1. Choose an appropriate length for each page.

For information meant to be viewed on screen, you must decide whether to minimize scrolling or interruptions. Many viewers find scrolling through more than two or three screens of text disorienting. To address this problem, some authorities urge chunking long documents into Web pages two or three screens long. On the other hand, some viewers find it annoying to have to jump to a new page after every screen or two, especially if long footers reduce the useful length of each page even further. Very long documents should be broken up at least into chapter-length units; shorter chunking is up to you. If local navigational links or links to important related material scroll off the screen before the end of the page, you might consider repeating them at the top and bottom of the page.

2. Divide your content up into logical chunks and link them.

Presenting your content in modules two or three screens long accomplishes two things. It makes online reading easier and, if the content is so structured, it allows viewers to follow one of several paths through the content according to their needs. Linear or sequential material, such as step-by-step instructions or logical argument, suffers from being broken up. Some other types of content benefit from the hypertext approach. Where appropriate, take advantage of what the Web does best.

3. Provide a separate file for content that viewers may want to save or print.

Viewers should be able to print or save long documents in a single step. It's painful to have to print a set of modular pages individually to get a readable copy of a long document, and the redundant head and footer information on each module interferes with reading and wastes paper. So if you have chunked your document into several pages, offer a combined file with all the content on one page in addition to the modules. Don't forget to include one set of boilerplate information, including the URL for the online page.