A bit of an unusal post today, a lament for Microsoft Publisher. This piece of software has been part of the Microsoft Office suite since its creation in the early 1990s, and has been instrumental in the creation of all media produced for the model products (instructions and box labels) and promotions (catalogues, leaflets and banners). It is the software I was introduced to in my education, and was used throughout my teaching career to create posters and worksheets, transferring these skills to the documents you can see produced for Fourdees today.

In two weeks, Microsoft are withdrawing the software. Given the latest trends for the biggest tech companies to only let us rent software, rather than own it, this means the hundreds of files we have created will be defunct. Yes, there are now other products available, from other companies, but these come at more expense in further rental payment and the time to learn the software. For small companies such as ourselves, this is a little depressing.

For now, there is a workaround, and Libre Office Draw can open and edit the files, but only through converting to PDF format first. It's not perfect, and there are cropping and grouping issues, but it's better than nothing. So, along with keeping the printers busy with restocks, we currently have the mindnumbing task of converting hundreds of label, instruction, leaftlet, catalogue, poster and banner files to PDF before the software disappears.

Rest assure, we have no plans to ever only let you rent models, and instead plan to use the old fashioned route of constant development of new and improved models so that you keep coming back for more 😊