Hello, I'm a newbie with DNN, but have some experience programming and theming for other CMS's.  I'm trying to work with skins.  I seem to be doing okay with creating the skin, but I'm getting somewhat confused with the file management issues for the skin.  I've searched the available documentation and it is always missing just a few choice pieces of information.

How do I modify (upgrade) an uploaded skin that is already in use? If I just upload it again, instead of overwriting it seems to create multiple skins with the same name.   Seems like perhaps you need to delete it and re-install it, but this isn't an option if it is in use. Perhaps instead, I could use FTP to upload new versions of the files, then click Parse Skin Package in the admin interface?  Or is there some other method I'm missing?  Would using the xcopy method work? 

The documentation of the xcopy method of uploading a skin is sparse (to say the least).  Do I understand correctly that I just use FTP to upload the zipped skin package to the DNN/Install/Skin directory and the rest is taken care of?  If the skin already exists will it update it, or create a new one?  I guess I should just try it, but they seem to be so difficult to delete I don't want to make any unnecessary extra skins.

If I want to delete a container that is in use, is there some way to quickly unlink all modules using that container so I can delete it?  Or do I have to go through each page and manually change the container in every case where it is being used?

Can I have a different default container for different skins?  It looks like if you choose DNN Blue, or DNN Gray in the "Skins" drop down (on the admin>> skins page), the affiliated containers pop up in the container drop down.  However the containers I tried to upload with my skin don't seem to have such a strong association.

Do I need an XML file with an ASCX skin?  I get the impression that they are only necessary with an HTML type skin.  My skins seem to work without, but maybe I'm missing something subtle.

Thanks in advance!

Phen

Thanks Timo!

I think that gives me a good start.

Phen