Translating tabular data formatted for one display device to a format for display on other display device

A method and system are provided that translates tabular data prepared for a first display format into a second display format. Tabular data prepared for display on a conventional desktop display device may be adjusted for display on a portable computing device having a different display device. Tabular formatting may be removed for single row and single column tables. The method and system may also remove tabular formatting for tables having horizontal dimensions exceeding a specified amount. Tabular data may be removed from tables having more than one column that exceeds a specified maximum column size. The method and system may also identify nested tables and eliminate tabular formatting for all but the innermost tables.