Hello all,

I'm preparing to start creating my first DNN module, but first I'm going through the Professional DotNetNuke Module Programming book, as well, as many blogs, website tutorials, and postings that I can find.  I'm finding a lot of information, however I'm not a developer by trade which makes all this info even more overwhelming.  Which leads me to  questions.  Using the book we're are using the DNN DAL files for connection to the DB table , however after doing some research I found that I could also use Entity Framework and/or LINQ to SQL when I'm actually ready to create my module.

I've seen a lot of discussions about using either of those in DNN but they seem to be a bit dated. So I wanted to follow up on a couple of items. 

• When using Entity Framework or LINQ do I even need the DAL files:
  DataProvider.cs
  {Modulename}Controller.cs
  {ModuleName}Info.cs
  SqlDataProvider.cs
• I'm running the latest DNN release 5.4.x so do I still need install the EF and/or L2S module adapters?
• Has anyone created a DNN module template that uses L2S or EF instead of the DNN DAL
• If I was to use one of the free DNN mdoule template that already exist, say the one by Chris Hammond, are there other supporting files I need in order for L2S or EF to work within DNN, excluding the module adapters, if they are still required.

Thanks
Bob

Yes, I have spent some time on Michael's site but I haven't gone through the tutorials or all the links as of yet. My questions are a result of bits of information that I've found here and there but didn't have, or I couldn't put together, a complete answer for them. By posting them here I'm hoping when they get answered that I can use that information as I do go through Michael's and/or other tutorials. Just trying to keep building that internal KB... :-) Thanks, Bob