Hi,

To summarise I need to create a categorized list. In adding items to the list the user has an option to select a customized template to display the list item.

In designing the list I am looking at the various ways to implement the architecture.

The two frameworks I am looking at are:

• Token Replacement : With layout stored in a html file that is cached for reuse.
• Loading Controls : With layout stored as controls in a ascx file.

In the Token Replacement model when the ItemBound event is called it loads (if not cached) and parses the template and replaces the various tokens.

In the Load Controls model I implement Itemplate, Load the control, Use FindControl to update the values of the controls if there are found.

I was wondering if any of you have any opions on the usage of these models, performace etc.

Cheers,

Colin

Hi Sebastian,

Thanks for your reply.

Just to answer your question, I will be implemeting a Rich UI Template Editor which will allow admin users to edit the templates and set default templates for list items.

Theses default templates then can be overriden by selection from a dropdown when adding/editing items to the list, this purpose is to enable site editors to highlight specific items in the list (different css).

Lets take the presumption that the documentation is clear and of high quality. Do you think its better to implemet Token Replacement syntax instead of control syntax in an editor due to the growth of TR throughout the DNN framework?

Do you know of any good examples of loading a html file, parsing the tokens, replacing them with controls and storing the template in cache? 

Thanks for your input.

Colin

What's your timeline? The Repository4 module is not quite ready yet, but it sounds like the work I'm doing around extensible templates is exactly what you're looking for.

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Blogs/tabid/825/EntryId/1807/The-Repository-4-0-Template-engine-overview.aspx

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Blogs/tabid/825/EntryId/1809/The-Repository-4-0-New-Token-Architecture.aspx

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Blogs/tabid/825/EntryId/1536/Repository-Module-4-0-Sneak-Peek-2-Custom-Repository-Controls.aspx

I had planned to have the first preview release available at OpenForce next week. I am probably a week behind schedule but I would almost surely have a public preview release by Thanksgiving.  I will probably be posting another video blog entry tomorrow demonstrating the workflow engine which I am just finishing up