Jeff,

I guess I should have said "edit visually" in the visual web developer.   I was thinking that I could open the file in VWD and see the page, move things around, etc.  When I opened the ascx file in designer mode, I just received errors on the page for all of the controls.

I have since found a good tutorial on ascx editing on www.arrownuke.com.  It is a little dated but I think it still holds up pretty well.

Thanks for the feedback.
Bill

Editing ascx is the same as editing html in Expression Web. I use EW to edit skins live on the server and wouldn't do it any other way. Use html if you're creating skins for sale, but otherwise it's far easier to work on the ascx files.

I wrote up a full guide on using EW with DNN here: http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/109/threadid/235860/scope/posts/Default.aspx

That's using sever extensions to provide a fully managed authoring environment. You can also do it over ftp, but it's not as slick.

Rob

Rob,

I followed the links to your write-up and I'm afraid I really feel stupid now.  Are you saying that you should apply "FrontPage Server Extensions 2002" to the site in order to be able to edit skins with EW?  (I'm not arguing, this is a real question)  Thanks to DNNCreative and Mitch Sellers I am able to keep copies of several DNN sites running on my local server.  My plan was to edit the skins on my local network and only transfer them to the real site when I am happy with them.  I'm confused as to what purpose the FP extensions would serve in this instance.  Also, in your write up, you say to keep away from the "portals" folders.  How would I edit the skins if I don't edit anything in the portals folder? 

If, for example I open the \DNN-Blue\Horizontal Menu - Fixed Width.ascx in EW.  I could easily edit the html code in the file if I were comfortable doing that.  But if I shift to split or design view, the page is only so much garbage and it looks nothing like the actual page in use.  Obviously I am really missing something here but I don't know what.  I have been programming for more than 30 years so I am really not stupid, I just feel like it right now. :-)  Any help you could give would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill