File Format & Compatibility

How to Create and Print a Booklet from an RTF File in Publisher

Rana Garcia Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to format a large RTF file as a family book and print specific sections of it as folded booklets.

How to Create and Print a Booklet from an RTF File in Publisher

Product: Microsoft Publisher
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Importing a large RTF document into Publisher to create a book and trying to print custom page ranges in a folded booklet format.
Observed behavior: Importing the RTF creates a large number of linked text boxes. The user is struggling to find a way to print only a portion of the massive 3,600-page file as a booklet without sending the entire document to the print queue.

Before you start

Working with massive text files (like a 3,600-page document) can cause application instability or file corruption. Save a backup copy of your original RTF file and consider dividing it into smaller sections before adjusting the page layout.

Solution 1Recommended

Format Linked Text Boxes and Print a Partial Booklet in Publisher

Use Publisher's built-in print settings to select specific page ranges and output them as a folded booklet.

Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing tool designed around text boxes. When you import a large RTF file, it creates an initial text box and automatically generates additional pages with linked text boxes for any overflow text.

While Publisher can handle booklet printing, managing a file with thousands of pages can be demanding on system resources.

Import the RTF file

Open a new blank publication in Microsoft Publisher, go to 'Insert' > 'Insert File', and select your RTF document. The text will flow into linked text boxes across multiple pages.

Access print settings

Navigate to 'File' > 'Print' to open the print configuration menu.

Select a custom page range

Under the Settings section, instead of 'Print All Pages', type the specific page range (e.g., 15-30) that you want to print as a booklet.

Configure booklet printing

Select 'Booklet, side-fold' from the print layout options. Ensure you choose 'Print on Both Sides' (duplex printing) based on your printer's capabilities, then click 'Print'.

Format Linked Text Boxes and Print a Partial Booklet in Publisher

File Corruption Warning: Very large documents are highly susceptible to corruption in Publisher. If your project is purely text-heavy, a dedicated word processor is usually a safer choice.

Solution 2

Use Microsoft Word for Large Book Manuscripts

Microsoft Word is generally better suited for managing long manuscripts than Publisher, offering native book fold features and better file compression.

Try WPS Writer for Book Formatting

Format and Print Booklets Easily with WPS Writer

WPS Writer smoothly handles large RTF and DOCX files without lagging. It features a built-in 'Book fold' layout and advanced print settings, allowing you to easily select specific pages for a folded booklet without needing complex publishing software.

1. Open the manuscript: Launch WPS Writer and open your large RTF or DOCX file.
2. Configure book margins: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab, click 'Margins', and select 'Custom Margins'.
3. Enable book fold: In the Page Setup dialog, change the multiple pages option to 'Book fold' so the software automatically formats the document into a booklet layout.
4. Print custom pages: Go to 'Menu' > 'Print'. Under the 'Page range' section, enter the specific pages you wish to print, and select your preferred duplex (two-sided) printing method.

Seamlessly handles large RTF and DOCX document formatsBuilt-in booklet print settings for easy folded book creationLightweight application that runs smoothly even with massive filesFree to download and fully compatible with Microsoft Word

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Publisher create linked text boxes when importing an RTF file?

Publisher is a desktop publishing program that relies on text boxes for strict layout control. When an imported text file exceeds a single page, Publisher automatically generates additional pages and links the text boxes together to accommodate the continuous flow of text.

How can I drastically reduce the file size of a large RTF manuscript?

RTF (Rich Text Format) files are uncompressed and can become extremely large. To reduce the file size, open the RTF file in a word processor like Microsoft Word or WPS Writer, and save it as a modern DOCX document. This can shrink the file size by over 90%.

Can I print only a specific section of a document as a booklet?

Yes. In the Print menu of Publisher, Word, or WPS Writer, you do not have to print the entire document. You can specify a custom page range in the settings before confirming the booklet or duplex printing mode.

Which software is better for writing a 3,000-page book: Word or Publisher?

Microsoft Word or WPS Writer is highly recommended over Publisher for lengthy, text-heavy manuscripts. Publisher is designed for design-heavy, shorter-page layouts (like brochures or newsletters) and often struggles with the performance and stability required for thousands of pages.

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