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HomeHomeUsing DNN Platf...Using DNN Platf...Skins, Themes, ...Skins, Themes, ...How do i create Skins for DNN 5How do i create Skins for DNN 5
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1/27/2010 2:39 PM
 

If you're just looking for one skin, you may want to check out Snowcovered and see if there are any there that meet your needs / budget. However, if you are looking into learning how to skin and develop for multiple sites, you probably will want to start with the posts pinned at the top of this forum.  Personally, I started by reverse-engineering the default skin(s). Depending on your level of comfort with HTML and server-side technologies, you have the option of either creating a HTML template with 'tokens' that get replaced when it is uploaded into DNN or, the method that is coming into favor with more skinners (myself included) is to bypass the upload-and-parse method and just create the skin as an ASCX file. You will see both methods outlined in the pinned posts, and there are many threads dealing with your question.

Also, if you plan to dive into DNN fairly deeply, you may want to check out Professional DotNetNuke 5 - Open Source Web Application Framework for ASP.NET (Nerdbooks), chapter 16 covers skinning with both systems (parsing and control pages). Once you understand the basics (Panes, Controls, widgets), then it's just a matter of making your skin code, inserting objects where they're needed and then just style it up using CSS (and maybe some jQuery if you're so inclined).

It seems complicated, but really once you understand 'the basics', it's nothing more than your usual HTML code sprinkled with Controls (Navigation, Login, ContentPane, etc).


Wells Doty Jr
Online Content Development
 
New Post
1/28/2010 3:01 PM
 

 I'm having problems learning how to create skins in 5 as well.

This is my first experience with dotnetnuke and there doesn't seem to be a straighforward way to do this. The sticky links at the top of this thread are of little help, since they don't explain how to package up a skin and generate a manifest - only create one manually (is that the only way?) Maybe there is a simple way to do this in VS 2008, but the only way I've found to install the latest framework, is using the web installer, which didn't add the dotnetnuke template into my VS2008.

People mention there is a guide which comes with the starter kit, but this info must be outdated, since the link to the document takes me right back to the web installer, which does not give me the option for any documentation.. I'm hesitant to buy any books or programs because I'm not confident that the information will work with the latest framework.

If you're going to post quick starts for people just starting out, or tell them to read the sticky links, please make sure that information is actually relevant to the latest framework.

 
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1/28/2010 4:02 PM
 

I've discovered that the old tutorial will only take you so far, by that I mean: creating a folder in "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\dotnetnuke\Portals\_default\Skins", making an htm file, and follow the steps to generate an ascx file. You will receive an error message about legacy skin when you parse it.

So then you need to follow this set of instructions from the sticky:

Create a package from skins after an upgrade or installed using "copy / ftp".
A. Login as Host
B. Menu: Host > Extensions
C. Click the "Create new Extension" link
D. Select skins from the dropdown.
E. Enter the name for the skin; this should be the name of the skin folder you just copied to the skins folder.
F. Enter Friendly name, Description and Version for the skin and click "Next"
G. Enter the "Owner info" and click "Next"
The skin should be registered as an extension.
Now DNN can create your DNN 5 skin package.
 
After this, you can apply the skin to the rest of your site.

 
New Post
1/28/2010 5:57 PM
 

I did a webinar on Beginning Skin Design some months back that might be helpful. You can view a recording of the webinar here:

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Products/Webinar.aspx (scroll down to see the link)

Nik

 


Nik Kalyani
Co-founder
DotNetNuke Corporation
Blog | Twitter | FaceBook
 
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2/25/2010 8:45 AM
 
Thx. now i have the infomation i need.
 
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HomeHomeUsing DNN Platf...Using DNN Platf...Skins, Themes, ...Skins, Themes, ...How do i create Skins for DNN 5How do i create Skins for DNN 5


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