Description of the "Import Word Document" feature in Publisher

This article describes the purpose and capabilities of the Import Word Document feature in Microsoft Publisher, as well as how to import a Microsoft Word document into Publisher.

The Import Word Document option on the File menu improves the way that a Microsoft Word document is imported into Publisher. Earlier versions of Publisher ( Microsoft Publisher 2000 and earlier) import only text, with limited formatting capabilities. Starting with Publisher 2002, this feature imports, Rich Text Format (RTF) for text and inline objects such as pictures and Office Art objects.

The Import Word Document option imports the following from Word:

• Font name
• Font size
• Bold, italic, and underline formatting
• Inline objects (pictures and tables that are inserted within the flow of the text)

The Import Word Document option might not import the following Word document settings:

• Page orientation (defaults to portrait)
• Page size (defaults to 8.5" x 11")
• Margin settings (defaults to .5" top, .5" left, .5" right, .66" bottom)
• Objects that "float" on a page
• WordArt objects
• Changes in section formatting
• Changes in column formatting
• Word fields other than the Page Number and Date and Time fields
• Custom styles and style names
• Complex page structures such as tables of contents and indexes
• Various page elements created in Word by using a wizard
• Contents of text boxes

You can use the Word Import Options feature to apply the following modifications to the whole document:

• One-sided or two-sided printing
• Portrait or landscape page orientation
• Title page
• Number of columns

How to Import a Word Document

Method 1

1. On the File menu, click Import Word Document.
2. Locate the Word document that you want to import.
3. Double-click the file name, or select it and click OK.
4. The wizard converts the document into a new publication.
5. Use the Word Import Options feature on the task pane to make the changes that you want.

Make any other needed changes.

Method 2

1. On the File menu, click New.
2. In the task pane, under Publications for Print, click Word Documents.
3. A selection of Word Design Schemes appears. Click the style that you want. The Import Word Document dialog box opens.
4. Browse to the Word document that you want to import.
5. Double-click the file name, or select it, and then click OK.
6. The wizard converts the document into a new publication.
7. Use the Word Import Options feature in the task pane to make the changes that you want.

Make any other needed changes.