DNN Creative Issues

July 2009

Welcome to issue 46 of DNN Creative Magazine

In this issue we look at the professionals method for creating DotNetNuke skins, ASCX skinning.

We did some quick research via twitter for the preferred method of skinning with the DotNetNuke professionals in the community and 100% of the skinners preferred the ASCX method for skinning.

ASCX skinning provides you with several benefits over the other methods of skinning in DotNetNuke. The main benefit is that it is much quicker to create a skin in DotNetNuke using the ASCX method.

Further benefits include you can make changes live on the website without re-parsing or re-installing the skin, you can instantly see edits and changes you make to your skin code, you can view at a glance all of a skin tokens properties, and a really useful feature is that if you are using Visual Web Developer Express it will suggest the attributes that are available for each of the DotNetNuke tokens.

We demonstrate all of these techniques and show you how to get started with ASCX skinning in DotNetNuke.

Accompanying the skinning, we have part four in our series on the Open Web Studio Tutorials. In this episode we demonstrate how to add personalisation to the knowledgebase module using InterModule Communications and creating a ‘my saved articles’ module. We also demonstrate how to create a Tooltip using JQuery, how to change the “fetching data” message, how to enable Rich Text / HTML articles and how to create a multi-category selection for each knowledgebase article.

Finally, we have a podcast covering the latest DotNetNuke News as well as more tips and tricks.

This issue comes complete with 11 Video Tutorials and 1 Podcast!

Tutorials:

Skinning:	DotNetNuke ASCX Skinning for Professional Skinners (6 videos - 58mins)
Module Development Series:	Personalization, Text Editor, Logging and Reporting in Open Web Studio – Part 4 of 6 – How to Build a Public Knowledge Base with OWS (5 videos - 58mins)
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, DataSprings Dynamic Forms, DNN 5.1 Professional, Openforce 09, Snapsis PageBlaster (25mins)

View issue 46 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 46 issues we have created 441 videos!

June 2009

Welcome to issue 45 of DNN Creative Magazine

This issue begins with a tutorial for Markit Modules Slideshow module. The Slideshow module is useful for displaying your featured articles and products as an image, text content or you can even display an existing module within a slideshow. This module displays content in a similar manner to the msn.com home page.

Following this we also cover Markit Modules free PageEar module. The PageEar module allows you to place Page Peel advertisements on your DotNetNuke websites.

Next, we demonstrate how to use DNN Stuff’s Module Rotator. This module allows you to rotate the content of multiple modules in the space of a single module. You can configure the module rotator to rotate modules each time the page loads, or you can also configure a timer to rotate through the modules in milliseconds.

Following this we explore the free Monitter for DNN module by Joe Brinkman. This is a simple module which allows you to easily display a real-time feed of twitter search results on your website.

This issue also releases the much anticipated third part of our series on How to Build a Public Knowledge Base Module using R2i’s Open Web Studio by Paul Deschenes. In this instalment we explore how to build the user search page for searching knowledge base articles. We demonstrate how to implement record paging, column sorting, how to create a categories module, how to create a print function for the articles, as well as how to add an articles rating feature.

Finally, we have a podcast covering the latest DotNetNuke News as well as more tips and tricks.

This issue comes complete with 14 Video Tutorials and 1 Podcast!

Tutorials:

Premium Modules:	Markit Slideshow Module (5 videos - 38mins)
	DNN Stuff Module Rotator (1 video - 9mins)
Free Modules:	Markit PageEar Module (2 videos - 20mins)
	Monitter4DNN Twitter Module (1 video - 7mins)
Module Development Series:	The User Search Interface in Open Web Studio - Part 3 of 6 - How to Build a Public Knowledge Base with OWS (5 videos - 51mins)
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, BrettleWeb Error Tip, Backing up Tips, Cloud Computing, DNN 4.9.4 and 5.1Beta (27mins)

View issue 45 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 45 issues we have created 430 videos!

May 2009

Welcome to issue 44 of DNN Creative Magazine

This issue begins with a tutorial on the iFinity URL Master module. The URL Master module is one of the essential modules for your DotNetNuke websites as it creates Search Engine Optimised URLs and eliminates duplicate content from the Search Engines.

The URL Master module allows you to create Human and Search Engine friendly URLs. It lets you replace spaces in URLs with characters you specify, such as hyphens. It allows you to use your own keywords and phrases within the URLs for your DotNetNuke pages, as well as incorporating various options for custom redirects. This module is very useful for eliminating duplicate content and replacing old websites with new DotNetNuke sites.

Next we demonstrate OnyakTech’s Host Commander module. This module provides many useful functions for the Host Super User. With the Host Commander module you can set up scheduled jobs such as SQL queries, view portal statistics for all portals from one area, view the data from the tables in your database, and execute stored procedures.

Following this we have the second part of our new series on 'How to Build a Public Knowledge Base Module' using R2i’s Open Web Studio by Paul Deschenes. In this instalment we explore the actual coding process. We show you how to manually build a module so you can get a full understanding of building a query, using AJAX calls and OWS actions so that you can go on to build your own OWS modules of any type and requirement.

Included with the OWS tutorial this month is a ‘mini’ tutorial on how to import the configuration source code (which we provide with each tutorial) into Open Web Studio.

Finally, we have a podcast covering the latest DotNetNuke News as well as more tips and tricks.

This issue comes complete with 16 Video Tutorials and 1 Podcast!

Tutorials:

Premium Modules:	iFinity URL Master Module (6 videos - 49mins)
	OnyakTech Host Commander Module (4 videos - 35mins)
Module Development Series:	How to Import the Configuration Source Code into Open Web Studio (1 video - 2 mins)
	How to Build Module Interfaces in Open Web Studio – Part 2 of 6 – How to Build a Public Knowledge Base with OWS (5 videos - 41mins)
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, SQL Tips for Cleaning DNN Database, DNN 4.9.3, Derek Trauger, Nevoweb (30mins)

View issue 44 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 44 issues we have created 416 videos!

April 2009

Welcome to issue 43 of DNN Creative Magazine

This is a very special issue for us as this month we have reached 400 video tutorials! Also, in this issue we are introducing a new video tutor, Paul Deschenes who will be providing a six part series on how to build a Knowledge Base Module using Open Web Studio.

To open the issue we begin with a tutorial on the OnyakTech SigmaLive Module. The SigmaLive module provides Live Chat functionality for your DotNetNuke website. It allows you to engage in a 1-to-1 chat with your website visitors in real-time. It allows you to instantly provide live help, live support, visitor tracking, and proactive sales for your products and services. It is also possible to configure this module as a chat room.

Next we demonstrate how to use DNN Stuff’s Aggregator Module. This module is a really flexible module as it acts as a tabbed container or can also be used as a localization container for one or more modules. The module allows you to combine several modules together from a page into a tabbed interface and can also display RSS feeds.

Following this we have part one of six for the new series of tutorials on How to Build a Public Knowledge Base Module with R2i’s Open Web Studio by Paul Deschenes. The aim of the series is to introduce the beginner to Open Web Studio and demonstrate how to create a fully functional web application with little or no coding experience required. This tutorial provides an introduction to Open Web Studio where we walk you through installation, the key components, and building your first components with Quick Builder.

Finally, we have two podcasts covering the latest DotNetNuke News as well as more tips and tricks.

This issue comes complete with 14 Video Tutorials and 2 Podcasts!

Tutorials:

Premium Modules:	OnyakTech SigmaLive Module (5 videos - 42mins)
	DNN Stuff Aggregator Module (6 videos - 57mins)
Module Development Series:	An Introduction to R2i Open Web Studio – Part 1 of 6 – How to Build a Public Knowledge Base with OWS (3 videos - 27mins)
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, Free Modules, Working With Emails, Quick Tips (26mins) DotNetNuke News, DNN Creative 400 Videos, Paul Deschenes, R2i OWS, Google Maps, Quantcast (34mins)

View issue 43 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 43 issues we have created 400 videos!

March 2009

Welcome to issue 42 of DNN Creative Magazine

In this issue we demonstrate how to use DataSprings Opt In Email module and how email can be a powerful tool for obtaining and maintaining new clients and customers.

Firstly we demonstrate how you can use DataSprings Opt In Email module effectively. This module provides the same and even more functionality than you would expect from a third party ESP (Email Service Provider). ESP’s are third party companies that handle the sending of bulk emails on behalf of others, with DataSprings Opt In Email Module we put the control back in your hands.

This is the final part of our look into DataSprings Modules and we tie all the related tutorials from the previous issue together with an article on how to improve email deliverability and get the most out of your subscriber mailing list.

The article takes you through the steps needed to create a high quality mailing list so you know you are getting your message out to the right people and you are maximising the exposure of your website.

Using the knowledge gained from this and previous issues you now have all the tools you need to create high quality email campaigns for marketing your websites.

For the final item in this issue we have our latest podcast from our DotNetNuke News series.

This issue comes complete with 10 Video Tutorials and 1 Podcast!

Tutorials:

Premium Modules:	DataSprings Opt In Email Module (10 videos - 83mins)
Administrators:
	How to Improve Email Newsletter Deliverability
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, DNN Professional, Active Social, Social Networking, Book Releases (35mins)

View issue 42 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 42 issues we have created 386 videos!

February 2009

Welcome to issue 41 of DNN Creative Magazine

In this issue we demonstrate how to upgrade DotNetNuke. We demonstrate how to use the Auto Merge Method for upgrading versions 4.6.2+ and the Manual Method for all versions of DotNetNuke. We also continue with the DataSprings Dynamic Forms module tutorials, this time we cover Completion Events and using Third Party Email Services.

First of all we cover DataSprings Dynamic Forms Completion Events. We take you through how to create a Dynamic Form Completion Event and show you how Completion Events can be used to redirect a user to a URL or page, send an email, add a user to a DNN security role and execute SQL and HTTP Post; which enables you to post data from your form to another URL.

Following this we demonstrate how Completion Events can be used to send user details to a third party email newsletter service such as AWeber.

Next we show you how to upgrade DotNetNuke using the Auto Merge Method which is available from version 4.6.2 onwards. This method of upgrading is much easier and quicker than it was in previous versions of DotNetNuke. This tutorial demonstrates the steps required to upgrade live DotNetNuke websites from v4.6.2 to v4.9.1 and then onto v5+.

We also demonstrate how to upgrade DotNetNuke using the Manual Method. This method of upgrading will work for any version of DotNetNuke and this is the method you have to use for upgrading any version below 4.6.2.

To complete this issue we have our latest podcast from our DotNetNuke News series.

This issue comes complete with 10 Video Tutorials and 1 Podcast!

Tutorials:

Premium Modules:	DataSprings Dynamic Forms Completion Events (2 videos - 17mins)
	How to Create an Email Opt-In Form with a Third Party Email Service (AWeber) using DataSprings Dynamic Forms (2 videos - 18mins)
Administrators:	How to Upgrade DotNetNuke (Auto Merge Method) (3 videos - 30mins)
	How to Upgrade DotNetNuke (Manual Method) (3 videos - 33mins)
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, Codeplex, Bingway Free Trial, Page Rank, DNN Creative Subscriptions (27mins)

View issue 41 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 41 issues we have created 376 videos!

January 2009

Welcome to issue 40 of DNN Creative Magazine

In this issue we explore DataSprings Dynamic Forms module, this is a very powerful module for quickly and easily building complex forms in DotNetNuke.

We begin with a Quick Start Guide, where we show you the basic principles of the Dynamic Forms module and how, in a matter of minutes, you can create simple forms for collecting data from your website visitors.

We then demonstrate how you can show and hide form fields dependant on responses from other fields with Question Events. Question Events make your forms very flexible and user friendly as they only display form fields that are relevant to the user filling out their details.

Next we show you how you can view the data that the Dynamic Forms module captures, how to setup a message to display when a user clicks on the submit button and how to import and export forms that you have created into other Dynamic Forms Modules.

Still on the subject of forms, we also have an article covering the 20 Best Practice Tips for creating forms.

Following this we have an article on how to use Favicons within DotNetNuke. Favicons are a great way to make your site stand out from a long list of bookmarked pages and give your site a more personal touch. We show you how to create a favicon from scratch, how to create a favicon from an existing image and how to attach the favicon.ico file to your DotNetNuke website.

To finish the issue off we have a podcast from our regular DotNetNuke News series.

This issue comes complete with 10 Video Tutorials, 2 Articles and 1 Podcast!

Tutorials:

Administrators:	DataSprings Dynamic Forms Quick Start Guide (6 videos - 49mins)
	DataSprings Dynamic Forms Question Events (2 videos - 20mins)
	DataSprings Dynamic Forms Data Management (2 videos - 13mins)
Administrators:	20 Best Practice Tips for Creating Forms
	Using Favicons within DotNetNuke
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, DNN Funding, R2i OWS, OnyakTech Soma Elite (21mins)

View issue 40 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 40 issues we have created 366 videos!

December 2008

Welcome to issue 39 of DNN Creative Magazine

In this issue we take a look at the DotNetNuke Authentication settings, which covers the various configuration options for the DotNetNuke login page.

We show you how to enable CAPTCHA on the standard DotNetNuke login page and how to setup Windows LiveID and OpenID. We demonstrate how to make these new login features user friendly and how to help the user sign up to Windows LiveID and Open ID easily.

Next we show you how to quickly add large quantities of data to a module. Adding vast amounts of data to a module manually using DotNetNuke can be time consuming. In this tutorial we demonstrate how to add large quantities of data to the core Documents module quickly. We walk you through how to use Microsoft Excel and SQL Server Express to quickly populate tables within DotNetNuke.

Following this, we have produced the DNN Creative Color Reference Guide PDF to help you choose a palette for your web pages.

To finish the issue off we have three Podcasts, the first is a video interview with Paul Deschenes of Advologix about SaaS (Software as a Service) applications within DotNetNuke. Paul talks us through how he developed the AdvologixPM application and tells us of the benefits of SaaS over conventional store purchased applications, and the final two podcasts cover our regular DotNetNuke News series.

This issue comes complete with 9 Video Tutorials, 1 Video Interview and 2 Podcasts!

Tutorials:

Administrators:	DotNetNuke Authentication Settings (Configuring the Login Page) (5 videos - 40mins)
	How to Quickly Add Large Quantities of Data into DotNetNuke Modules (4 videos - 40mins)
PDF Book:	Color Reference Guide (34 pages PDF)
Video Interview:	Interview with Paul Deschenes, SAAS applications using DotNetNuke (32mins)
Podcasts:	DotNetNuke News, Active Forums, DataSprings, R2i, OpenForce, DNN Book (30mins) DotNetNuke News, Professional, OpenForce Vegas, Quick Tips (24mins)

View issue 39 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 39 issues we have created 356 videos!

November 2008

Welcome to issue 38 of DNN Creative Magazine

This issue focuses on Search. We look at the Core Search in DotNetNuke as well as review two Search Engine modules available for DotNetNuke.

We begin by demonstrating how to setup and configure the DotNetNuke Core Search. The tutorial demonstrates how to ensure your content is indexed, how to increase the search effectiveness of your site, and how to configure the Search Results. We show you how to set up a Google AdSense Affiliate ID and insert it into Google search results and finally demonstrate how to configure the Search Skin Object to suit the needs of your site.

Next we concentrate on Podcasting within DotNetNuke. As an example we demonstrate how we setup the podcasts on dotnetnukepodcast.com. We recently made some improvements to the website by using Ventrian News Articles module. We demonstrate how we convert this module into a Podcast module, how to setup an iTunes podcast compatible RSS feed and how to promote it to the iTunes store.

Following on from the tutorials we have two search engine reviews: Xepient Solutions Open-Search Engine v2.0 and Venexus Search Engine and Software Collection. Both of these modules have gone through some thorough testing this month and we share the results with you in the Search Engine Module Reviews section.

This issue also brings the return of our ‘How Did They Build it..?’ series of interviews, this time we speak to Ilian Alexiev from LogicSpectrum.com covering two of his websites and the processes he took in creating them.

To finish the issue off we have three Podcasts. The first is an interview with Tom Kraak from Seablick Consulting where we discuss SEO within DotNetNuke, the second is a review of OpenForce Europe 08 and the third is our regular DotNetNuke News series.

This issue comes complete with 7 Video Tutorials, 2 Module Reviews and 3 Podcasts!

Tutorials:

Administrators:	How to Setup and Configure the DotNetNuke Core Search (4 videos - 32mins)
	How to Setup a Podcast Website using DotNetNuke (3 videos - 22mins)
Search Engine Module Reviews:	Xepient Solutions Open-SearchEngine v2.0 Review for DotNetNuke
	Venexus Search Engine and Software Collection Review for DotNetNuke
Interview:	How Did They Build ...? Looking at website design with Ilian Alexiev
Podcasts:	Tom Kraak SEO Interview (43mins)
	DotNetNuke News, Openforce Europe Review (24mins) DotNetNuke News, DNN 5, FCK Editor, Virtual PC (31mins)

View issue 38 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 38 issues we have created 347 videos!

October 2008

Welcome to issue 37 of DNN Creative Magazine

This issue marks the start of Volume 4, that’s three full years of bringing you quality DotNetNuke Tutorials, and just to show our thanks we have made this an extra special giant sized issue! We have almost 2 hours of videos, an interview with Jeff Smith of Venexus talking about SEO, and more news from the DNN Creative news podcasts.

The issue begins with four detailed tutorials on the FCK Editor. The focus on these tutorials is the advanced areas of the FCK Editor. These tutorials will help you to ensure your content administrators add content using good practices, it will help to speed up the time taken to add content as well as secure the FCK Editor functions so that certain users have access to certain features in the FCK Editor, ie. for a forum.

The first FCK Editor tutorial covers formatting style definitions, which allow you to create your own custom pre-defined styles to quickly apply classes from your skin. Following this we demonstrate how to create custom FCK Editor HTML templates, these can speed up administration time, as well as help to minimise mistakes by content administrators and ensure content is added using good practices.

FCK Editor custom toolbars and security roles are then explained, which will allow you to customize which toolbar buttons are available for use in the FCK Editor, as well as which security roles have access to the toolbar sets. The final tutorial for the FCK Editor covers further configuration options and demonstrates the key areas for adjusting the advanced settings within the FCK Editor.

Keeping within the theme of ensuring content administrators use good practices when adding content to a DotNetNuke portal, we also introduce the concept of alert styles. Alert styles inform the administrator of any bad practices they have used by highlighting the bad practice text with a red box. This can really help to minimise bad practices and keep control of the content added to your DotNetNuke portals.

To complete the issue we also have 3 podcasts, the first is an interview with Jeff Smith from Venexus where we discuss SEO with DotNetNuke, and the following 2 podcasts are DotNetNuke News and Tips.

This issue comes complete with 14 video tutorials and 3 podcasts!

Tutorials:

Administrators:	FCK Editor Formatting Style Definitions (6 videos - 48mins)
	FCK Editor HTML Templates (2 videos - 16mins)
	FCK Editor Custom Toolbars and Security Roles (3 videos - 25mins)
	FCK Editor Further Configuration Options (2 videos - 13mins)
Skinning:	Administrator Alert Styles (1 Video - 10mins)
Podcasts:	SEO Interview Jeff Smith (22mins)
	DotNetNuke News, Google Chrome, SEO Tips (25mins) DotNetNuke News, DNN Creative Vol 4, Upgrading (19mins)

View issue 37 to download all of the videos in one zip file

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DNN Creative Magazine for DotNetNuke Web Designers
Covering DotNetNuke module video reviews, video tutorials, mp3 interviews, resources and web design tips for working with DotNetNuke.

In 37 issues we have created 340 videos!