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HomeHomeArchived Discus...Archived Discus...Developing Under Previous Versions of .NETDeveloping Under Previous Versions of .NETASP.Net 2.0ASP.Net 2.0DNN 4 Module Development and PackagingDNN 4 Module Development and Packaging
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3/17/2006 12:44 PM
 

It's been two weeks now, and still cannot find a way to package my module.  I thought a Web Deployment project would help, but again a loss.

Am I making packaging to hard?  I mean, I have a two .ascx's (a view and edit) and one dll to build, why is this so difficult?  I went through the Shaun Walker's tutorial using Visual Web Developer, then I was successful at bringing the site into VS2005.  The tutorial showed how to create from the startkit both the DNN site and a module.  I converted the starter kit module for my needs for my module.  I extended the functionality, tested until my machine turned green, and now packaging is an extreme drag for me.  Can/will someone please help?

I understand there's a way to not have:  app_code[somehashcode].dll for the entire site; but all I want is my dll and ascx.  Does someone know of a tutorial or instructions how to do that?  (geesh, this must be simple, but I'm seriously floundering.)

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 
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3/18/2006 3:38 PM
 

You can download the .zip file here:

http://adefwebserver.com/dotnetnuke/DotNetNuke/DNN4GuestBook/tabid/199/Default.aspx

that will show you how to package a DNN4 module. The only isssue is that this method exposes all the source code. If you don't want to do that you have to follow the method described at the end of the post here:

http://forums.asp.net/1114393/ShowPost.aspx

 



Michael Washington
http://ADefWebserver.com
www.ADefHelpDesk.com
A Free Open Source DotNetNuke Help Desk Module
 
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3/18/2006 7:59 PM
 

Both the dynamic compilation model and the pre-compilation model work, but what I want is the VS2003 style pre-compilation of the module code into one assembly for all of the module's .ascx/.vb controls, one assembly for the sql dataprovider, and optionally additional assemblies for components, custom controls, etc. as needed rather than having to 1) pre-compile the ENTIRE solution and 2) ending up with a multitude of the hashcode appended .dll filenames that have to be located in the bin.

I though that preview releases of the VS2005 Web Application Project and Web Deployment Project would result in a posible solution to this request, but after spending the better part of a day trying different combinations, I ended up with the solution/project so fouled up that VS2005 would hang in an unending loop of " . . . sorry but this program must close due to a VB compiler exception" popup errors that even the task manager could not kill.  Using a Web Application Project, I was able to compile as a separate assembly all of my components code that resided in the Web Application Project, but was not able to do the same for the codebeside files for the module controls that were located under the DesktopModules folder.  I also had a difficult time resolving all of the references back to the DNN library, but was finally able to add them all into the project.  When I tried the Web Deployment Project, I got the distinct (hopefully incorrect) impression that its use would require a total rework of the re-organization of the DNN library/website back to the VS2003 model.  Not wanting to proceed in that direction, I gave up and just packaged the module following Michael's dynamic compilation model.

I posted a similar question here and in the DNN section of the ASP.NET forums a week or so ago with no replies - Has anyone figured out how to use the Web Application Project and/or Web Deployment Project to accomplish what many developers are asking for? It's sure beyond me!


Bill, WESNet Designs
Team Lead - DotNetNuke Gallery Module Project (Not Actively Being Developed)
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Current: UserExport, ContentDeJour, ePrayer, DNN NewsTicker, By Invitation
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3/18/2006 9:48 PM
 
I've been doing my development in DNN4 essentially the same as I was in DNN3 and it still seems to be working fine for me. It doesn't use the Web Application Project or Deployment Project at all, just a standard class library project.  I came across this technique a couple of years ago on someone else's DNN site but I can't remember which one. Essentially, I create a Class Library project and build into the bin folder of the DNN site but set the Debugging, Start Action parameter of the project to the url of the DNN site (the Start URL).  In DNN3, I had to set the Debugger setting to enable ASP.NET debugging but that option isn't available in a VS2005 class library project. In VS2005 you need to manually attach to aspnet_wp.exe (for XP) or w3wp.exe (for Windows 2003) if you want to debug the class library as you're running the site. I created a simple macro that will attach the process automatically and start debugging which I've documented on my blog here.

If you have any problems with locked dll's in the DNN bin folder, just copy the bin folder to somewhere outside of the DNN folder and reference the dotnetnuke.dll from this folder instead of the actual bin folder.

I hope this helps someone out because many people seem to be having troubles developing modules with VS2005. I haven't made heavy use of this yet in VS2005 but I did manage to convert one of my previous modules using this technique the other day and I've always done my DNN2 and DNN3 modules this way.

If the instructions are a little sketchy, please post your questions and I'll try and explain it further.



 
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3/20/2006 11:11 AM
 

Imagemaker,

I am with you …those hash DLL’s are just weird.  I was hoping to use the Web Deployment project with the starter get version of DNN just to create better named dll’s. 

Were you able to use the Web Deployment Project with the Web Site version of DNN4?

 
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