MS Publisher Basics

Please note - If you do not have access to a version of publisher, are on the fence about asking your boss to get it, or you just want to try it out then this is your lucky day! There is a no cost, no download version of Publisher on the Microsoft site that will allow you to give publisher a test drive and see if this is something you want to use. So feel free to play along at home, but you have to use Internet Explorer in order to work the web-based trial.

So you want to use Publisher. Sure, you could go out and find yourself an expensive course, take time off of work, and find out how to use the program over 8 to 12 of the longest hours of your life. Or you can just dive in and get started with publisher first hand. The truth is that despite an intimidating list of things that publisher can make for you, the program is amazingly easy to use. And you will find that your prior real world experience with Microsoft Office is going to help you to navigate the world of Publisher with ease and grace.

For our first project we are going to make a card. Maybe it is a reminder card for a client, or a thank you to a business partner or a holiday card that will keep your company in your customers' minds. Whatever kind of card it happens to be, we are going to follow the same steps to get there.

1. Open Publisher.

2. Click on 'File'.

3. Click on 'New'.

4. Click on 'Start from a design' (In some versions the word design many be 'Template").

5. Now you find yourself presented with an array of card choices. Go on, take a look around, then choose the one that best fits your needs.

6. (This step is variable) Depending on your version, and the card you have chosen, you will be given a choice of folding styles, color pallets, fonts and/or card layouts. To make these choices you can simply click on the option you want and then 'OK' or 'Next" to proceed to your card.

7. Look over your card. You may have to scroll to see all of the pages.

8. Double click on the text of the card, then delete all the old text (which should happen automatically when you begin to type, but in case it doesn't you can always highlight the text and hit the 'Backspace' or 'Delete' key to eliminate that pesky text).

9. Repeat step 8 with any other sections of the card that need to be changed.

10. Print your card. Select 'File' and then 'Print'.

11. Review your card and, if correct, fold as needed. If incorrect, then make changes as needed and print again.

See how simple that was? You may have noticed in the 'Start from a design' section that there was a whole list of project options for you to choose from. In this program, fliers, newsletters and a variety of other types of projects are all at your fingertips.