Dotnetnuke™ For Dummies®

Book description

Do you want to develop Web sites without the help of a programmer? Lucky for you there's DotNetNuke, a content management system that allows you to build and maintain dynamic Web sites just by using a Web browser.

DotNetNuke For Dummies helps you get down to business and shows you how to create a user-friendly Web site. You'll find out how you can build and manage a flexible, versatile site with all the advantages an open-source application offers, use convenient modules, build a community, and save some money at the same time. This plain-English guide lets you discover how to:

  • Install, run, and troubleshoot DotNetNuke

  • Change and customize portal settings

  • Add and manage pages on your site

  • Make your site look professional

  • Deliver contents with Text/HTML

  • Add news feeds, online surveys, and banners

  • Interact with visitors through blogging, feedback comments, and forums

  • Create an e-business

  • Customize the look of your site with exciting components

This book features cool new modules that will meet every Web site's need, both commercial and personal. With DotNetNuke For Dummies, you'll get up to speed with this wonderful online tool and create your own corner of the World Wide Web!

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Authors
  3. Authors' Acknowledgments
  4. Publisher's Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. Foolish Assumptions
    2. How To Use This Book
    3. Conventions Used in This Book
    4. A Note on the Different Versions of DNN
    5. How This Book Is Organized
      1. Part I: Drawing from the DotNetNuke Power Source
      2. Part II: Putting the Power of DotNetNuke to Work
      3. Part III: Jumping to Light Speed with DotNetNuke
      4. Part IV: Getting Under the Hood
      5. Part V: The Part of Tens
    6. Icons Used in This Book
  6. I. Drawing from the DotNetNuke Power Source
    1. 1. Maximize Your Web Potential
      1. 1.1. DotNetNuke Is More than Web Publishing
      2. 1.2. DNN Is Community
        1. 1.2.1. Registered users: Members and non-members of your Web site
        2. 1.2.2. Security roles: Sorting your members into groups
      3. 1.3. DNN Is Content
        1. 1.3.1. DNN Web pages
        2. 1.3.2. DNN modules
        3. 1.3.3. A designer's delight
      4. 1.4. DNN Is Collaboration
        1. 1.4.1. Special roles: Administrator and host roles
        2. 1.4.2. Logging in to your DNN Web site
        3. 1.4.3. Changing your login credentials
        4. 1.4.4. DNN serves applications, not just online brochures
        5. 1.4.5. DNN gives you N for the price of 1
      5. 1.5. Plug in to Open Source
        1. 1.5.1. Yes, it's free!
        2. 1.5.2. Based on Microsoft muscle
        3. 1.5.3. A thriving community
      6. 1.6. Finding Help Only a Hyperlink Away
    2. 2. Installing DotNetNuke
      1. 2.1. Making Decisions about Your DNN Installation
        1. 2.1.1. Which file do I download?
          1. 2.1.1.1. ASP.NET framework and DotNetNuke version
          2. 2.1.1.2. Distribution packages
          3. 2.1.1.3. Putting it all together
        2. 2.1.2. Choosing a Web host
      2. 2.2. Getting DotNetNuke to Your Server
      3. 2.3. Setting Up IIS for DotNetNuke
        1. 2.3.1. Creating a Web site in IIS Manager
        2. 2.3.2. Configuring your Web site in IIS Manager
      4. 2.4. Setting Up the Database
        1. 2.4.1. Creating a new database in Microsoft SQL Server 2000
        2. 2.4.2. Microsoft SQL Server users and access permissions
        3. 2.4.3. SQL Server 2005 Express
      5. 2.5. Preinstallation Configuration
        1. 2.5.1. The Web.Config file
        2. 2.5.2. Adjusting the connection string
        3. 2.5.3. Getting familiar with the machine key
      6. 2.6. DotNetNuke Automated Installation
        1. 2.6.1. Monitoring your installation
        2. 2.6.2. Completing your DotNetNuke installation
      7. 2.7. Installing DotNetNuke with Control Panels
        1. 2.7.1. Common control panel benefits
        2. 2.7.2. Common control panel drawbacks
      8. 2.8. Troubleshooting Your Installation
        1. 2.8.1. Configuration errors
        2. 2.8.2. Object reference error
        3. 2.8.3. Database connection errors
    3. 3. Set It and Forget It: Default Portal Settings
      1. 3.1. Changing Settings to Adapt to Your Needs
        1. 3.1.1. Setting the host details
        2. 3.1.2. Setting the SMTP server settings
        3. 3.1.3. Enabling Friendly URLs
        4. 3.1.4. Setting auto-unlock of accounts
      2. 3.2. Installing Modules and Assigning Them to Portals
        1. 3.2.1. Installing the modules included with your DNN application
        2. 3.2.2. Installing new modules
        3. 3.2.3. Setting premium modules and assigning them to portals
      3. 3.3. Setting Global Preferences for New Portals
        1. 3.3.1. Setting the default appearance for new portals
        2. 3.3.2. Setting the hosting space for new Web sites
        3. 3.3.3. Enabling the Site Log
        4. 3.3.4. Setting the types of files that can be uploaded
        5. 3.3.5. Choosing who has permission to upload new skins
      4. 3.4. Lighting Up a New Portal (Or Two, or Three)
        1. 3.4.1. Creating new portals
        2. 3.4.2. Photocopying your portal
  7. II. Putting the Power of DotNetNuke to Work
    1. 4. Getting Your Site Started on the Right Foot
      1. 4.1. Setting Defaults for a Web Site
        1. 4.1.1. Setting Site Details
        2. 4.1.2. Setting Payment Details
        3. 4.1.3. Setting other miscellaneous settings
        4. 4.1.4. Maintaining host-only settings
      2. 4.2. Getting Your Users into Roles
        1. 4.2.1. Adding a new role
        2. 4.2.2. Adding a new role group
        3. 4.2.3. Creating an opt-in/opt-out role
        4. 4.2.4. Setting user registration
        5. 4.2.5. Adding a new user
      3. 4.3. Adding and Managing Pages on Your Web Site
        1. 4.3.1. Adding a page
        2. 4.3.2. Setting view and edit permissions for a page
        3. 4.3.3. Copying view and edit permissions to child pages
        4. 4.3.4. Copying a page
        5. 4.3.5. Adding a page set as a link to a URL, page, or file
        6. 4.3.6. Changing the order of your pages
      4. 4.4. Adding Content to a Page
        1. 4.4.1. Adding a new module to a page
        2. 4.4.2. Adding an existing module to a page
        3. 4.4.3. Deleting, moving, and performing other module tasks by using the module menu
        4. 4.4.4. Setting module permissions
        5. 4.4.5. Tweaking module settings
        6. 4.4.6. Moving a module to another page
      5. 4.5. Managing Web Site Files
        1. 4.5.1. Getting familiar with the File Manager
        2. 4.5.2. Uploading a file to the File Manager
        3. 4.5.3. Delete a single file
        4. 4.5.4. Working with multiple files inside the File Manager
        5. 4.5.5. Creating a new folder
        6. 4.5.6. Setting the role permissions for a folder
        7. 4.5.7. Deleting an existing folder
        8. 4.5.8. Synchronizing one or more folders with your database
        9. 4.5.9. Uploading files without Administrator rights
      6. 4.6. Making Your Site Look Good
        1. 4.6.1. Changing the site logo
        2. 4.6.2. Changing the default skin and containers
        3. 4.6.3. Viewing and applying skins
        4. 4.6.4. Uploading a skin to your Web site
        5. 4.6.5. Setting the skin and container designs for an individual page
        6. 4.6.6. Setting the container for an individual module
        7. 4.6.7. Setting advanced design options for an individual module
    2. 5. Delivering Content Right Out of the Box
      1. 5.1. Doing Almost Anything with Text/HTML
        1. 5.1.1. Plain text editing
        2. 5.1.2. Working with the Basic Text Box
        3. 5.1.3. From rags to riches with Rich Text Editor
        4. 5.1.4. Discarding unwanted text formatting
        5. 5.1.5. Adding styles to text
        6. 5.1.6. Adding a Web site link to the RTE
        7. 5.1.7. Inserting images into the RTE
        8. 5.1.8. Uploading images to the RTE Image Gallery
        9. 5.1.9. Adding a table
        10. 5.1.10. Accessing the HTML code
      2. 5.2. Keeping Users Informed with FAQs
        1. 5.2.1. Adding an FAQ
        2. 5.2.2. Editing an FAQ
      3. 5.3. Getting Around with Links
        1. 5.3.1. Adding a link to another Web site
        2. 5.3.2. Linking to pages, files, or users within your site
        3. 5.3.3. Selecting and uploading a file on the fly
        4. 5.3.4. Tracking clicks on your links
        5. 5.3.5. Changing the layout of links
      4. 5.4. Letting Everyone Know with Announcements
        1. 5.4.1. Adding an announcement
        2. 5.4.2. Setting the displayed announcements
      5. 5.5. Listing Your Contacts
      6. 5.6. Downloading with Documents
      7. 5.7. Sneaking a Peek with IFrame
      8. 5.8. Showing Pictures, Movies, and More with the Media Module
        1. 5.8.1. Displaying an image with a link to another Web site
        2. 5.8.2. Displaying a movie
    3. 6. Adding Bells and Whistles to Your Site
      1. 6.1. Keeping Track of Dates with the Events Module
        1. 6.1.1. Setting up the events calendar
          1. 6.1.1.1. Adding event categories
          2. 6.1.1.2. Adding event locations
        2. 6.1.2. Adding events
      2. 6.2. Subscribing to News Feeds
        1. 6.2.1. Displaying a news feed
        2. 6.2.2. Subscribing to a news feed
      3. 6.3. Going Ad Hoc with the User Defined Table Module
        1. 6.3.1. Building a UDT table
        2. 6.3.2. Adding data to a UDT table
      4. 6.4. Sharing Spreadsheets and Data with XML/XSL
        1. 6.4.1. Creating an XML file from an Excel spreadsheet
        2. 6.4.2. Displaying a custom spreadsheet from Excel
      5. 6.5. Creating online surveys
        1. 6.5.1. Creating a survey
        2. 6.5.2. Settings to enhance your survey
      6. 6.6. Leveraging Partnerships with Banners
        1. 6.6.1. Creating a vendor account
        2. 6.6.2. Adding an image banner to a vendor
        3. 6.6.3. Adding a text banner to a vendor
        4. 6.6.4. Displaying a banner on your site
        5. 6.6.5. Sending a banner status e-mail to a vendor
      7. 6.7. Seeing Who Is at Home with UsersOnline
        1. 6.7.1. Enabling the UsersOnline module
        2. 6.7.2. Ensuring that UsersOnline information is up-to-date
        3. 6.7.3. Setting the user information to be displayed on the UsersOnline module
  8. III. Jumping to Light Speed with DotNetNuke
    1. 7. Getting Interactive with DotNetNuke
      1. 7.1. Getting to Know the Feedback Module
        1. 7.1.1. Receiving feedback in a flash
        2. 7.1.2. Sending feedback
        3. 7.1.3. Sharing the feedback workload
        4. 7.1.4. Sharing and moderating feedback comments
        5. 7.1.5. Modifying the layout and fields of the Feedback module
      2. 7.2. Getting Familiar with This Blogging Business
        1. 7.2.1. Getting to know the DNN Blog module
          1. 7.2.1.1. Most Recent Blog Entries
          2. 7.2.1.2. Blog Archive
          3. 7.2.1.3. New Blog
          4. 7.2.1.4. Blog List
          5. 7.2.1.5. Search Blog
        2. 7.2.2. Creating a public blog
        3. 7.2.3. Creating child blogs
        4. 7.2.4. Making blog entries
        5. 7.2.5. Viewing, editing, or deleting blog entries
      3. 7.3. Setting Options for the Most Recent Blog Entries Module
        1. 7.3.1. Allow bloggers to add images and attachments
        2. 7.3.2. Setting a personal blog page
        3. 7.3.3. Search options
        4. 7.3.4. Show Blog Summary
      4. 7.4. Blog Settings for All Bloggers: Advanced Settings for Your Blog
        1. 7.4.1. Setting date and time options
        2. 7.4.2. Using trackback URLs
        3. 7.4.3. Syndicate this blog
        4. 7.4.4. Creating permalinks to your blog
      5. 7.5. Getting to Know Forums
        1. 7.5.1. The DNN Forum module
        2. 7.5.2. The Forum Administration page
          1. 7.5.2.1. General Settings
          2. 7.5.2.2. Forum Users
          3. 7.5.2.3. Avatars
          4. 7.5.2.4. Manage Forums/Groups
          5. 7.5.2.5. Word Filter
          6. 7.5.2.6. Statistics & Ranking
        3. 7.5.3. Creating a public forum
        4. 7.5.4. Turning a forum off
        5. 7.5.5. Posting to a forum
        6. 7.5.6. Creating a role-restricted (private) forum
        7. 7.5.7. Filtering out the bad words
        8. 7.5.8. Moderating what people say in forums
          1. 7.5.8.1. Creating a moderated forum
          2. 7.5.8.2. Selecting a moderator
          3. 7.5.8.3. Moderating forum posts
          4. 7.5.8.4. Do you trust me?
        9. 7.5.9. Changing the layout and design
          1. 7.5.9.1. Change the forum name
          2. 7.5.9.2. Change the theme/skin
          3. 7.5.9.3. Change page layout
          4. 7.5.9.4. Changing Member Name Display
          5. 7.5.9.5. Enabling Thread Status
          6. 7.5.9.6. Enabling Private Messaging
          7. 7.5.9.7. Enabling Member List
      6. 7.6. Going Public with Newsletters
    2. 8. Collaborating and Selling with DNN
      1. 8.1. Showcase and Share with the Repository Module
      2. 8.2. Setting Up the Repository
        1. 8.2.1. The fastest setup this side of Texas
        2. 8.2.2. Adding more categories
        3. 8.2.3. Setting the unique Repository security roles
      3. 8.3. Changing the Function of the Repository
        1. 8.3.1. Setting the skin
        2. 8.3.2. Choosing a skin to suit
        3. 8.3.3. Changing the page layout
      4. 8.4. Working with Repository Files
        1. 8.4.1. Editing and deleting items
        2. 8.4.2. Downloading a file
        3. 8.4.3. Searching the Repository
        4. 8.4.4. Moderating new items
        5. 8.4.5. Adding a comment to an item
        6. 8.4.6. Viewing, editing, and deleting comments
        7. 8.4.7. Rating files
        8. 8.4.8. Displaying quick links by using the dashboard
      5. 8.5. Selling Stuff with a Store
        1. 8.5.1. The Store Menu (Categories) module
        2. 8.5.2. The Store Catalog module
        3. 8.5.3. The Store Mini Cart module
        4. 8.5.4. The Store Account module
        5. 8.5.5. The Store Admin module
      6. 8.6. Laying Out Your Store
        1. 8.6.1. Creating the Store page
        2. 8.6.2. Creating the Store Account page
        3. 8.6.3. Creating the Store Admin page
      7. 8.7. Choosing a Payment Provider
      8. 8.8. Configuring the Store Admin Module
        1. 8.8.1. Setting the payment gateway as PayPal
        2. 8.8.2. Setting the payment gateway as AuthorizeNet
        3. 8.8.3. Adding tax rates for each state
        4. 8.8.4. Adding a shipping fee
      9. 8.9. Adding Products to the Store
        1. 8.9.1. Creating and managing categories
        2. 8.9.2. Creating and managing products
      10. 8.10. Approving and Editing Product Reviews
      11. 8.11. Deleting a Product Review
      12. 8.12. Shopping 'til You Drop
        1. 8.12.1. Adding a product to the cart
        2. 8.12.2. Going to the checkout
        3. 8.12.3. Viewing previous customer orders
      13. 8.13. Collaborating with Wiki
      14. 8.14. Creating a Wiki Site
        1. 8.14.1. Configuring Wiki sites and choosing editors
        2. 8.14.2. Choose the Wiki Web site for this module
      15. 8.15. Getting to Know Your Wiki
      16. 8.16. Editing Wiki Pages
      17. 8.17. Linking to New or Existing Wiki Pages
      18. 8.18. Performing Maintenance on Your Wiki
      19. 8.19. Exporting and Importing Wiki Web Sites
  9. IV. Getting Under the Hood
    1. 9. Standard Stuff You Can Customize
      1. 9.1. Finding Things with Search Input and Search Results
        1. 9.1.1. Setting up Search
        2. 9.1.2. Adding more Search Input and Search Results modules
        3. 9.1.3. Changing the format of Search results
      2. 9.2. Inviting Authentication with Account Login
        1. 9.2.1. Adding an Account Login module
        2. 9.2.2. Creating a unique login page
      3. 9.3. Personalizing with User Account
      4. 9.4. Personalizing Your E-Mail Notifications
        1. 9.4.1. Changing the Registration e-mail message
        2. 9.4.2. Changing other e-mail notifications
      5. 9.5. Changing Your Terms of Use Policy
      6. 9.6. Changing Your Default Language
        1. 9.6.1. Adding a language
        2. 9.6.2. Changing your preferred language
    2. 10. Keeping Tabs with the Site Log and Log Viewer
      1. 10.1. Getting to Know Your Site Log
        1. 10.1.1. The Page Popularity report
        2. 10.1.2. The Page Views reports
        3. 10.1.3. The User Registrations reports
        4. 10.1.4. The User Frequency report
        5. 10.1.5. The Site Referrals report
        6. 10.1.6. The Affiliate Referrals report
        7. 10.1.7. The Detailed Site Log report
        8. 10.1.8. The User Agents report
      2. 10.2. See What's Happening with the Log Viewer
        1. 10.2.1. Using the Log Viewer
        2. 10.2.2. Configuring the Log Viewer
      3. 10.3. Checking Out the Recycle Bin
        1. 10.3.1. Restoring a page
        2. 10.3.2. Permanently deleting a page
        3. 10.3.3. Restoring a module
        4. 10.3.4. Permanently deleting a module
        5. 10.3.5. Emptying the Recycle Bin
      4. 10.4. Checking on Scheduled Tasks
    3. 11. Customizing the Look of Your Site with Components
      1. 11.1. Discovering Providers
      2. 11.2. Working with HTTP Modules
      3. 11.3. Getting to Know Skin Objects
      4. 11.4. Replacing the Standard DNN Editor with the telerik r.a.d.editor
        1. 11.4.1. Installing the editor
        2. 11.4.2. Installing the DNN provider
        3. 11.4.3. Configuring the web.config file
      5. 11.5. Replacing the Standard DNN Editor with the FCKeditor Provider
      6. 11.6. Enabling Friendly URLs
      7. 11.7. Replacing Standard DNN Navigation with a telerik Skin Object
  10. V. The Part of Tens
    1. 12. Ten Commercial Modules Worth a Look
      1. 12.1. Building Forms with Enterprise Forms
      2. 12.2. Managing Images with the DNN Photo Gallery
      3. 12.3. Skinning Shortcuts with the ZLDnn-Module Wrapper
      4. 12.4. Online Chat and Support with SWIRL (AJAX-Based Chat)
      5. 12.5. Designing Pages with the Aggregator 3.1
      6. 12.6. ActiveForums
      7. 12.7. Streamlining Content Approval with Content Manager
      8. 12.8. Distributing Podcasts with the Podcaster Module
      9. 12.9. Interacting with Page Options
      10. 12.10. Managing Online Issues Ticketing with Help Desk
    2. 13. Ten Free (Or Really Cheap) Modules You Shouldn't Pass Up
      1. 13.1. GoMap
      2. 13.2. GoogleSearch
      3. 13.3. MMLinks
      4. 13.4. Daily Comic
      5. 13.5. Multi Page Content
      6. 13.6. TemplatePrint Skin Object
      7. 13.7. Weather
      8. 13.8. Child Links
      9. 13.9. YAP Email Manager 1.03
      10. 13.10. Power Downloads
    3. 14. Ten Fun Things for Your Forum Users
      1. 14.1. Maintaining Their Profiles
      2. 14.2. Subscribing to Favorite Forums and Getting Notification of Posts
      3. 14.3. Ranking Your Most Active Users
      4. 14.4. Giving Users Additional Avatars
      5. 14.5. Enabling Time Zones Specific to Each User
      6. 14.6. Letting Users Rate Their Favorite Posts
      7. 14.7. Displaying the Poster's Location
      8. 14.8. Displaying a Forum Group on a Different Page

Product information

  • Title: Dotnetnuke™ For Dummies®
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: April 2007
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9780471798439