Publishing to
Mobile Devices:
Best Practices and Strategies
Mike Hamilton
V.P. Product Evangelism
MadCap Software
mhamilton@madcapsoftware.com
Agenda
•Types of Devices
•Delivery Formats
•Delivery Strategy
Type of Device
Type of Device
Smartphones
Tablets
Smartphones/Hand Helds
• Small form factor (7cm to 13cm)
• Relatively low resolution
–320x480
–480x360
–400x800
–640x960
• Low resolution pointing device
(Touch)
Smartphones/Hand Helds
Primary Limitations:
• Limited screen width
–Fine for text
–Problematic for large, non-text
content
• Touch interfaces
–Elements must be sized to be
compatible with human touch
Tablets
• Medium form factor (17cm to 26cm)
• Medium to high resolution
–800x600
–1024x600
–1024x768
–1366x768
–2048x1536
• Touch/Mouse
interfaces
Tablets
Primary Limitations:
• Multiple interface options
• Touch interfaces
–Elements must be sized to be
compatible with
human touch
Tablets
Primary Limitations:
• Multiple interface options
• Touch interfaces
–Elements must be sized to be
compatible with
human touch
• Mouse interfaces
–Can use standard
elements
Delivery
Formats
Delivery Formats
•EPUB
•HTML5
•WebHelp Mobile
EPUB
• Designed
for long,
linear
documents
(novels)
• Requires a
viewer
• Presents like a book, but
reflows content like a web page
EPUB
Advantages
• Comfortable book-like feel
• “Off-line” format
• Single file
• Standardsbased
EPUB
Disadvantages
• Requires an installed viewer
• Difficulty with “overflow”
• Inconsistent
viewers
• No branding
HTML5
• Optimized for medium or large
format devices
• Uses the on board
browser
• Tested:
–Int. Explorer
–Chrome
–Firefox
–Safari
HTML5
Advantages:
• Cross-browser and crossplatform
• No frameset!
• Can be
branded
• Known
experience
HTML5
Disadvantages:
• No Internet Explorer 6 or 7
support (use the older
WebHelp)
WebHelp Mobile
• Optimized for small format
devices
• Uses the on board
browser
• Tested:
–Android
–Blackberry
–iPhone
–Windows Phone
WebHelp Mobile
Advantages:
• One output supports
all devices
• Can be branded
• Always up to date
• Handles “overflow”
content well
WebHelp Mobile
Disadvantages:
• Requires a live
data connection
• Can be quite
technical
Mike’s Mobile
Support Strategy
Phones and Hand Helds
WebHelp Mobile
• Use an appropriate navigation
strategy for the small screen
• Customize your CSS
• Use conditionals / meta-data
to remove any unnecessary
content
Tablets
Modified WebHelp or HTML5
• Customize your CSS using a
Mobile “medium”
• Increase the size of navigation
items
Summary
• Determine what devices you
need to support
• Select an appropriate format
for each type of device
• Tailor content using templates,
CSS, and meta-data
• Modify navigation elements for
touch compatibility
Questions?
Mike Hamilton
V.P. Product Evangelism
MadCap Software
mhamilton@madcapsoftware.com