Introduction to Microsoft Publisher 2003

Publisher allows you to create designs for many documents, including business cards.

Microsoft's desktop publishing application, Microsoft Publisher, gives users a fully featured publishing application with an interface familiar to users of other Microsoft Office programs. Publisher 2003 improves on the previous year's version in small, but useful ways.

Basic Features

Publisher offers hundreds of templates for the creation of greeting cards, pamphlets, portfolios, envelopes, letters, newsletters, postcards, fliers and other documents, as well as the option for completely user-generated designs. Text and graphical editing tools allow specific tailoring of content to create unique professional or personal projects.

New Features

Publisher 2003 makes several improvements over the 2002 and earlier versions. It marked the first four-version release of the software, offering Enterprise, Professional Plus, Professional, and Small Business Editions for different budgets and needs. New template and document options such as DVD/CD covers and stationary sets stand alongside a simplified task pane organization for increased efficiency. Other improvements include down-loadable project support and email publishing integration.

Availability

Replaced by Office Publisher 2007, Microsoft no longer supports or offers updates for Publisher 2003. Users wishing to purchase Publisher 2003 may find boxed copies of the software, or bundles with other Office 2003 products. Only newer versions of Publisher are available for purchase from Microsoft's website.

Compatibility

As with other versions of the software, Publisher 2003 runs only on Windows operating systems. It requires Windows 2000 or later, 128 megabytes of RAM, 250 megabytes of free hard drive space and a CD or DVD drive for installation.

Alternatives

Other programs offer similar functionality to Publisher 2003. Adobe InDesign and Print Shop both run on Mac OSX in addition to Windows, and Scribus presents a free, multi-platform alternative.

References

• Microsoft Office Online: Creating a Publication
• Designer Info: Microsoft Publisher 2003
• Microsoft Office Online: Buy Microsoft Publisher 2007
• Microsoft Office Online: Microsoft Office Publisher 2003 system requirements

Resources

• Microsoft Office Publisher
• Adobe InDesign
• Scribus
• Print Shop