From: jim@geordieland.com   
      
   In article <10jrm51$2kop8$1@dont-email.me>, nospam@needed.invalid   
   says...   
   >   
   > On Fri, 1/9/2026 2:06 PM, Jim the Geordie wrote:   
   > > In article <10jrbtl$2h7ue$1@dont-email.me>, nospam@needed.invalid   
   > > says...   
   > >>   
   > >> On Fri, 1/9/2026 9:30 AM, J. P. Gilliver wrote:   
   > >>> On 2026/1/9 11:23:55, Jim the Geordie wrote:   
   > >>>> In article <6znfywltn2sm$.dlg@v.nguard.lh>, V@nguard.LH says...   
   > >>>>>   
   > >>>>> Jim the Geordie  wrote:   
   > >>>>>   
   > >>>>>> I have used Microsoft Publisher 'for ever' to produce items like   
   posters   
   > >>>>>> with images.   
   > >>>>>> M$ tell me that Publisher will no longer work after sometime later   
   this   
   > >>>>>> year (2026).   
   > >>>   
   > >>> []   
   > >>>   
   > >>>> In fact, when I opened Publisher, for the first time in months a red   
   > >>>> box, with white text, appeared at the top right of the screen. The gist   
   > >>>> was that I *would not be able to use* Publisher (no version mentioned)   
   > >>>> after October 2026. There was no reason given and the message   
   > >>>> disappeared and did not appear again, either during that use of   
   > >>>> Publisher or when opened later. I am pretty sure that it said 'Will be   
   > >>>   
   > >>> That sounds very odd! Particularly it not appearing again.   
   > >>>   
   > >>   
   > >> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-publis   
   er-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-   
   841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7   
   > >>   
   > >>     "Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit   
   Publisher files in Publisher"   
   > >>   
   > >> It's possible other perpetual (bought) versions would still work,   
   > >> as that article looks like it is about the [modern] version.   
   > >>   
   > >>    Paul   
   > >   
   > > Thanks for clarifying that. Obviously I was not aware of the difference   
   > > and glad now that paid for my versions when I did, although the only   
   > > difference I have noticed is the saving to OneDrive that occurs in   
   > > v2021. As a consequence I find I prefer v2010 so I can find my files   
   > > easier (and open and save files while offline)   
   > > FWIW I had a brief look at Affinity and Scribus. Scribus seems to be   
   > > much nearer to Publisher. Since I am very familiar with Publisher, I   
   > > shall stick with it; until I can't.   
   > >   
   >   
   > Depending on whether the alternative offerings are freeware or paid   
   > products, you should consider acquiring a copy of the free one...   
   > in case it disappears at a later date.   
      
   I have saved both Affinity and Scribus. With Publisher I have created a   
   number of my own 'templates' for posters advertising a local music group   
   with several venues. The joy being that I can just change the dates,   
   colours and names. If I  use either of the above applications on my   
   existing .pub files, they are altered on loading so I would have to   
   learn how to adapt or just forget and start from scratch.   
   If publisher becomes unusable, which I now doubt (after what everybody   
   here has said) then I would probably re-learn how to use Word. The   
   advantage being that most folk can use Word and can edit their own copy.   
   Currently I have to send them a pdf file for them to print as they are   
   unlikly to have Publisher.   
   Thanks to all who have replied to my original question. If I see the   
   'red square' again, I'll take a screen shot.   
   --   
   Jim the Geordie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)