Optimizing OnlineHelp for Mobile Viewing

Subject: Optimizing OnlineHelp for Mobile Viewing
From: Francis Anthony <anthony2francis -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:22:14 +0530 (IST)

I'm currently creating documentation for a smartphone-based application. The requirement is that documentation should be optimized for viewing both from a PC browser as well as a mobile browser. The requirement also is that the latest documentation be available only on our portal on the Web; we will not be providing downloadable documentation. So, that rules out the eBook format for smartphones.

We use a tool called Help & Manual to generate standard online Help that has a left navigation tree pane and a right content pane. The online Help can be searched via an index as well as free text. The output is great for reading from a PC browser but not so great when you are accessing it from the limited real estate of a smartphone.

While trying to optimize the default online Help output for mobile viewing, our Web developer (who has no experience customizing online Help) hit roadblocks. He says that because our HTML pages are generated by a Help system, he cannot control the elements. He says he is unable to control the frameset/iFrames. I am not much of an HTML person and can't validate the things he says.

Anybody on this list who has worked on optimizing online Help for mobile viewing? Or do any of you have other ideas for delivering single-sourced content to PCs and mobiles?

Any and all pointers and tips are welcome!

Thanks,
Francis
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