How to Extract Images and Text from Publisher Files

Sometimes you don't need the full layout of a Publisher file—you just need the images, text, or other content inside. Maybe you're rebuilding a flyer in a different tool and need the logo. Or you need to recover text from an old newsletter. Here's how to extract content from .pub files without relying on Publisher.

Why You'd Extract Content Instead of Converting

Full file conversion preserves layout, which is great when you're reproducing a document. But sometimes you just need pieces:

• An image embedded in an old flyer for reuse
• Text content from a newsletter to repurpose
• Contact information or details you can't find elsewhere
• Elements for a redesign in a modern tool

Extracting specific content is often faster than converting the whole file and then pulling out what you need.

Method 1: Convert to PDF and Extract

The most reliable way to extract images and text from a Publisher file is to convert it to PDF first. PDFs are universal, and many tools can extract content from them.

Step 1: Convert the .pub file to PDF

Use LibreOffice or a conversion service to turn your .pub file into a PDF.

With LibreOffice:

soffice --headless --convert-to pdf document.pub

Or upload your file to a conversion service that outputs PDF.

Step 2: Extract images from the PDF

Several free tools extract images from PDFs:

Using pdfimages (Linux/Mac):

pdfimages document.pdf output-prefix

This saves every image in the PDF as a separate file.

Using Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free):

1. Open the PDF
2. Right-click on an image
3. Choose "Save Image As"

Using online tools:

Search for "extract images from PDF" to find free web-based tools. Upload your PDF and download the images.

Step 3: Extract text from the PDF

Using pdftotext (Linux/Mac):

pdftotext document.pdf output.txt

This saves all the text in a plain text file.

Using Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1. Open the PDF
2. Select text with your cursor
3. Copy and paste into a text editor

Using online tools:

Search for "extract text from PDF" to find web-based tools that convert PDF to editable text.

Method 2: Convert to PowerPoint and Extract

If you convert the .pub file to PowerPoint (PPTX) instead of PDF, you get editable content right away.

Step 1: Convert the .pub file to PPTX

Use a conversion service that outputs PowerPoint files.

Step 2: Open the PPTX file

Open the PowerPoint file in Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, or LibreOffice Impress.

Step 3: Extract what you need

• Images: Right-click an image and choose "Save as Picture"
• Text: Select and copy text, then paste into a document or text editor
• Shapes and graphics: Copy and paste into another design tool

PowerPoint makes extraction easy because everything is already editable.

Method 3: Use LibreOffice Draw Directly

If you have LibreOffice installed, you can open .pub files directly in LibreOffice Draw and extract content from there.

Step 1: Open the .pub file in LibreOffice Draw

Right-click the .pub file and choose "Open with LibreOffice Draw."

Step 2: Select and copy content

• Images: Click an image, then Edit → Copy, or right-click and choose "Copy"
• Text: Click a text box, select all text, then copy it
• Shapes: Select shapes and copy them

Step 3: Paste into your target application

Paste the content into a document, image editor, or design tool.

Limitations: LibreOffice's .pub support isn't perfect. Some elements might not display correctly, but basic images and text usually work fine.

Method 4: Extract Images from the .pub File Directly

.pub files are compound documents stored in a proprietary format, but sometimes you can extract embedded images by treating the file as a binary file and searching for image headers.

This method is technical and not guaranteed to work, but it's worth trying if other methods fail.

Using a hex editor or file carving tool:

1. Open the .pub file in a hex editor (like HxD on Windows or Hex Fiend on Mac)
2. Search for image file signatures:
3. JPEG: FF D8 FF
4. PNG: 89 50 4E 47
5. BMP: 42 4D
6. Copy the data from the signature to the end of the image
7. Save it as a new image file

This is advanced and tedious, but it can recover images when conversion isn't an option.

Using binwalk (Linux):

Binwalk is a tool that searches for and extracts files embedded in binary data.

binwalk -e document.pub

It may find and extract embedded images, though results vary.

Method 5: Screenshot the File

If you can open the .pub file in Publisher or LibreOffice, but conversion fails or you only need a quick visual reference, take a screenshot.

Windows: Press Win + Shift + S to use the Snipping Tool.

Mac: Press Cmd + Shift + 4 to capture a portion of the screen.

Linux: Use the screenshot tool included with your desktop environment.

This isn't ideal for high-quality image extraction, but it works for logos, text snippets, or reference layouts.

Method 6: Ask the Original Creator

If you received the .pub file from someone else, ask if they still have the original images, text documents, or source files. They may have kept the content separate from the Publisher file.

This is especially useful for logos, photos, or lengthy text blocks that were imported into Publisher from elsewhere.

Extracting Text for Reuse

Once you've extracted text from a Publisher file (via PDF, PPTX, or LibreOffice), clean it up:

• Remove extra line breaks: Publisher may have used multiple text boxes, which introduces unwanted breaks.
• Fix formatting: Bold, italic, and font choices may not transfer perfectly. Reformat as needed.
• Check for errors: OCR or text extraction can introduce mistakes, especially with unusual fonts.

Extracting Images for Reuse

After extracting images, check their quality:

• Resolution: Publisher may have downsampled images. If the extracted image is too small or pixelated, try to find the original high-resolution version.
• Format: JPEG is fine for photos. PNG is better for logos and graphics with transparency.
• Editing: Use an image editor like GIMP, Photoshop, or Canva to crop, resize, or adjust extracted images.

When Extraction Isn't Enough

If you need the full layout, not just individual pieces, convert the entire file instead of extracting content. This preserves positioning, fonts, and design elements.

Learn more about opening and converting Publisher files.

Organizing Extracted Content

After extracting images and text from several Publisher files, organize them:

• Create folders by type: "Images," "Text," "Logos"
• Use descriptive filenames: "church-logo-2024.png" instead of "image1.png"
• Back up your extracted content: Store it in cloud storage or an external drive

This makes reusing content easier later.

Next Steps

Extracting images and text from Publisher files gives you access to your content even after Publisher retires. Whether you need a logo, a paragraph of text, or all the photos from an old newsletter, these methods help you recover what you need.

For full file conversion with both editable and print-ready output, start with a free preview to see how your Publisher files convert.