letters, invitations, and newsletters.
The interface is easy enough for kids to learn and use, but flexible
enough, providing full functionality for creating a wide variety of
projects. ALL FOR FREE!

* Posted via http://www.sixfiles.com/forum
* Please report abuse to http://xinbox.com/sixfiles

 

[Bob Adkins]

Is there an alternative to MS Publisher out there?

Give OOo a try. The drawing applet, while not as sophisticated as MS
Publisher, may surprise you!

-- Bob

 

[Don Boring]

I've been using MS Publisher 97 for a few years
Is there an alternative to MS Publisher out there?

This email details both the PAID and FREE versions
of Pageplus from Serif. Please read all before making
your mind up.

Free program can be found here: Good But no PDF function..
Of course you could install Ghostwriter or some such, but the
built in PDF function is just about the latest and best with options
for printing professional documents.
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PagePlus/default.asp

But the paid version should be checked out if you are so inclined.

I BOUGHT Serif Pageplus 8.0 PDF version a few years
ago for about $20 (a chance 2 day sale I got in on) and
have been upgrading ever since.

This program is in my opinion as powerful as Quark and
better than Adobe Pagemaker for the type of stuff you
are describing, and it only cost $130.

Current version is PagePlus 10.04

But, if you contact http://www.serif.com and call their
customer service number they MIGHT sell you a copy
of the previous version (PagePlus 9.04) on the cheap.
It DOES allow for making PDF files that can be used
by commercial printers.

I HIGHLY recommend this program. I do a monthly
newsletter and flyers on it for a couple of organizations
as well as a 2 color Newspaper on a quarterly basis.

While I am decent at DTPing I am an amatuer and can
assure you that if you use Publisher you could learn PP10
in about 10 minutes. And it is so much more powerful.

PagePlus 10.04 http://serif.com/pageplus/pageplus10/
You can also download a FREE version but it doesn't
have the capability to make a PDF file which allows for
commercial printing. Free program can be found here:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PagePlus/default.asp

HTH,

Don Boring
Glendora, CA USA

 

[Mel]

SoftCAT is a database program designed to help you organize your
software. Not only will SoftCAT help you know what you have and where it
is, but it will also help you keep track of important information like
serial number, registration name, and other registration information.
You never know when you NEED this information!

More than 30 data fields will help you track information like program
title, version, publisher, platform, type (commercial, freeware,
shareware, etc.), category (Desktop Enhancements, Games, Utilities,
etc.), price, installation date, installation folder, product homepage,
serial number, and registration name.

You can password protect your database to prevent unwanted users from
opening your database. Use the backup function to make backup copies of
your valuable data. SoftCAT uses pop-up menus for quick access and
navigation. SoftCAT comes with a sample database to get you started and
a comprehensive context-sensitive on-line help system.

SoftCAT is intuitive and easy-to-use, and you will soon find that
SoftCAT is all you ever need to keep track of your software.

http://www.fnprg.com/softcat/softcat.html

 

[Bebop & Rocksteady]

Give OOo a try. The drawing applet, while not as sophisticated as MS
Publisher, may surprise you!

and can export to pdf

 

[Sweet Andy]

SoftCAT is a database program designed to help you organize your
software. Not only will SoftCAT help you know what you have and where it
is, but it will also help you keep track of important information like
serial number, registration name, and other registration information.
You never know when you NEED this information!

More than 30 data fields will help you track information like program
title, version, publisher, platform, type (commercial, freeware,
shareware, etc.), category (Desktop Enhancements, Games, Utilities,
etc.), price, installation date, installation folder, product homepage,
serial number, and registration name.

You can password protect your database to prevent unwanted users from
opening your database. Use the backup function to make backup copies of
your valuable data. SoftCAT uses pop-up menus for quick access and
navigation. SoftCAT comes with a sample database to get you started and
a comprehensive context-sensitive on-line help system.

SoftCAT is intuitive and easy-to-use, and you will soon find that
SoftCAT is all you ever need to keep track of your software.

http://www.fnprg.com/softcat/softcat.html

Great program, but they ruined it with the latest 'features'. The old basic
1.230 version is what I use.

 

[Nicolaas Hawkins]

Great program, but they ruined it with the latest 'features'. The old basic
1.230 version is what I use.

And how does it stack up as a desktop publisher? (That's what this thread
was about!)

 

[John Fitzsimons]

This email

What email ? This is a newsgroup post.

details both the PAID and FREE versions
of Pageplus from Serif. Please read all before making
your mind up.

You can also download a FREE version but it doesn't
have the capability to make a PDF file which allows for
commercial printing. Free program can be found here:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PagePlus/default.asp

What you didn't mention however is their very annoying requirement to
"register" their product(s) every time one gets a new computer and/or
certain hardware. Even older versions of Publisher don't require one
to do that.

People like myself who change hardware regularly can do without this.
A pity really. Otherwise I might even be happy to pay for some/all of
their products.

Regards, John.

 

[Mike Dee]

SoftCAT is all you ever need to keep track of your software.

Erm... WTF does this have to do with the thread?

 

[Don Boring]

Erm... WTF does this have to do with the thread?

I am glad that I am not the only one that noted this!
A Troll must be afoot. Somebody ask about DTP software
EVEN THOUGH a thread had come through a day before
on the topic, and I answered it anyway with a recommendation
for Serif and then this SOFTCAT subject jumped the thread
and away we went. Go home Jake, It's just the USENET.

DB

 

[Bebop & Rocksteady]

Erm... WTF does this have to do with the thread?

Was kinda woundering that myself...