Hi All,

I have started looking into DNN 4.* for an upcoming project using VS2005 for the development.I can find help/lab exercises for creating DNN modules, but not much help for creating a DNN skin using VS2005.

I have installed a template to create DNN skin in VS2005 .But,it does not help me since there is no help/explanation for creating even simple skins.

Any pointers to create basic skins in VS2005 will be appreciated.

-AG

Understand this three files:

1. skin.htm: defining you page sceleton (either with tables or divs) and including the skinobjects like Solpartmenu, Login/Logout, Contentpanes etc.: DNN Skinning Guide
2. skin.xml: properties/settings of the skinobjects: DotNetNuke Skinning Reference by ThinkofDesign.com
3. skin.css: formatting your divs/tables and the skinobjects by overriding the default.css: DotNetNuke Skin CSS Classes Demonstrated

Hi Gary,

i guess this is just something related to personal objectives.
I Personally use VS2005 to modify and/or create Skins. I do not even touch the CodeBehind Files at all.
VS gives you at least the ability to use some of the very helpful functionalities of a modern editor.
VS itself will not help you testing your skins though. I usually do modifications and reload the modified skin to a local DNN Environment to check the changes.

You could use a combination of HTML and XML Files to create Skins also, but (again a personal impression) i don't like that procedure. You have to split up your editing into two files...modifying the HTML to make genera changes in the Skin Structure like Pane Layout etc. and besides hat making changes to the XML File to set attributes for the DNN:TOKENS.

I definitely use only the .ascx editing method.