DNN Creative Issues

October 2006

Welcome to the fourteenth issue of DNN Creative Magazine. 

In this issue we continue to explore the new functions in the latest 4.3 and 3.3 versions of DotNetNuke.

We explore the new security role functions, in particular the new RSVP feature and how to set up DotNetNuke to accept subscription payments.

The File Manager is explained in depth, covering the new secure folder system and how the security permissions interact with other core modules.

This is essential information for getting the most from your DotNetNuke website and really demonstrates the flexibility of DotNetNuke.

Finally, we finish with tutorials for two core modules, the announcements and contacts modules. We created a tutorial on the announcements module in issue 1, but this is a completely new tutorial for the latest DotNetNuke versions 4.3 and 3.3.

This issue comes complete with 10 videos.

Tutorials:

Administrators	Security Roles new features in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3 (2 videos - 16min)
	How to set up DotNetNuke to accept subscription payments (1 video – 8min)
	The File Manager in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3 (4 videos – 36min)
Core Modules	Announcements Module in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3 (2 videos – 19min)
	Contacts Module in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3 (1 video – 4min)

View issue 14 to download all of the videos in one zip file

---

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 fourteen issues we have created 164 videos and 5 MP3 Interviews!

September 2006

Welcome to the thirteenth issue of DNN Creative Magazine.

This is the year anniversary for the launch of DNN Creative Magazine. In one year we have created 145 video tutorials, with more videos in this issue!

In Issue 13 we explore some of the new functions that have been introduced in the latest 4.3 and 3.3 versions of DotNetNuke. In particular we focus on the new administration functions covering: Users, Accounts, Settings and Registration options. We continue the How to build a DotNetNuke website series and demonstrate how to create a customized registration page.

These are powerful new features that have been introduced into DotNetNuke which should enable you to speed up the administration tasks as well as easily create a customized DotNetNuke website suited to your own requirements.

The custom registration page is a flexible and time-saving tool which allows you to collect the exact data you require from your registered users, ranging from their personal contact details through to market research for your company.

This issue comes complete with 10 videos.

Tutorials:

Administrators	How to quickly edit Module Titles and Text in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3 (1 video - 3 min)
	User Accounts new features in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3 (1 video – 9min)
	User accounts and User Settings in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3 (2 videos – 16min)
	Enforcing Terms and Conditions on User Registration in DotNetNuke 4.3 and 3.3
	How to Manage Profile Properties in User accounts for DotNetNuke 4.3 / 3.3 (Creating a custom registration page) (6 videos - 53 min) Watch the introduction video (3.9MB)

View issue 13 to download all of the videos in one zip file

---

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 thirteen issues we have created 155 videos and 5 MP3 Interviews!

August 2006

Welcome to the twelfth issue of DNN Creative Magazine.

In Issue 12 we are building on the previous skinning tutorials from issues 5 to 11.

We create horizontal CSS menus and demonstrate step by step creating 3 different horizontal CSS menus using the HouseMenu.

We provide an introduction to Google Adsense as an easy way to monetize your DotNetNuke websites. We demonstrate how you can use the CSS techniques developed over the previous issues to easily incorporate Google Adsense into DotNetNuke websites. This covers blending the ads with the text content of the page and easily placing the ads anywhere you require within the page.

This issue comes complete with 11 videos.

CSS Menus	How to create Horizontal CSS menus in DotNetNuke using the HouseMenu (7 videos – 65mins) Watch the introduction video (3.8MB)
Google Adsense	Introduction to Google Adsense, how to easily monetize your website Incorporating Google Adsense into DotNetNuke Skins (4 videos – 33mins) Watch the introduction video (4.4MB)

View issue 12 to download all of the videos in one zip file

---

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 twelve issues we have created 145 videos and 5 MP3 Interviews!

July 2006

Welcome to the eleventh issue of DNN Creative Magazine.

For issue 11 we take an in-depth look into the use of headings within DotNetNuke websites.

As an introduction to headings we have created a 40 page PDF which analyses various professional websites for the best practice use of headings and semantic code within a web page. We then offer suggestions on how you can implement these practices within your own DotNetNuke websites.

Following this we have created a detailed series of videos which explore sIFR (Scalable Inman Flash Replacement). sIFR allows you to style the titles within a DotNetNuke portal using any font that you require. This is a very powerful technique which can completely transform the look of your skin designs.

This issue comes complete with 7 videos and a 40 page PDF.

Techniques

Semantic Code and Header Tags in DotNetNuke Skins
(40 page PDF)



sIFR and DotNetNuke – Video Tutorial
(7 videos – 54mins)


Watch the introduction video (2.9MB)

---

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 eleven issues we have created 134 videos and 5 MP3 Interviews!

June  2006

Welcome to the tenth issue of DNN Creative Magazine.

This is a completely free issue. For issue 10 we have created a completely separate DotNetNuke Skinning Resource, the DotNetNuke Skinning Toolkit.

This is a 98 page resource which demonstrates all of the skin classes within DotNetNuke so that you can easily view, search and learn how to style the various elements within a DotNetNuke skin.

This is a really useful reference tool for beginner and advanced DotNetNuke skin designers.

Following the research into the various DotNetNuke classes we have also outlined in further articles how you can reduce the CSS code required for a DotNetNuke skin, as well as tips for avoiding un-explained / un-wanted styling appearing in your DotNetNuke skins.

Techniques


The DotNetNuke Skinning Toolkit
(98 pages)

Reducing the DotNetNuke CSS file sizes

Introduction to CSS and inheritance in DotNetNuke

---

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.

May 2006

Welcome to the ninth issue of DNN Creative Magazine.

This issue continues the development of CSS, from skin design to adding content and builds on the previous tutorials in issue 8.

Within the How to build a website series using DotNetNuke®, we continue adding content to the website. This looks at basic techniques through to advanced powerful styling options using the FCKEditor and CSS.

Following the CSS skinning tutorials, this month we explore how to create pure CSS containers. Alongside this we have also released an updated version of the free ‘Simple Red Leaf’ CSS skin, which is completely valid to W3C standards.

We also uncover the SolPartMenu and provide some quick tips for setting up the menu with your skins.

Finally, for all of the beginners to DotNetNuke, we have updated, expanded and improved the content of the free DotNetNuke Quick Start Guide.

This issue comes complete with 16 video tutorials.

The CSS container and styling  techniques outlined here are compatible with both tables and CSS based skins.

Check out the introduction videos below.

Styling text using CSS and the FCKEditor

Techniques

Beginners Guides DotNetNuke Quick Start Guide - Video Tutorial (Updated) - Free (3 videos - 40min) Adding Content Styling and formatting (part 2) – Text/HTML module and FCKEditor (9 videos - 69min) --> (watch the introduction video) (10.8MB) Skinning How to create CSS containers in DotNetNuke (4 videos - 35min) --> (watch the introduction video) (2.7MB) The SolPartMenu uncovered - Free

Free Skin





Simple Red Leaf  – DotNetNuke CSS Skin - Free
(Updated, version 1.2 released)

---

Subscribers:  Go to the main Issue 9 page to download all of the videos from a single zip file

---

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.

April 2006

Welcome to the eighth issue of DNN Creative Magazine.

In this issue we have created 16 video tutorials!

This issue focuses on CSS from skin design to adding content. It builds on the previous tutorials from issues 5-7.

Following the release of the free pure CSS ‘Simple Red Leaf’ skin we responded to the demand for a CSS skinning tutorial. We have created nine videos which walk you through the process of creating the ‘Simple Red Leaf’ skin. The tutorial demonstrates all of the details from layout to menu design, all created with CSS and no tables.

Continuing the How to build a website series using DotNetNuke® we explore adding content to your website. This includes an eight video tutorial which covers styling your content in the Text/HTML module using CSS and calling those styles from the FCKEditor.

This is a very powerful way of adding and laying out content, minimising code and making advanced techniques easily available to your website administrators without any specialist knowledge required.

In addition to the videos we also explain bad practices to avoid when working with the Text/HTML module.

Rounding off this issue we are privileged to interview Tim O’Brien covering CSS skinning and validation. Tim has made DotNetNuke history creating the first DNN website that completely validates to W3C standards.

Techniques

Adding Content How to install the FCKEditor - Video Tutorial - Free (7min) Bad Practices when working with the Text / HTML module - Free Styling and formatting in the Text/HTML module using the skin.css file and the FCKEditor (6 videos - 61min) Skinning How to create a pure CSS skin (9 videos - 79min)

Interview





How did they build …?  www.obrienit.se, looking at DotNetNuke CSS skinning and validation with Tim O’Brien - Free

---

Subscribers:  Go to the main Issue 8 page to download all of the videos from a single zip file

---

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.

March 2006

Welcome to the seventh issue of DNN Creative Magazine.

In this issue we have released a free pure CSS skin ‘Simple Red Leaf’ which has many advantages over the traditional table based skin, such as: accessibility, flexibility, print view, search engine friendly, small file size, etc.

Alongside the CSS skin are supporting documents to help you get started with creating your own CSS skins, covering techniques for improving skin and module coding standards, minimising CSS code, enabling browsers to operate in standards compliance mode and techniques for testing skins.

Following some of the techniques developed in this CSS skin we have documented how to add some of the features to your own skins. This includes how to enable skins to use resizable text within Internet Explorer and how to replace the Solpart menu with the HouseMenu.

These elements are demonstrated in our series of how to build a website using DotNetNuke.

Laurence Neville has also taken the time to share his experiences of creating a DotNetNuke website in Hebrew, which raises some interesting issues, such as setting the text to display from right to left.

This issue comes complete with 10 video tutorials and a free skin.


Techniques

Best Practices XHTML and best practice coding for skins and modules in DotNetNuke - Free Testing a DotNetNuke skin - Free CSS Shorthand code in DotNetNuke - Free Skinning Quirks, Standard Compliance modes and Doc Types - Free How to install and configure the House of Nuke menu for a DotNetNuke skin - Video Tutorial (4 videos, skin and container - 25min) How to remove the Solpart menu from a container - Video Tutorial - Free (4min) How to create resizable text within DotNetNuke - Video Tutorial (5 Videos, skin and container - 50min)

Free Skin





Simple Red Leaf  – DotNetNuke CSS Skin - Free












Interview




How did they build …?  www.landmarkeducation.co.il, looking at website design and languages with Laurence Neville - Free

---

Subscribers:  Go to the main Issue 7 page to download all of the videos from a single zip file

---

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.

Welcome to the fifth and sixth issue of DNN Creative Magazine

Happy New Year to all of our readers!

This issue is a special double issue completely dedicated to using skins and creating skins, along with further tips and tricks for web design. It comes complete with 16 video tutorials.

Within this issue is the launch of a new series of tutorials exploring how to build a website using DotNetNuke®. The series will cover all of the steps involved, from the initial planning, skin creation, adding content, through to the promotion of the website. Throughout the series we will be focusing on creating a music website with DotNetNuke.

To support the skinning tutorials we also had the privilege to mp3 interview Tyler Fawcett who shares his best practices and tips for skin design.


Techniques

Installing and using skins in DotNetNuke How to install a skin and container in DotNetNuke Video Tutorial (2 videos - 18min) How to use skins and containers in DotNetNuke Video Tutorial (16 min) Series: How to build a website in DotNetNuke How to build a website in DotNetNuke - Free Planning a DotNetNuke website and the solutions - Free Skin Design Considerations - Free Creating a skin template – Free Skinning Setup Preparations for Skinning Video Tutorial (10 min) Introduction to skinning in DotNetNuke Video Tutorial (12 min) How to create a skin for DotNetNuke Video Tutorial (8 videos and skin - 70 min) How to create a container for DotNetNuke Video Tutorial (2 videos and container – 16min) Table tricks for search engine optimized skins in DotNetNuke Video Tutorial - Free (12min)

Interviews

Skinning and DotNetNuke MP3 Interview with Tyler Fawcett (24 minutes) - Free

Features

Become a Better Web Standards Developer - Free

---

Subscribers:  Go to the main Issue 5 & 6 page to download all of the videos from a single zip file

---

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.

Welcome to the fourth issue of DNN Creative Magazine

November has been an exciting month. DotNetNuke® versions 3.2 and 4.0 have been released alongside the Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 release.

To help you with the latest releases of DotNetNuke we have focused this issue on Installing and Configuring DotNetNuke for a hosting provider.

We have also further developed the RSS tutorials. In November we made a request to snowcovered.com for RSS feeds of their latest products, which they created especially for us. For the readers of the magazine, we have created a special tutorial which demonstrates how to display the snowcovered.com RSS feeds and earn a 10% referral bonus for your website.

This month we have been very lucky to mp3 interview Jeff Smith from Venexus, inc. Jeff discusses in detail how to ensure DotNetNuke is fully search engine optimized and the pitfalls to avoid. This is essential listening for all DotNetNuke users from skin designers, module developers to administrators of DotNetNuke portals.


Techniques

Installing and Configuring DotNetNuke: How to adjust your Nameserver settings - Free How to install DotNetNuke 3.2 to a website hosting provider Video Tutorial – Free (30 min) How to upgrade DotNetNuke from v3.x to v3.2 Video Tutorial  – Free (20 min) How to configure DotNetNuke before installation Video Tutorial (24min) DotNetNuke Modules: How to install a module to DotNetNuke Video Tutorial - Free (3min) RSS Tutorials: How to add the Snowcovered.com RSS feeds to your DotNetNuke portal (and earn a 10% referral bonus!) – Free How to enable RSS Auto-Discovery Aggregation in DotNetNuke – Free (Firefox live bookmarks)

Interviews

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and DotNetNuke MP3 Interview with Jeff Smith from Venexus, Inc. (60 minutes)

Features

Jagger, Google Analytics, and the Future of Search & SEO - Free

---

Subscribers:  Go to the main Issue 4 page to download all of the videos from a single zip file

---

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.