Generate Content for Mobile (ePub format) using RoboHelp 8

We unveiled ‘Mobile output (ePub format) using RoboHelp 8‘ at WritersUA Conference in Seattle. With this recent development, you can now use RoboHelp 8 to take your RoboHelp/FrameMaker/Word content to mobile devices and eBook readers. We showed how easy it is to create ePub output for single source content using Scripting Power of RoboHelp 8. We demonstrated this output on multiple devices including iPhone, Motorola Droid (Android phone), and Barnes & Noble nook (eBook reader). Mobile devices are becoming an important source of information delivery, and users have come to expect the flexibility to access content on these devices as easily as they do via their desktops, laptops or printed documents. The response to this new generation content format has been overwhelming, more so from publishers, and I wanted to share more information on this for the benefit of wider audience.

What is ePub?
ePub (short for ‘electronic publication’) is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). ePub is designed for reflowable content, so the text display is optimized for the particular display device. Files have the extension .epub. Since it is a single file output, it is easy to put it on web for download on mobile devices, and it provides end users the flexibility to read the content offline.

Which devices/eBook readers support RoboHelp ePub output?
ePub files can be opened and read on any device that has ePub reader. A device can have multiple ePub readers. ePub content can be read on a wide range of platforms and devices including Android, iPad, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, PDAs etc. They can be read on a personal computers using Adobe Digital Editions – a free eBook reading application. You can also read ePub content on a large number of dedicated reading devices, including the Sony Reader, Barnes & Noble nook, BeBook, COOL-ER, Cybook Opus, and the IREX Reader. You can find the list of devices that are compatible with the ePub format on the Adobe website.
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How do I generate ePub output using RoboHelp 8?**
RoboHelp 8 leverages its strong Scripting feature to generate ePub output. We’re providing the script to generate ePub output to our RoboHelp 8 and TCS2 customers for free. I will share the script and the steps to run it, in my next blog post.

Stay tuned!

Ankur Jain
Product Manager – RoboHelp