Hello!  I am new to DotNetNuke.  I am more used to building web applications from scratch however I now have a need where DNN seems to have many of the features I require so I felt it was time to dive in.

Whilst DNN has many of the features I require I need to add more quite specific functionality.  However I’d like to do this without ‘breaking’ the core DNN application so that after it is modified it can continue to be upgraded in the usual way.  That is – I do not wish to create a ‘Fork’.  Therefore I need to understand how to add what I need extensibly or via the creation of plug-ins or similar.  Even better to find existing solutions that could fit the bill.  Of course if whatever I create can be easily used by others in the community all the better.

This requirement is basically an advertising directory site.  There are numerous technical requirements but at the core the following is needed:

To extend the user registration process that will primarily be used for those wishing to advertise:

• The user may apply for certain pay-for features such as extra pictures, links and other items.
• To set the categories in which they would like their ads to appear – each category being additional cost.

An e-commerce catalogue to aggregate the chosen above options that can move forward to payment before finally adding their DNN account where they can then login and edit their ads.

They would need to be able to edit, remove and add above options post-registration.

How to achieve this?

I can see that it is possible to simply add fields to the registration process, but my needs go beyond this in terms of the e-commerce side as well as the need to be able to select multiple items from a list, etc.

What would be the best way forward?  Should I write a whole new sign up process to replace the built-in one that talks directly to the user database or is there a better way?

What other advice can you far more experienced DNNs offer to me on my pending DNN journey?  I hope as best I can to produce material that can be shared with others.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thank you everyone.