Products

Evoq Content Overview Content Creation Workflow Asset Management Mobile Responsive Personalization Content Analytics SEO Integrations Security Website PerformanceEvoq Engage Overview Community Management  Dashboard  Analytics  Member Profile Gamification Advocate Marketing Community Engagement  Ideas  Answers  Discussions  Groups  Wikis  Events Mobile ReadyDNN Support PackagesEvoq: CMS FeaturesEvoq OnDemandCompare DNN's CMS Products

Solutions

Content Management SystemMulti-Channel PublishingDigital MarketingOnline Community ManagementIntranet Software SolutionOur CustomersPrime

Resources

Test DrivesSchedule A DemoDocumentation CenterWebinarsWhite PapersProduct ManualsRequest PricingData SheetsCase StudiesEvoq Preferred Products Content Management Ecommerce Forms Identity Management and Authentication Site Management Social Themes

Partners

DNN Partners Partner Directory Become a DNN Partner Partner Program Overview  Hosting  Implementation  ISV  Training  Competencies

Community

Participate Ask a Question Forums Community Showcase DNN MVP  Program Overview  Lifetime MVPs  Honorary MVPs Subscribe to DNN Digest Advisory Groups  Awareness Advisory Group  Developer Advisory Group  Partner Advisory Group  Technology Advisory GroupLearn Documentation Wiki Community Blog Video Library Project History Development RoadmapDownload DNN Store Language Packs Manuals Nightly BuildsSecurity Policies Security Center

Blog

About

News Press Releases News Coverage Press KitCareersContact DNN

QA

Ideas Test

New Community Website

Ordinarily, you'd be at the right spot, but we've recently launched a brand new community website... For the community, by the community.

Yay... Take Me to the Community!

Welcome to the DNN Community Forums, your preferred source of online community support for all things related to DNN.
In order to participate you must be a registered DNNizen
HomeHomeUsing DNN Platf...Using DNN Platf...Administration ...Administration ...Need Help start me in right direction - module developmentNeed Help start me in right direction - module development
Previous
 
Next
New Post
4/15/2007 10:58 PM
 
Greg Jahn

Joined: 2/27/2007
Posts: 2
I want to redesign my old photography web site in DNN, and I am feeling like an old dog learning new tricks.
I have a PC w/ Win2003server, IIS, MSSQlServer2005 & DNN 4.4.1, and I have worked through designing a set of skin/containers that look nice. But custom module development and programming are taking me way out of any familiar comfort zone, and after looking through all the information available I'm asking for help/correspondence to help steer me in a productive self-learning path.

I used to program in assembler/fortran and did unix admin for decades, and feel semi-comfortable with html, but I haven't been part of what's happened to most technology since I got thankfully thrown out the door in 2001 to spend my time with a big camera doing wonderful visuals with super-nature. Things have really changed.

My Question - Most tutorials on module development assume prior knowledge of asp/.net/vb/c#/ladeeda, and all I really intend to do is self-learn a path towards creating/accessing a single database of image data to display hundreds of images on pages very efficiently and as maintenance-free as possible. On point of personal principle I don't want to buy custom modules and I want to do it myself. Also, I don't want to walk through tutorials that break DNN, which I immediately found is possible when experimenting with code in modules I try to create - the 'validation' really isn't thorough which is fine I understand that.

I don't want to start a storm just in case anyone starts one, but I am interested in suggestions on what language(s) make the most sense to learn right now, any templates of code representative of what I need, and how to experiment/test/learn without breaking DNN on my local box while I do this stuff.

Anyone willing to correspond to steer me in a productive direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

- Greg up a creek in Idaho - GregJ@GregJahnPhoto.com
 
New Post
4/16/2007 11:12 AM
 
Mitchel Sellers


Mitchel Sellers's Avatar

Mitchel Sellers's Avatar

Mitchel Sellers's Avatar

Mitchel Sellers's Avatar

Mitchel Sellers's Avatar

Mitchel Sellers's Avatar

www.mitchelsellers.com
Joined: 1/24/2007
Posts: 7846

The path you are wanting to go down can be somewhat difficult if you do not have any experience with .NET but it is something that can be done.  I personally HIGHLY recommend learning a bit about .NET and how it works first then trying to tackle DNN.

In my experience I have about a 50/50 split in experience with VB.NET and C# and I prefer C# for programming.  However, in your situation I would recommend using VB.NET as there are many more samples and free modules that you can look at to see how things are done.

There are links on this site to Michael Washington's articles on module development using the WAP model, I HIGHLY recommend these articles as they really helped me get going on the DotNetNuke development   My other recommendation is to start looking at the source code for various modules and see what you can learn from them. 

Overall, it might be VERY confusing when you first start looking, but if you stick with it you should be fine.  If you have any questions along the way the forums here as well as my forums http://www.mitchelsellers.com are good places to ask questions, both on DNN specific items as well as .NET items.

-Mitchel Sellers
Microsoft MVP, ASPInsider, DNN MVP
CEO/Director of Development - IowaComputerGurus Inc.
LinkedIn Profile

Visit mitchelsellers.com for my mostly DNN Blog and support forum.

Visit IowaComputerGurus.com for free DNN Modules, DNN Performance Tips, DNN Consulting Quotes, and DNN Technical Support Services
 
New Post
4/16/2007 11:20 AM
 
Michael Washington


Michael Washington's Avatar

www.LightSwitchHelpWebsite.com
Joined: 7/17/2004
Posts: 3526

Try this tutorial. It should take about 15 minutes. Anyone can do it. Once you get past this then you are on your way:

Super-Simple Module (DAL+)


Michael Washington
http://ADefWebserver.com
www.ADefHelpDesk.com
A Free Open Source DotNetNuke Help Desk Module
 
New Post
4/16/2007 3:54 PM
 
Greg Jahn

Joined: 2/27/2007
Posts: 2

Greetings and thanks for your helpful suggestions,

I've been 'learning' .NET structure and behavior today. I had previously copied
code from Michael's 'Things For Sale' example for module development ... I replaced
'stuff' inside using Notepad and was able to install and use the new module to enter
some sample data into the new image database it created.

Where I feel presently stuck is how to test new code files to create a module to display a selected image with information from the database. I have a copy of Visual Studio 2005, and started to step through my interpretation of Michael's tutorial to access an installation of DNN in a separate folder than my currently running local DNN in Webroot on C:, but it sure didn't look to me like a distinctly separate running state - it was requiring host user accounts and passwords from my 'other' DNN. I went ahead and tried just modifying the module code and installing a module for viewing data from the database, but when I installed the module it had syntax errors and broke the entire DNN - I had to find the specific folders for the module and delete them manually to get DNN running again.

Basically, I'd like to set up a development and testing environment for new modules that I feel safe will not break the already working DNN on my local box. Since I'm new to using Visual Studio 2005, I don't care whether it'd be better to use free software I can download to use.

Thanks again y'all.
 
New Post
4/17/2007 9:07 AM
 
Michael Washington


Michael Washington's Avatar

www.LightSwitchHelpWebsite.com
Joined: 7/17/2004
Posts: 3526

upacreekinidaho wrote

Where I feel presently stuck is how to test new code files to create a module to display a selected image with information from the database. 

I would suggest setting up a separate development environment to develop and test your modules.Either of these two envronments should work:

  • Setting-up the Environment (using IIS)
  • Setting-up the Environment (without IIS)


    • Michael Washington
    http://ADefWebserver.com
    www.ADefHelpDesk.com
    A Free Open Source DotNetNuke Help Desk Module
     
     Page 1 of 1
    Previous
    		 
    Next
    HomeHomeUsing DNN Platf...Using DNN Platf...Administration ...Administration ...Need Help start me in right direction - module developmentNeed Help start me in right direction - module development


    These Forums are dedicated to discussion of DNN Platform and Evoq Solutions.

    For the benefit of the community and to protect the integrity of the ecosystem, please observe the following posting guidelines:

    1. No Advertising. This includes promotion of commercial and non-commercial products or services which are not directly related to DNN.
    2. No vendor trolling / poaching. If someone posts about a vendor issue, allow the vendor or other customers to respond. Any post that looks like trolling / poaching will be removed.
    3. Discussion or promotion of DNN Platform product releases under a different brand name are strictly prohibited.
    4. No Flaming or Trolling.
    5. No Profanity, Racism, or Prejudice.
    6. Site Moderators have the final word on approving / removing a thread or post or comment.
    7. English language posting only, please.
    What is Liquid Content?
    Find Out
    What is Liquid Content?
    Find Out
    What is Liquid Content?
    Find Out