Does the output of RoboHelp 2019 constitute a 'Web Application'?

[RomanCat]

Hi All,

Does the output of RoboHelp 2019 constitute a 'Web Application'?

RC

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Maybe - if you create an App as your output; no if you just create HTML5 help or WebHelp or PDFs.

[RomanCat]

 Hi Jeff - thanks for your reply -  do you mean only if it created as a mobile app as shown in this list here: 

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/robohelp/using/generate-output.html

If so, does anyone know a way of converting a Responsive HTML5 output into a standalone web application?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Yes, the mobile app output.
What are you trying to achieve?

[RomanCat]

I'm trying to create a standalone desktop application from the generated output.

I had previously used AirHelp but believe it is now 32-bit only (pending confirmation from Adobe which has been requested). 

I have also come across Electron (see here: https://sharpnotions.com/blog/electron-is-it-right-for-building-cross-platform-applications/) which serve as a replacement but first I would need to convert my RoboHelp HTML output into a web application.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Most help writers are just using their HTML5 help output on webservers on the Internet and connecting it to their applications - the output itself isn't an application (i.e. you can't do much with it except look things up). Even with AIRHelp, it was just a standalone wrapper as a way of serving up your content. Electron looks like just another type of wrapper with a Chrome browser baked in. 

[Peter Grainge]

Just to add to Jeff's inputs, think of the help as a web site rather than a web application. 

[Amebr]

Actually, I think the Robohelp output (responsive and frameless) counts as a "web application" for electron purposes (HTML, CSS and JS).

I *think* you would copy the output to the required app directory, with the other required electron files as outlined here, https://www.electronjs.org/docs/tutorial/application-distribution, then the packaging process would generate an exe using that content.

Or at least that's my reading of it. I haven't tried it.

How it will work in practice is a different question.

(Assuming it all works, you might be able to automate the app packaging using the Post Generation Script field in the preset.)

[RomanCat · Accepted solution]

Just an update for anyone else looking at this in the future:

I re-purchased RoboHelp (having not used it since version 8!), generated the responsive HTML 5 output and was able to use Electron to turn it into more of a standalone desktop-like application for those that might want to do this.