What is a .pmd or .p65 file? (Adobe PageMaker)
A .p65 file is an Adobe PageMaker document, and so is a .pmd file unless it came from one of the other programs that use that extension. The PRONOM registry of the UK National Archives lists .p65, .t65, .pmd and .pmt as the extensions of PageMaker 6.5 to 7.0 files. PageCrate opens .pmd and .p65 files from those versions on Windows without PageMaker.
Where PageMaker files came from
PageMaker is a page layout program: it arranges text and pictures on pages for print, such as newsletters and flyers.
Aldus Corporation introduced PageMaker in 1985, on the Macintosh. Adobe acquired most of the assets of Aldus in 1994. PageMaker 7.0, released in 2001, was the last major version. Adobe later stopped developing PageMaker and moved its users to its later page layout software.
Which PageMaker version made my file?
The PRONOM registry maps these file extensions to PageMaker versions. Check the extension of your file against the table.
| Extension | PageMaker version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| .p65, .pmd | 6.5 to 7.0 | PRONOM x-fmt/181 |
| .t65, .pmt | 6.5 to 7.0 | PRONOM x-fmt/181 |
| .pm6, .pt6 | 6.0 | PRONOM x-fmt/174 |
PageCrate opens .pmd and .p65 documents from PageMaker 6.5 and 7.0 only, so it does not open a .pm6 file from PageMaker 6.0 or a .pmt or .t65 template.
How to open a .pmd or .p65 file today
PRONOM describes the 6.5 to 7.0 files as stored in an OLE2 container, a binary format. A text editor shows mostly binary data, with at best scraps of your text and none of the layout, so opening the file in Notepad is not a practical way to read it.
Adobe community experts note that converting a PageMaker publication with the later Adobe software was never perfect, that linked images were often missing, and that only older versions of that software could do it.
PageCrate: open PageMaker files without PageMaker
PageCrate opens PageMaker .pmd and .p65 files on Windows without PageMaker. It opens PageMaker 6.5 and 7.0 files only, and older files are refused with a message. It copies the text of a page, exports all text as a .txt file and saves a page as a PNG image. It exports all text as Rich Text (.rtf) for Word, one Word page per document page. It also exports a PDF whose pages are pictures, so its text is not selectable. Your files are read on your PC and nothing is uploaded.
Is my .pmd file really a PageMaker file?
Other programs also use .pmd: PlanMaker spreadsheets, MikuMikuDance 3D models and Poser morph files.
Where the file came from is the best clue, so look at the folder it was in, the program that made it, or who sent it. If it came with one of those programs, it is probably not a PageMaker file, and PageCrate is for PageMaker 6.5 and 7.0 files only.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .pmd file?
The PRONOM registry of the UK National Archives lists .pmd as an extension of PageMaker 6.5 to 7.0 files, stored in an OLE2 container, a binary format. Other programs also use .pmd, including PlanMaker spreadsheets, MikuMikuDance 3D models and Poser morph files.
What is a .p65 file?
The PRONOM registry lists .p65 as an extension of PageMaker 6.5 to 7.0 files. PageCrate opens .p65 and .pmd files from PageMaker 6.5 and 7.0 on Windows.
What is the difference between .pmd, .p65 and .pm6?
PRONOM lists .p65 and .pmd for PageMaker 6.5 to 7.0 files, and .pm6 for PageMaker 6.0. PageCrate opens PageMaker 6.5 and 7.0 files, and refuses older files with a message.
How do I get the text of a .pmd file into Word?
PageCrate can export all the text as a Rich Text (.rtf) file for Word, one Word page per document page. Microsoft Word opens Rich Text (.rtf) files.
Is every .pmd file a PageMaker file?
No. Other programs also use .pmd: PlanMaker spreadsheets, MikuMikuDance 3D models and Poser morph files.