Microsoft Publisher Files Conversion Tool – Habitat for Humanity
Markzware recently spoke with Mikaela Martin (marketing and public relations director at Habitat for Humanity in Bucks County in Chalfont, Pennsylvania) about one of the many challenges she faces in her role of being in charge of all communications.
Markzware: Tell us a bit about your role with Habitat for Humanity.
Martin: I’m in charge of the Marketing and Public Relations for the past six years, and all communications. I edit our print and electronic newsletters, maintain our website and coordinate redesign (which we happen to be in the middle of right now), send press releases and maintain relationships with the local media, coordinate and facilitate the creation of all marketing collateral, create filers and postcards, take photographs – and more!
Markzware: What types of print and/or electronic media are you responsible for producing?
Martin: We are responsible for producing a monthly electronic e-newsletter, event fliers, postcards, invitations and partnership/sponsorship documents.
Markzware: What are some of the key creative applications that make up your workflow now? Obviously, you’re using Adobe CS Design in some way?
Martin: Adobe CS Design is the only desktop publishing software that we currently use in our offices. For website work, we use Dreamweaver, though we are in the process of moving to a CMS program, and to resize and crop photos, we use Photoshop.
Markzware: How are Microsoft Publisher Files introduced to your workflow?
Martin: Through Pub2ID before moving from Windows to Mac, we used Microsoft Publisher for all of our marketing and communication needs. These files are inaccessible through InDesign without Pub2ID – if we didn’t have the Adobe CS plug in, Pub2ID, these files would be lost to us!
Markzware: I understand that you purchased Markzware’s plug-in Pub2ID. When did you buy that application, and what prompted you to do so?
Martin: We downloaded the program online. While making the switch from Windows to Mac, and therefore Publisher to InDesign, we discovered that our Publisher files could not be opened on the Mac. Through a designer friend, I learned about the Pub2ID plug in, which sounded like a great application for us.
Markzware: How has Pub2ID worked for you? How does it enable you to bring Publisher Files into InDesign, and is the process easy/seamless?
Martin: It’s been great! I can’t begin to explain the time it has saved. If it weren’t for Pub2ID, we would have to print a hard copy of the Publisher document, then using that as a guide, completely recreate it in InDesign. Pub2ID allows us to open the Publisher files inside InDesign and make updates and formatting changes as usual.
Markzware: Have you encountered any problems with the document conversion? And if so, what types of issues have you run into?
Martin: Occasionally, we run into formatting issues with fonts and graphics. Once the user has a basic understanding of InDesign down however, these issues are easily resolved.
Markzware: Generally speaking, was the investment in Pub2ID worthwhile? Have you been able to justify the expenditure, and if so, how quickly did it pay for itself?
Martin: Yes – totally worth it! As I mentioned, the staff time saved has been absolutely phenomenal.
