Custom tabs that you previously set in Publisher 2000 are not saved when you save a publication in Publisher 2002 or in Publisher 2003

If you save a Microsoft Publisher 2000 publication in Microsoft Publisher 2002 or in Microsoft Office Publisher 2003, custom tab settings in the publication are not saved.

This problem occurs if the Allow background saves check box is selected in Publisher 2002 or in Publisher 2003.

To work around this problem, click to clear the Allow background saves check box before you open or save a Publisher 2000 publication. Follow these steps:

1. Start Publisher 2002 or Publisher 2003.
2. Create a blank, full-page publication.
3. On the Tools menu, click Options.
4. Click the Saves tab.
5. Click to clear the Allow background saves check box.
6. Click OK.

After you have saved the publication one time in the Publisher 2002 file format or in the Publisher 2003 file format, you can click to select the Allow background saves check box again.

If you have the Publisher 2000 document open in Publisher 2002 or in Publisher 2003, and if you have made changes to the publication that you do not want to lose, you can save the publication under a different name in the Publisher 2000 file format. Follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Save as.
2. Change the name of the publication.
3. In the Save as type list, click Publisher 2000 file (*.pub).
4. Click Save.

Note You must use this method every time that you save the publication if you want to retain the custom tabs or the file format.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2.