Word wrap width in published HTML

[Doug Domke]

On published HTML pages, it appears that word wrapping occurs based on the widest element of the page. Thus, when there is a single wide element on a page, the reader must scroll horizontally to read the other (wrapped) content. Is there a setting such that paragraphs with word wrap set true will always wrap based on the width of the browser's window instead?

[Tim Green]

Hi Doug,

On published HTML pages, it appears that word wrapping occurs based on the widest element of the page. Thus, when there is a single wide element on a page, the reader must scroll horizontally to read the other (wrapped) content.

This will only happen if you are using the very basic standard templates that are generated if you publish to HTML without a skin, which use an old-style table as the container for the topic content. If you choose any of the current skins included with Help+Manual you should not have this problem. (This doesn't include the older "Classic" skins that should only be used if you need compatibility with obsolete versions of MS Internet Explorer.)

[Doug Domke]

I see. To date, we've always published with "no skin selected". Looks like I've got some learning to do about skins so that we can apply a skin without the look-and-feel changing too much. Thanks for the insight!

[Tim Green]

Hi Doug,

If you really want to publish without a skin, you can also make the following change in the integrated template.

In the Project Explorer on the left, navigate down to Configuration > HTML Page Templates > Default and select the Source Code tab if it is not already selected.

Locate the following code down at the bottom of the template:

Code: Select all

<table style="width:100%;border:none;border-spacing:0px"><tr style="vertical-align:top"><td style="text-align:left;padding:5px">     
<%TOPIC_TEXT%>
</td></tr></table>

Delete it and replace it with this:

Code: Select all

<div style="padding: 5px;">
<%TOPIC_TEXT%>
</div>

The text will then stay inside the window and larger objects like images will extend beyond it.

Another solution in Help+Manual 7 for images (but not for tables) is to use the responsive size setting for the images. Set their size to "% of page width, maximum is original size". Then the images can never extend beyond the borders of the page or of the table cell if they are in a table.