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PUB ODT
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Convert PUB to ODT

Can you convert PUB to ODT?
Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Sep 8, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert PUB to ODT?
No - not a direct conversion.

Export the .pub to PDF to preserve the layout, or in Publisher use File > Save As > DOCX and then open that file in LibreOffice Writer and save as .odt. LibreOffice Draw can nominally open .pub and save as ODT, but the output is a layout document, not an editable text file.

No direct path
Also to ODT: OTT · TMD · SXW

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert PUB to ODT?

PUB stores content as positioned frames at exact page coordinates, while ODT (OpenDocument Text) is a reflowable paragraph format with no concept of absolute positioning. Forcing the conversion produces broken text with lost images and no usable layout - the content models are fundamentally incompatible.

How to convert PUB to ODT

LibreOffice Writer FREE

In Publisher, export the .pub as .docx, then open that file in LibreOffice Writer and use File > Save As > ODF Text Document (.odt); expect to fix the layout manually as positioned frames do not map to paragraphs.

Apache OpenOffice Writer FREE

Convert the .pub to .docx in Publisher first, then open in Apache OpenOffice Writer and save as .odt; no Publisher layout will transfer cleanly.

Programs that convert PUB

Apache OpenOffice Writer (OpenOffice.org Writer)
LibreOffice Writer

About these formats

.PUB Microsoft Publisher Document

A PUB file is a Microsoft Publisher document - a fixed print-layout file for flyers, newsletters, brochures, and cards. If you have Publisher (Office 2021 or older Microsoft 365), open it…

Open .PUB details →
.ODT OpenDocument Text

An ODT file is an OpenDocument Text document - the vendor-neutral word-processing format native to LibreOffice Writer and Apache OpenOffice. Microsoft Word opens ODT directly (since Word…

Open .ODT details →

Quality & what to watch

  • No converter produces a properly structured ODT text file from a .pub; positioned frames cannot map to reflowable paragraphs.
  • PDF is the recommended format for preserving Publisher layouts; use DOCX as an intermediate if you specifically need editable text in an ODF suite.
  • LibreOffice Draw can open .pub and save as ODT, but the output is a layout document rather than an editable LibreOffice Writer file.

Frequently asked questions

Can LibreOffice convert PUB directly to ODT?
LibreOffice Draw can open .pub and save as ODT, but the output is a layout document, not an editable word-processor file.
What should I convert PUB files to before Publisher ends in 2026?
PDF for layout fidelity; DOCX if you need editable text - ODT is not a practical target for Publisher content.
Is there an online PUB to ODT converter?
Online converters claiming this produce unreliable output due to the layout-versus-reflowable mismatch; use PDF as the target format instead.
I no longer have Publisher - how can I extract text from a PUB file?
Open the .pub in LibreOffice Draw (free) and manually copy text from each text frame; no automated extraction to ODT is reliable.