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chelluvsGod
Inspiring
September 22, 2016
Answered

RoboHelp 11-Responsive vs Multiscreen HTML5

  • September 22, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 532 views

Can you tell me what the difference in Responsive HTML5 and Multiscreen HTML5 is? I googled and both say they are good for viewing documentation on multiple devices.

Which is most correct to use for viewing across many platforms?

Thank you,

Michele

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Captiv8r

    Hi there

    Multiscreen HTML 5 was Adobe's first attempt at producing HTML 5 output from RoboHelp. What happens with this output is that you define several device types via "Screen Profiles", and you generate the output and end up with as many copies of the output files as you have defined Screen Profiles. So perhaps you have 400 topics. If you defined a profile for Desktop, iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nook, Tablet, and Android phone, you end up with 7 copies of the 400 topics. Each output will also look a bit different. In short, it's clumsy and awkward to deal with. You place all the files and folders on your site or whatever, and you then direct folks to a single HTML page that "Sniffs" the environment and redirects to one of the 7 copies of output depending on what it finds.

    On the other hand, RESPONSIVE HTML 5 consists of a single set of output files. Instead of sniffing the environment and redirecting, the single set of output files responds and reflows accordingly. Much more streamlined. Much simpler to customize. Customizing the Multiscreen is a nightmare. Responsive is much simplified.

    Cheers... Rick

    1 reply

    Captiv8r
    Captiv8rCorrect answer
    Legend
    September 22, 2016

    Hi there

    Multiscreen HTML 5 was Adobe's first attempt at producing HTML 5 output from RoboHelp. What happens with this output is that you define several device types via "Screen Profiles", and you generate the output and end up with as many copies of the output files as you have defined Screen Profiles. So perhaps you have 400 topics. If you defined a profile for Desktop, iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nook, Tablet, and Android phone, you end up with 7 copies of the 400 topics. Each output will also look a bit different. In short, it's clumsy and awkward to deal with. You place all the files and folders on your site or whatever, and you then direct folks to a single HTML page that "Sniffs" the environment and redirects to one of the 7 copies of output depending on what it finds.

    On the other hand, RESPONSIVE HTML 5 consists of a single set of output files. Instead of sniffing the environment and redirecting, the single set of output files responds and reflows accordingly. Much more streamlined. Much simpler to customize. Customizing the Multiscreen is a nightmare. Responsive is much simplified.

    Cheers... Rick

    chelluvsGod
    Inspiring
    September 22, 2016

    Thanks so much Rick! That makes my decision on which to use simple!