Long HTML on Smartphones

[mayamanako]

Hi Guys,

I am sorry if this is not the proper place for this question. My question is, how would you deal with long html document designed to be read using a computer, and now that smartphones are here, to be read also using smarphones but avoiding too much scrolling of the long html page?

Is there a way of "breaking/dividing" the html page to several parts when viewed using smartphones using some special markers/tags out there without affecting the long html page when viewed using computers?

The html content is fed from a database.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[vacunita]

Personally, I would not bother. Its easier to scroll on a smartphone than it is on a computer. Since most often its just a question of swiping up or down to move. Having to load more pages to continue reading can get very annoying very fast specially on slow cell connections.

The real concern should be having the text be at a legible size on the smart phone screen.

In any case, there is no html to break up long text unfortunately. You would have to detect the usage of a mobile device, and render the page accordingly so it only loads a portion of the text at a time.

This can be done from your server side script that queries the DB for the page content, so you can present it in a format more suitable for smart phones.







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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[ChrisHirst]

Is there a way of "breaking/dividing" the html page to several parts when viewed using smartphones using some special markers/tags out there without affecting the long html page when viewed using computers?

Nope, the server has NO IDEA of the user agent screen length when it makes the request.
You will have to implement media queries client side to 'feedback' the screen length so the server script which you have written can handle the 'pagination' as and when necessary.



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.
Webmaster Forum

 

[spamjim]

This may be an issue of scrolling vs visually searching the page.

The limited view of a mobile device makes it important to provide better navigation. You could still use a long page, but you might put an index or table of contents at the top of the page for quicker access to relevant content. Try anchors...

http://help.typepad.com/anchor-tags.html

This is not a new problem. We once displayed desktop web pages on screen resolutions less than mobile devices (640x480).

 

[ChrisHirst]

This is not a new problem. We once displayed desktop web pages on screen resolutions less than mobile devices (640x480).

And didn't really care about it especially

So is "responsive design" a sign of 'progress' or what, 'cause trying to make some things look 'right' on the back of a matchbox, can often make a real pigs ear of it 'proper' screens.




Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.
Webmaster Forum

 

[audiopro]

Responsive designs are all very well but they do leave some websites looking like the ones we were creating 20 years ago.

I still cannot get my brain round the fact that people want to read large documents on a tiny screen and not use a more suitable tool for the job.

Keith

http://www.studiosoft.co.uk

 

[ChrisHirst]

I'm with you on that Keith. It's a bit like the mentality that carries on a "texting" conversation for half an hour when the same details can be passed back and forth in a five minute phone call.

But we've got to fill those spare hours we must have with computers now doing all the work for us.



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.
Webmaster Forum

 

[vacunita]

A well designed responsive layout can make both the desktop version and the mobile version of the site not only look good, but also be functional and convenient at many screen sizes.

Smartphones are able to render complete desktop sites now, but many times that is not convenient to the user. Also events and elements we are used to on desktop browsers have no meaning on mobile ones.

A good example of this is the mouse hover state or event. This is meaningless on a mobile device, and as such building elements or interactions that rely on this means mobile users may not be able to adequately use them.

All in all its about presenting the content in the best way possible to be consumed by the user.


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Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[audiopro]

I agree entirely Phil but my point was that many of the sites which boast 'Smartphone Compatibility' look terrible when viewed on a proper computer screen and are also awkward to use on a Smartphone - users end up with the worst of both worlds.

Keith

http://www.studiosoft.co.uk

 

[vacunita]

True. But it does not have to be.

I also find it particularly irksome when they target tablets for mobile views of the site, when pretty much any tablet can handle the full desktop experience.

In the end its really not that hard to get good looking sites for varying screen sizes, if your CSS is well crafted.

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[mayamanako]

Hi guys, your points are all well-taken. Have a nice day!

Thanks