Opening a PUB File

The PUB file type is primarily associated with Publisher.

PUB	File extension: PUB
	File type:	document

What is a PUB file?

PUB files mostly belong to Publisher by Microsoft. A PUB file is a document created by Publisher page layout design and desktop publishing software. It usually contains a single-/multi-page brochure, invitation, poster, or newsletter design project. PUB is also the filename extension of a text file containing a public key, keyring, or block created by cryptography applications such as Endpoint Encryption, OpenPGP, and OpenSSL. Public keys are also used for communication over various networks. Another type of PUB file contains the source code for a publication created by VisualNEO (previously NeoBook) application development and multimedia authoring software.

How to open a PUB file

You need a suitable software like Publisher to open a PUB file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your PUB file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a PUB file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online PUB File Viewer

Choose your .pub file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

✈

Read our privacy guarantee in Filext’s terms and privacy policy

Please allow ads on our site

This helps us keep our servers running. Then re-upload your file to view it.

Click here to see how to disable the ad blocker for filext.com

How to convert PUB files to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG, ...

If you want to convert or edit a PUB file, you can use our free Online PUB File Converter (powered by Convert.Guru):

Just click the "Choose your .pub file to view" button on this page.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Select the office format (e.g. PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODF, HTML, JPG, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert PUB files:

Publisher by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. PUB files are often referred to as Publisher page layouts because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Endpoint Encryption (public key) by Broadcom
Endpoint Encryption is a cross-platform system security and data encryption software. It uses a public key saved in a PUB file. This file format is classified as Encoded. Related links: Pretty Good Privacy, OpenPGP
Print Perfect Gold (template) by Cosmi
Print Perfect Gold is a discontinued page layout design and desktop publishing software. A document template created with Print Perfect Gold is saved in a PUB file. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Publisher (document) by Corel
Publisher is a discontinued desktop publishing application for GEM and DOS platforms. It saves a document in a PUB file. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
The Sims (family data) by Electronic Arts
The Sims is a cross-platform life simulation video game for PC and game consoles. Older, discontinued versions of this game used family data saved in a PUB file. This file format is classified as Game.
VisualNEO (publication) by SinLios
VisualNEO (previously NeoBook) is a rapid application development and interactive multimedia authoring environment. It saves the source code of a publication in a PUB file. This file format is classified as Page Layout. Related links: NeoBook
World of Warcraft (user interface data) by Blizzard
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying video game for personal computers. Some user interface elements in this game are saved in PUB files. This file format is classified as Game.

PUB file format:

To view or edit PUB files you need to know the file format, because it determines how the data in this file is stored. A file format is determined by the file extension and signature, so JPEG images have the extension .jpg and the first bytes in the file are ÿØÿ. However, different programs can use the same file extension. Furthermore, a file extension can be renamed incorrectly and double-clicking on it will then display an error when it is opened. If there are problems opening a file, you must first determine the file format used. In the following you will find our evaluation of the PUB files:

The PUB extension is very commonly found and includes different formats for the applicable programs. But the following two file formats are common:

65% of all PUB files utilize the Microsoft Compound File format, which is also called Compound File Binary File format (CFBF or CFB) or OLE2 Compound Document format. Compound document files work similarly to real file systems. They contain a number of independent data streams (like files in a file system) which are organized in a hierarchy of containers (like sub-directories in a file system). The first 8 bytes of the CFB format are D0CF11E0A1B11AE1 (which looks like "DOCFILE"). The CLSID (class identifier of a Windows component object) is 00021201-0000-0000-00c0-000000000046 or 00021200-0000-0000-00c0-000000000046. Sections and streams in the file have names like Quill, Contents, Internal, Objects, CompObj, SummaryInformation, Envelope, Escher, VBA and DocumentSummaryInformation. The file size is in the range of 93 KB to 5 MB. The file type was developed 20 years ago and is still in use today. These files are attributed to publisher, flyer, certificate, publication, letter, card, microsoft and brochure.
15% of all PUB files start with the bytes QAAAA crucial for this file format. These files are text files, so they contain words and text. The files are on average 710 bytes in size and range from 710 bytes to 800 bytes. adbkey.pub is a typical file name.

All the rest of the PUB files (20%) have different formats, the following 7 formats can be found: SSH-RSA Public key, PGP public key block and ClickArt Personal Publisher document. These files are often connected to newsletter, calendar, booklet, office, blizzard, logo or plan. If you want to find out which format your PUB file belongs to, just click on the button "Choose your .pub file to view".

Technical Data for PUB File Extension

File classification:

Page Layout

Related files:

pud, adbkey, pup, pug, jwpub, id_rsa, rsa, pob, malcom02-20-pub, ppk, 1-1, pdf, pnb, ssh, pem, 229, public, published, unknown, docx, pubhtml, pubmhtml, bdr

Mime type:

application/x-mspublisher, application/pgp, application/octet-stream

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: MSPublisher, FileType: Microsoft Publisher Publication, AppName: Microsoft® Publisher 2000 Version 6.0
EXEFile: MSPUB.EXE

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.10, FileType: Microsoft Publisher Document, AppName: Microsoft Publisher
EXEFile: MSPUB.EXE

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.11, FileType: Microsoft Office Publisher Document, AppName: Microsoft Office Publisher

ProgramID: MSPublisher
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: MSPublisher
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~4\Office\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.10
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office10\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.11
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\MSPUB.EXE

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.11
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: MSPublisher
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MIB246~1\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: MSPublisher
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~4\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.10
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office2\Office10\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: MSPublisher
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MS OFFICE 2000\Office\MSPUB.EXE %1

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.12
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office 2007\Office12\MSPUB.EXE

ProgramID: MSPublisher
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~3\MSPUB.EXE

ProgramID: Publisher.Document.12
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office2007\Office12\MSPUB.EXE

Show all 15 listings To Top

a pub document is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with PUB files

Associate the PUB file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open documents. Because only the current version supports the latest PUB file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available Publisher update.
To make sure that your PUB file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .PUB file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.