How to use the Pack and Go feature in Microsoft Publisher (302938)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Publisher 2003
  • Microsoft Publisher 2002
  • Microsoft Publisher 2000

This article was previously published under Q302938

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use the Pack and Go feature in Microsoft Publisher. Use Pack and Go when you want to package your publication and move it to another computer, or prepare and package your files to take to a commercial printing service. The Pack and Go Wizard names and numbers packed files and adds a .puz file extension. In addition, a Readme.txt file and an Unpack.exe program are included with the packed files. Pack and Go is an easy way to simplify the process of preparing, packing, and unpacking your publication files.

MORE INFORMATION

To pack your publication and move it to another computer, follow these steps in the order shown.

Pack Your Publication

  1. Start Microsoft Publisher, and then open the publication that you want to pack.
  2. On the File menu, point to Pack and Go, and then click Take to Another Computer to start the Pack and Go Wizard.
  3. Click Next in the Pack your files to take to another computer dialog box.
  4. In the Select the location for saving your files dialog box, specify where you would like to pack your publication to, and then click Next.

    Note that Pack and Go will split large publications across multiple disks if you pack your publication to the A drive.
  5. In the Include fonts and graphics dialog box, click to select the options that you want to include, and then click Next.
  6. In the Pack my publication dialog box, click Finish.

    The wizard compresses your publication into Packednn.puz files (where nn is the number of the packed file), and packs the files into an Unpack.exe file. You then use Unpack.exe to unpack your files.

    You receive a message that states "Your publication is successfully packed."
  7. Click OK.

Unpack and Open Your Publication on Another Computer

For security reasons, do not run Unpack.exe on a disk that comes from an unknown or untrusted source. Because Unpack.exe is an executable file, a malicious sender could use it as a means of introducing a possibly harmful computer virus to your system. If you receive a packed publication from an unknown or untrusted source, Microsoft recommends that you replace the version of Unpack.exe on the disk given to you with the version of Unpack.exe on your hard disk. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Insert the disk that contains the packed publication into the appropriate drive on your computer.
  2. Right-click Start, and then click Explore.
  3. Locate the folder on your hard disk that contains Unpack.exe.

    Unpack.exe is typically located in the following folder, depending on the version of Publisher that is installed on the computer. Note that drive represents the drive on which Publisher is installed:
    • Publisher 2003:

      drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\1033
    • Publisher 2002:

      drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\1033
    • Publisher 2000:

      drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\1033
  4. Drag Unpack.exe from its folder on your hard disk to the disk that contains the packed publication you want to open.
  5. When you are prompted with the question of whether to replace the Unpack.exe on the destination disk, click Yes.
To unpack the publication, follow these steps:
  1. Insert the disk into the appropriate drive on your computer.
  2. On the Windows desktop, double-click My Computer.
  3. Double-click the drive that contains the packed Publisher files.
  4. Double-click Unpack.exe.
  5. Type the path to the folder where you want to save the unpacked files, and then click OK. Or, click Browse to select a folder, click OK, and then click OK.
  6. When Publisher notifies you that the publication is unpacked, click OK.
NOTE: If you want to pack your publication to take to a commercial printing service, point to Pack and Go on the File menu, and then click Take to a Commercial Printing Service. Follow the steps described earlier in this article to pack and unpack your publication.

When you pack a publication with the Pack and Go Wizard, the following files are created:
  • Unpack.exe, a program that you use to unpack compressed files.
  • Readme.txt, a file that includes instructions on how to unpack files.
  • Compressed files with the .puz extension, which contain your publication and may also contain embedded fonts and linked graphics.
When you unpack your publication, you can save the files to a folder on your hard disk or on a server. After the files are unpacked, the folder that you saved the files to will contain your publication (Publication_namepng.pub, where Publication_name is the name of your publication) and graphic files. Embedded fonts are saved as part of the Publication_namepng.pub file.

If you make changes to your publication after you pack the files, make sure that you run the Pack and Go Wizard again so that your changes are reflected in the packed files.

For more information about Publisher packed files, click Microsoft Publisher Help on the Help menu, type packed files in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/7/2006
Keywords:kbhowto KB302938