Is It Possible To Get Microsoft Publisher For Free?

[windywillow]

I've found a website called FDM Lib which states that you can download Microsoft Office Publisher 16.0 for free.

Will it harm my computer if I give it a go? It sounds too good to be true.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Buenchico]

I wouldn't trust it!

Scribus is just as good, or quite possibly better, and it's totally free:
https://www.scribus.net/

[Sunk]

Microsoft Publisher is awful.
I remember when I sometimes had to use it. I was being paid.
I cannot fathom why anyone would use such garbage voluntarily unless they were locked in a secure institution and were being subjected to some cruel punishment.

Leave well alone.

[windywillow]

Thanks for replies, both.

Chris, I clicked on that link but it wasn't clear what I needed to click on to download it. I'm not good with computers, only know the basics unfortunately.

I have Windows 10 and a Dell Laptop. Please could you try to explain to me how I can download your recommendation? Many thanks.

[Buenchico]

Assuming that you're using a 64-bit version of Windows 10 (which is almost certainly what you've got if your laptop is reasonably modern), click this link to download the setup file for the relevant version of Scribus:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scribus/files/scribus/1.4.8/scribus-1.4.8-windows-x64.exe/download

Depending how you've got your laptop configured, you'll either be asked where to save the file to or it will automatically go into your 'Downloads' folder. Once the file has finished downloading, go to its location and double-click on it in order to start the setup process.

[windywillow]

Thanks Chris, much appreciated, I'll give it a go.

[Buenchico]

Correction! This version is more recent. (It won't matter if you've installed from my first link though. The software will still work and you'll probably be invited to update it anyway):
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scribus/files/scribus-svn/1.5.7.svn/scribus-1.5.7.svn-snapshot-20201207-x64.exe/download

[windywillow]

Chris, it's asking me for my personal details. Do I need to fill that in?

[windywillow]

Chris, I've got a message saying Ghostscript is missing. :o/

[Buenchico]

Fill in what you like. It won't really make much difference.

[Buenchico]

Crossed posts! Hang on a moment and I'll get back to you.

[Buenchico]

Download and run the Ghostscript installation file.
https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/ghostpdl-downloads/releases/download/gs9533/gs9533w64.exe

Then try to install/run Scribus again.

[windywillow]

Thanks Chris, I've done that and managed to create a document and a text box, but when I type in the text box nothing appears. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. :0(

[Buenchico]

Hang on a moment. I've not used Scribus for ages. (I've got a VERY old version of Microsoft Publisher on this computer, together with Serif PagePlus X7, which meet all of my DTP needs these days.). I'll install Scribus myself and come back to you.

[windywillow]

That's very kind, thanks very much Chris. I used to have Publisher on my old computer, I was used to it and knew my way around it. I'm struggling with this new one.

[Buenchico]

Back again!

If you look across the top of the window, you'll see that there are three 'T' symbols. The first one, which I think you've already discovered, is the tool to create a text box. Once you've done so, click on the SECOND 'T' symbol, which is the text editor tool. That will place a cursor inside the text box, enabling you to start typing in the usual way.

[windywillow]

Gotcha, thank you so much Chris.