Frequently asked questions

Clear answers before you buy, install, or start converting.

What is Publisher Migration Tool?

Publisher Migration Tool (PMT), by JAMELIS, converts your Microsoft Publisher (.PUB) files to PDF or PDF/A on your Windows PC. Microsoft Publisher must be installed to perform conversions.

Getting started

Can I try PMT for free?

The free trial includes 5 standard PDF conversions and 5 PDF/A conversions, with independent counters. No payment or credit card is required.

Do I need Microsoft Publisher installed?

Yes. Microsoft Publisher must be installed on the same Windows PC to perform conversions. PMT uses Publisher's own rendering engine to create the PDF output.

Which versions of Windows are supported?

PMT requires Windows 10 or later. See the Prerequisites page for the current environment requirements.

Does PMT work offline?

Yes. After the license has been obtained and activated, normal document conversion can be performed offline. Internet access is not required for day-to-day conversion.

Finding and converting Publisher files

Can PMT find Publisher files if I do not know where they are stored?

Yes. PMT can scan a drive or selected location for .PUB files, show how many were found, and help you identify the folders that contain them before you start a migration.

Can I convert folders and subfolders in one batch?

Yes. You can include subfolders and process many Publisher files in a single run rather than opening and exporting documents one by one.

Can PMT preserve my existing folder structure?

Yes. You can create PDFs beside the original Publisher files or choose a separate output folder. When a separate destination is used, PMT can reproduce the same subfolder hierarchy.

Can I pause or cancel a large conversion?

Yes. PMT provides progress information, an estimated time remaining, pause/resume controls, and clean cancellation for long-running batches.

What happens if one Publisher file causes a problem?

PMT includes per-file safeguards so one problematic document does not block an entire batch indefinitely. Problem items are surfaced in the final results for review.

Existing PDFs and migration safety

What happens if a PDF with the same name already exists?

You choose the rule before conversion: create a new version when the Publisher file is newer, update an existing PMT-created PDF when the source changed, or always refresh a PMT-created PDF.

Can PMT overwrite PDFs that were not created by PMT?

No. PMT protects PDFs it does not identify as PMT-created from automatic replacement. This makes repeat runs safer on archives that already contain unrelated PDFs.

Can I run PMT again on the same archive later?

Yes. PMT is designed for repeat runs. Its existing-PDF rules let you revisit an archive and process changed Publisher files without treating every migration as a one-off job.

PDF, PDF/A and reports

What is the difference between PDF and PDF/A in PMT?

Standard PDF is intended for everyday access, sharing and printing. PDF/A is intended for long-term preservation workflows. Pro and Portable include unlimited PDF/A conversion; Base includes unlimited PDF conversion on one PC. It does not unlock unlimited PDF/A: only unused PDF/A conversions from the free trial remain available, with a maximum of 5 in total. Buying Base does not grant any new PDF/A trials.

What does the Base license include?

Base includes unlimited PDF conversion on one PC. It does not unlock unlimited PDF/A: only unused PDF/A conversions from the free trial remain available, with a maximum of 5 in total. Buying Base does not grant any new PDF/A trials. It is a one-time purchase, not a subscription.

Does PMT create a report after a batch?

Yes. The report separates new, updated, skipped, review-required and failed items. You can filter the results, open source or destination locations, and export the visible results to CSV.

Is the conversion report available in English and French?

Yes. The report is generated in the interface language active when the conversion is run. A batch launched in English produces an English report; a batch launched in French produces a French report.

Are my Publisher files uploaded to an online conversion service?

No. Document conversion is performed locally on your Windows PC using the installed Microsoft Publisher application.

Licensing and Publisher end of support

How do I get the ID required for purchase and activate PMT afterwards?

For Base or Pro, open License in PMT, choose local activation and click Copy PC ID; paste that ID into the purchase page. For Portable, connect the USB key, choose the USB target, click Initialize this key, then Copy key ID and paste that ID into the Portable purchase page. After payment, copy the activation code received by email, return to PMT > License, paste the code and activate the selected PC or USB key.

Is PMT a subscription?

No. Base, Pro and Portable are sold as one-time purchases.

What is the difference between Base, Pro and Portable?

What does Microsoft Publisher's end of support in October 2026 mean?

Microsoft 365 subscribers will lose access to Publisher after October 1, 2026. Preserve your .PUB files now by converting them to long-term PDF or PDF/A formats while Publisher is still available.

Perpetual Publisher versions may continue to work, but support ends in October 2026. See the Publisher archive preservation guide.

Who sells PMT and issues the invoice?

PMT is sold and invoiced by JAMELIS, its publisher. You are buying a Publisher Migration Tool license; JAMELIS is the seller named on your invoice.

Can I upgrade from Base to Pro?

The Base → Pro upgrade costs €10 for the same machine. Online upgrades are not yet available on this site. Contact support with any questions.

How do I get help?

Check the prerequisites and activation steps, then contact JAMELIS support if you need help with PMT.

Contact support · Download free trial