What is OTT?

OpenDocument Text Template (OTT) is a reusable document template format for LibreOffice and OpenOffice word processors.

What is PUB?

Microsoft Publisher (PUB) is a desktop publishing format used for creating professional layouts, newsletters, flyers, and marketing materials.

When Should You Use OTT vs PUB?

OTT vs PUB: Key Differences

• •OTT uses lossless compression while PUB uses lossy compression — this is the fundamental technical difference between the two formats.
• •Moving from OTT (lossy) to PUB (lossy) means the output file will be significantly smaller — but at the cost of some visual fidelity.
• •How transparency is handled: PUB does not support alpha channels — transparent areas in the source will become opaque.
• •OTT files are typically Small template files while PUB files range 500KB to 50MB with images
• •Use case fit: OTT targets document templates, letterheads, form letters and PUB targets desktop publishing, flyers, newsletters — your choice depends on which workflow stage you are serving.

Advantages of OTT

• ✓The lossless nature of OTT means file sizes stay reasonable while handling Document templates, letterheads, form letters efficiently.
• ✓From mobile devices to enterprise servers, OTT is recognized and supported everywhere.
• ✓The trade-off for OTT's perfection is larger files — but for archival work, it is worth every megabyte.
• ✓OTT is a first-class citizen in all major software ecosystems, from creative suites to development environments.

Advantages of PUB

• ✓At its core, PUB relies on lossy encoding — a design choice that makes it perfect for Desktop publishing, flyers, newsletters.
• ✓You won't run into compatibility issues with PUB — it's a universal standard across platforms.
• ✓File size management with PUB: aggressive compression with minimal visible quality loss.
• ✓Every major application in the Desktop publishing, flyers, newsletters space supports PUB natively.

Common Use Cases for OTT to PUB Conversion

• Academic papers and theses
• Business contracts and agreements
• Spreadsheets and data analysis
• Presentations and slideshows
• Technical documentation
• Email correspondence

Industry Applications

Best Practices for OTT to PUB Conversion

• →When converting OTT to PUB, check that tables, images, and embedded fonts transfer correctly — complex layouts may shift between formats
• →Use PUB as your final distribution format if it offers better compatibility, or keep OTT as an editable master
• →For OTT to PUB conversions, verify that tracked changes and comments are preserved if needed
• →Embed fonts to ensure consistent rendering across devices and platforms
• →Always keep a backup of your original files before converting
• →Choose the appropriate quality settings for your specific use case

Troubleshooting OTT to PUB Conversion

• !Page breaks moved after converting OTT to PUB → margin and spacing settings differ between document formats
• !Tables in the converted PUB are misaligned → complex merged cells and nested tables are handled differently by each format
• !Headers and footers missing from PUB → verify that the converter supports header/footer extraction for your source format
• !Special characters appear as gibberish in PUB → the source file may use a different character encoding than expected

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