Are there any tutorials available for DNN skinning in 5.0? I have created a skin and tried to follow the install instructions on the video located on this site as well as DNN. I am not why I can't get my skin to load. I think the problem might be with the XML or the manifest. Can someone point me to a tutorial with detailed instructions on how to load a 5.0 skin?

My DNN post:

I have been at this for 4 days read through many posts and still can't get a skin to load. I created a folder with my skin name, placed an HTML file (used the Extropy skin as a template  then modified it accordingly), images and Skin.css file. Once the skin is loaded in the Host, I can see it listed as an extension. I then try to create a package. Once that is complete and it returns no errors I try to change to my new skin. I can see the skin template but there arn't any "tokens". The only thing that displays is hte content pain data and look and feel of my skin. I cant access menu, login, breadcrumbs, etc.

Does anyone know of a video tutorial for DNN 5.0 skinning? I know I must be doing something wrong, but can't figure out what it is.

While there have been changes to the DotNetNuke skinning engine, all older skins should work, and the tutorials that refer to Version 4.x should apply to Version 5.x.

I found if you are using an older skin (pre 5.0.0) it's best to unzip so you have a separate skin and container zip file. Unlike 4.9.1 where you upload the file as one this you first upload the skin zip file it will fail than come with a choice telling you it doesn't have a "manifest" below that you can choose "skin" or "Container" to upload. I renamed the zip files from the standard names (skin / container) because it puts that into the title anyway. So I uploaded the skin and container separately and that seemed to work fine. I guess they are called "packages" now.

Peter

With all due respect, as I noted above I have already tried the existing instructions for skin creation. Are their any up-to-date tutorials for skinning?

With all due respect, what it seems like is that you need to go back to basics and try trouble shooting the skin and than the install. Are you sure it's with loading into 5.0? Does the skin work on 4.9.1? No tutorial is going to help if your not sure if the skin actually loads on a working portal. You'll just end up driving yourself crazy just to find out it's a problem with the skin. (believe me I've been there).

Peter

I am creating my own skin from ground zero. Also, I just recently became aquainted with DNN therefore I only have version 5.0 to work from. I am not working with older skins only new ones that I have created.

I was able to remove all the formatting (css) from the default skin that came with the initial download and load my CSS in its place. That got my skin to show, but it does not help me in determining why I can't create a skin from scratch and get it online. This leads me to conclude that the problem is not with loading the skin but rather creating the skin. There must be a step or two that I am missing.

While I haven't verified this, and there could be some errors floating around, the intent is that DotNetNuke 5.x will be able to use skins created for 4.x.

So, any of the tutorials and packaging methods that work for 4.x should work for 5.x.  So, develop "new" skins using the old ways.


I'll also note that 5.0.1 (or however it will be numbered) should be out quite soon.  Many suggest that you NOT use 5.0.0 for production sites but wait for the next release.

hello,

Just to let you know I will be creating some video tutorials to help with packaging skins in DNN 5, however I am not going to create them until DNN 5 is stable. You may find that as they release the initial point releases that certain features change as they fix bugs, so I would rather wait to record those tutorials rather than have to re-record them several times.

I've noticed for their new 'professional support edition' of DotNetNuke they recommend to use v4.9.2 as this is the most stable version for live production websites.

v5.0.1 is due to be released on Monday, which fixes a lot of bugs, but I would still wait until they begin using version 5 in their 'professional support eddition' before using it in a critical live production website.

Thanks,

Great! I can't wait to see it. Thanks Lee.

I have several sites built in v4.9.4, and have just upgraded the first to v.5.1.2. I am pleased with many of the fixes/improvements in this version, however, I do have a skinning issue/question. When any admin/host page appears, it is rendered in the middle of the screen, not left-justified (eg. login screen, html edit page, skin upload, or any module settings pages). It appears to handle a blank left-pane differently between the two versions - v5 centering the contents and v4. keeping the left pane space allotted and not used. Any suggestions? I am concerned with the implications of upgrading all my other sites to v5 until I know why this occurs and how to fix it. All my sites were skinned with a certain behaviour expected, and now that it appears to be different, this may be a snowball of fixes for me... Thank you in advance for any help!

If you could post the skin file and css file for the offending skin (attach to a message), that probably would help.