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Error message when you try to open a Publisher 2.0 publication in Publisher 2003, Publisher 2002, or Publisher 2000: Publisher cannot open this file

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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article

This article contents is Microsoft Copyrighted material.
©2005-©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Trademarks

Article ID: 924685 - Last Review: March 13, 2007 - Revision: 2.2

Error message when you try to open a Publisher 2.0 publication in Publisher 2003, Publisher 2002, or Publisher 2000: "Publisher cannot open this file"

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a Microsoft Publisher 2.0 publication in Microsoft Office Publisher 2003, Microsoft Publisher 2002, or Microsoft Publisher 2000, you receive the following error message:
Publisher cannot open this file. This file was saved from an earlier version of Publisher. Publisher no longer supports files that were saved in this version.
Additionally, you are no longer able to copy and paste content between separate instances of Publisher 2000. If you copy content from one instance of Publisher 2000, switch to a separate instance of Publisher, and then try to paste the content, nothing happens. Additionally, after you try to paste the content, the Paste command is unavailable (dimmed) as if there was nothing in the clipboard.

CAUSE

This issue occurs after you install one of the following security updates for Publisher 2003, Publisher 2002, or Publisher 2000:
  • 894542  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=894542/ ) Description of the security update for Publisher 2003: September 12, 2006
  • 894541  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=894541/ ) Description of the security update for Publisher 2002: September 12, 2006
  • 894540  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=894540/ ) Description of the security update for Publisher 2000: September 12, 2006

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, you must have access to a copy of Publisher 2003, Publisher 2002, or Publisher 2000 that has not been updated with one of the security updates that are mentioned in the "Cause" section.

Note You cannot use this procedure if Publisher has been updated either by the security updates that are mentioned in the "Cause" section or by later updates.

Follow these steps:
  1. Start Publisher.
  2. On the File menu, click Open.
  3. Locate the file that you want, and then click Open.
  4. On the File menu, click Save As.
  5. In the Save as type box, click Publisher Files.
  6. Name the file, and then click Save.

APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Office Publisher 2003
  • Microsoft Publisher 2002 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Publisher 2000 Standard Edition
Keywords: 
kbtshoot kbsavefile kbopenfile kbprb KB924685
       

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