What Is DotNetNuke?
Versatile – DotNetNuke is a content management system ideal for creating and deploying projects such as commercial web sites, corporate intranets and extranets, and online publishing portals.
User-Friendly – DotNetNuke is designed to make it easy for users to manage all aspects of their projects. Site wizards, help icons, and a well-researched user interface allow universal ease-of-operation.
Powerful – DotNetNuke can support multiple portals or sites off of one install. In dividing administrative options between host level and individual portal level, DotNetNuke allows administrators to manage any number of sites – each with their own look and identity – all off one hosting account.
Feature-Rich – DotNetNuke comes loaded with a set of built-in tools that provide powerful pieces of functionality. Site hosting, design, content, security, and membership options are easily managed and customized through these tools.
Supported -- DotNetNuke is supported by its Core Team of developers and a dedicated international community. Through user groups, online forums, resource portals and a network of companies who specialize in DNN, support is always close at hand.
Easily Installed – DotNetNuke can be up-and-running within minutes. One must simply download the software from DotNetNuke.com, and follow the installation instructions.
Localized – DotNetNuke includes a multi-language localization feature which allows administrators to easily translate their projects and portals into any language.
Open Source – DotNetNuke is provided free, as open-source software, and licensed under a BSD-style agreement. It allows individuals to do whatever they wish with the application framework, both commercially and non-commercially, with the simple requirement of giving credit back to the DotNetNuke project community.
Extensible – DotNetNuke is able to create the most complex content management systems entirely with its built-in features, yet also allows administrators to work effectively with add-ons, third party assemblies, and custom tools. Site customization and functionality are limitless.
Recognized – DotNetNuke is a trademarked name, and a brand widely recognized and respected in the open source community. With over 125,000 registered users and a talented team of developers, DotNetNuke continues to evolve its software through participation, real world trial, and end-user feedback.
DotNetNuke is built on a Microsoft ASP.NET (VB.NET) platform. The most recently released version is 3.0.12.
DotNetNuke is an open-source content management system ideal for creating and depolying projects such as commercial websites, corporate intranets and extranets, and online publishing portals. It is also a project with a vision: to evolve its software through human participation and the sharing of knowledge.
DotNetNuke is provided as open-source software, licensed under a BSD-style agreement. In general, this license grants the general public permission to obtain the software free-of-charge. It also allows individuals to do whatever they wish with the application framework, both commercially and non-commercially, with the simple requirement of giving credit back to the DotNetNuke project community.
DotNetNuke is built on a Microsoft ASP.NET (VB.NET) platform, and is easily installed and hosted. With a growing community of over 125,000 users, and a dedicated base of programming professionals, support for DotNetNuke is always close at hand.
DotNetNuke is the Web of the Future.
What Are The Key Features Of DotNetNuke?
DotNetNuke is available exclusively as a download from DotNetNuke.com. To perform the download, one must simply register on the site. A verification code is then sent to the email address provided, and used upon the first log-in to the DNN site. After logging in, the user is able to freely download DotNetNuke.
Once the software is properly downloaded and installed, users can immediately go about managing all aspects of their new Internet or intranet site. That is because the DotNetNuke application provides all of the key features and tools required to operate and maintain the site, as well as giving the administrator complete control of the content, layout, membership, and security of the site.
Within minutes downloading DotNetNuke, it is conceivable that a person with no programming skill could be piecing together a completely original, dynamic web portal. They could be creating new pages of content, using pre-built content types (modules) like announcements, discussions, events, FAQs, feedback forms, and images. They could be creating membership roles, sending bulk emails, and defining secure sections for registered site users only. They could even be setting up banner advertising, customizing the site’s appearance, and submitting the site to search engines.
Key Features: Overall Design
Easy to install and to host. Built on up-to-date Microsoft ASP.NET technology, and runs on various database platforms.
Fully extensible and scalable. Suitable for a variety of projects -- from the smallest website to the largest corporate deployment. Internet or Intranet sites can be developed entirely with built-in DotNetNuke features, or can be augmented through third-party private assembly tools.
Clearly licensed under a BSD-style license. Software can be completely incorporated, modified, and adapted to personal/business use without having to worry about legalities.
Constantly evolving through real world trial. Open source nature of DotNetNuke allows programmers and webmasters to read, redistribute, and modify the source code, essentially evolving the software at a rapid pace. End-user suggestions result in quick improvements and enhancements to the software.
Simply efficient and manageable. DotNetNuke can support multiple portals off of one install. Divides administrative options between host level and individual portal level. Allows administrators to manage any number of sites, each with their own look and identity, all off of one hosting account.
Priority on security. Emphasis placed on validation, encryption, “bug” tracking and potential threats.
Fully customizable. Changes can be made to portals at all levels – from basic stylesheet elements like font type, color, and bullet points, to overall site appearance. New skins and module containers can be easily applied to the site with no repercussion on content.
Fully localized. Built-in multi-language localization features allow administrators worldwide to easily use and adapt DotNetNuke software for their own use.
User-friendly interface. Well-researched interface makes it easy for users to manage all aspects of their projects. Site wizards, help icons, and an inutuitive user interface allow universal ease-of-operation.
Easy to access community support. With a dedicated core programming team, over 125,000 registered users, and a growing legion of third-party DotNetNuke developers, hosters, and resellers, community support is always close-at-hand.
How Does DotNetNuke Help Me Manage Content and Design?
Site Settings. All aspects of the site can be managed through the site setting page: title of site, search engine description and submission, user welcome messages, logo, background, and skins.
Stylesheets. Installation includes built-in stylesheet designed to provide portal with basic and uniform appearance. This stylesheet can be easily configured to alter certain portal elements such as font type, color, bullet points, and background color.
Site Skins. “Skinning” provides users with a manageable way to separate application logic/content from its visual presentation. By applying a “skin,” administrators can completely change the look of their portal without the need to reorganize content – all at the click of a button. Skins can be easily designed, and are widely available through third-party vendors as free offerings or custom-built purchases.
Modules. These modular pieces of code give some form of specific functionality to the user, and are grouped together in units to form complete web pages. These modules can be easily added, edited, deleted, restored, moved around on a page, or transferred to other pages. DotNetNuke installation includes over 25 free modules. These are: Account LogIn, Announcements, Banners, Contacts, Discussion, Documents, Events List/Calendar, FAQs, Feedback, IFrame, Image, Links, News Feed (RSS), Search Input, Search Results, Service Directory, Survey, Text/HTML, User Accounts, User Defined Table, Users Online, Weblog Calendar, Weblog Recent List, Weblog Referrals List, Weblogs, and XML/XSL. A wide variety of modules, with their own purpose and functionality, are available through DotNetNuke community members and many third-party vendors.
File Management. This powerful tool allows administrators the ability to upload files directly from their computer to their portal. Any uploaded file becomes instantly available to be used on the portal, or listed in a module that handles documents or file downloads.
Recycle Bin. Allows users to restore any content, modules, or pages that have been deleted. The deleted item is restored to the location it was deletd from.
Drag and Drop Functionality. Containers and modules are easily moved within pages by mouse, using drag and drop feature.
Banner Advertising. Revenue can be generated and managed through the use of banner advertisements. Through the Vendors tab, administrators can easily; add vendors and their profile information; upload banners and determine their placement; define number of impressions, cost per impression, or length of ad campaign; track ad views and click-thrus; and define affiliate referrals.
How Does DotNetNuke Make Managing Security, Membership, and Roles Easy?
Single Installation, Multiple Portals. DotNetNuke has been enhanced to provide support for multiple portals using a single database. This allows the software to be installed on a web server and support multiple websites through a single hosting account. This is ideal for administrators who wish to provide subhosting services to their membership, or for companies who wish to have unique websites created for each department.
Host and Administrator Accounts. Due to DNN's support for multiple portals, the designation between Host and Administrator is important.
-Logging in to a DNN site as Host allows the user to manage settings related to site hosting and e-commerce, including; the monthly hosting fee; hosting disk space; and demo period/expiry date. The Host has access to a list of all hosted portals, their individual hosting information, and has the ability to edit, modify, or delete a specific portal.
-Logging in to a DNN site as Administrator allows the user to manage settings related to their own individual portal. The Administrator may edit, modify, or delete settings specific to their own portal, but has no access to other DNN portals operating under the same host.
Security Roles and Protected Content. DotNetNuke allows administrators to define and assign roles for different user groups, such as: registered users, subscribers, content providers, affiliates, media, etc.
-Administrators can then grant access and editing rights for each group. When a user logs in to the portal, they may access or edit only the information they are permitted to. These rights can be assigned to the entire portal, a single page of the portal, or even to an individual module on a specific page. Individual users may belong to more than one group, therefore may have access and editing rights to various secure areas of the portal.
-By instituting separate password protected areas throughout a portal, administrators can control who can access each area in the portal, whether they be staff, membership, resellers, or buyers.
Site Log. The site log can help administrators analyze both their portal users and those coming to view the portal. This tool generates reports such as: detailed site log, page popularity, page views by day, page views by days of week, page views by hour, page views by month, user frequency, user registration by country, user registration by date.
Manage Vendors and Affiliates: Allows administrators to store contact information, advertising materials (banners, button ads), and statistical data on portal vendors and affiliates. Manages start and end dates for ad campaigns, tracks impressions, and calculates cost per impression (CPM).
Bulk Email: The Bulk Email program installed with DotNetNuke lets administrators compose an email message, choose which users or group is to receive the message, and send the item.
Newsletter: As with the Bulk Email tool, the Newsletter module allows administrators to send a newsletter to a targeted group of users or membership. However, the Newsletter is created and sent as an HTML document, and archived for future use.
Powerful Modules: Several of the thirty “core” modules included in the installation of DotNetNuke are especially useful for managing membership. On a working portal, the Users Online module displays a variety of membership information, such as: membership details and people online (members & visitors.) The Feedback module allows users and visitors to send messages to the administrator of the portal. User Accounts permits registered users to add, edit, or update their user account details. The Survey module allows users to complete online surveys. The Contacts module can render contact information for a group of people, such as a group or team.
How Can I Find Support and Enhancements For DotNetNuke?
DotNetNuke.com. The central information hub for the DNN open source project is DotNetNuke.com. As the software itself evolves, so does DotNetNuke.com, in an effort to be the main clearinghouse for all information, resources, and developments related to the DNN project. Administrators may find a wealth of information on DotNetNuke.com, including news, the resource directory, FAQ’s, a project showcase, and a variety of development whitepapers.
Microsoft’s ASP.Net Forums. Discussion forums on Microsoft’s ASP.net include the extremely popular section on DotNetNuke. Here, DotNetNuke users can discuss any range of topics with fellow users, programmers, and enthusiasts, and find incredible community support.
User Groups and Talks. Administrators may find great value in attending DotNetNuke seminars, lectures, and user groups in their geographical region. Such events are gaining in popularity, and are springing up in every country, from Germany to Taipei, Canada to Sydney. These provide an excellent opportunity to meet with DotNetNuke professionals and amateurs alike.
Books. A primary offering of books based on DotNetNuke technology have been announced, and more are on their way. These offerings are available through the DotNetNuke site, and online retailers such as Amazon.com.
Hosting and Installation. Getting started with DotNetNuke is becoming easier all the time. This is because a variety of hosting companies are now offering DNN-specific hosting packages which include both support and installation of the software.
Resource Portals. Resource portals designed by DotNetNuke professionals and enthusiasts offer a wealth of information about the software, offering up tips, tricks, and other tidbits to the community-at-large.
Skins, Modules, and Containers. These graphic and functional elements are widely available either as free offerings by DNN community members, or to purchase from third party vendors. Web administrators can contract custom-builds or assemblies through these vendors.
What Is The History of DotNetNuke?
In January 2002, the Microsoft corporation released an offering called the IBuySpy Portal Solution Kit (IBS), one of their handful of “Starter Kits.” Starter Kits are sample applications that provide code to accomplish common Web development tasks. These kits are complete, well-documented applications, and intended to aid programmers in developing projects of their own.
The IBuySpy Portal Solution Kit’s goal was to demonstrate how ASP.NET and the .NET framework could be used to construct dynamic and data-driven intranet and Internet portal applications. The Microsoft .NET development community quickly embraced the IBS as an essential reference implementation for building own ASP.NET applications.
On December 24th, 2002, Shaun Walker released a modified, VB.NET version of the original IBS portal application. The free-to-download application was called the IBuySpyWorkshop. The release, which was posted as a link on the Microsoft ASP.NET forums, included a variety of enhancements over the original IBS code, including the ability to support multiple portals from a single database/codebase.
In the weeks following the IBuySpyWorkshop’s Christmas Eve release, thousands in the Microsoft .NET development community downloaded the code. A decision was made to evolve the application into an open source project – a project with a distinct organization managing releases and enhancements, and a community where anyone could get access to the latest version and features.
After a number of separate releases, and innumerable enhancements to the original codebase, the application was renamed DotNetNuke. The name was chosen to reflect the applications .NET (DOTNET) framework, and coupled with the term “nuke” (due to *nuke’s inherent, industry-recognized inclusion in several existing open source portal initiatives.)
Today, DotNetNuke continues to operate as an open source project with a dedicated management team, committed community, and well over 100,000 registered users.
** A full account of DotNetNuke’s formation and background – written by Shaun Walker -- is the focus of Chapter 1 in the upcoming book, “DotNetNuke ASP.NET Portals,” available through Amazon.com.
What Is The Philosophy of DotNetNuke?
The vision of the DotNetNuke project is to create an open source content management system (CMS) product – one which promotes human participation and the sharing of knowledge. Further, the DotNetNuke project operates with an understanding that:
Development is a Team Effort -- The whole is exponentially greater than the sum of its parts. Large-scale open source projects are only viable if a large enough community of highly skilled developers can be amassed to attack a problem. Treating your users as co-developers is your most effective option for rapid code improvement and effective debugging.
Build the Right Product Before You Build the Product Right -- Focus should be directed at understanding and implementing the high level business requirements before attempting to construct the perfect technical architecture. Listen to your customers.
Incremental Development -- Every software product has infinite growth potential if managed correctly. Functionality should be added in incremental units rather than attempting a monolithic implementation. Release often but with a level of quality that instills confidence.
Law of Diminishing Return -- The majority of the effort should be invested in implementing features which have the most benefit and widest general usage by the community.
Overall, the basic idea behind Open Source is very simple: When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, and people fix bugs. This process can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing.
What Are My Rights When Using DotNetNuke?
Licensing
DotNetNuke is provided free, as open-source software, and licensed under a BSD-style agreement. The licensing agreement reads as follows:
*** Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
The software is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement. In no event shall the authors or copyright holders be liable for any claim, damages or other liability, whether in an action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software. ***
Product Copyright
The DotNetNuke BSD license allows the general public to do whatever they wish with the application framework ( both commercially and non-commercially ) with a simple requirement of giving credit back to the DotNetNuke project community. DotNetNuke acknowledges the business issues and security risks of providing a visual or META notice in the application output. As a result we have taken a relaxed stance on the copyright notice and only require it to be retained in the application source code files.
Contributor Copyright
Contributions published in DotNetNuke must provide notice of the intellectual property rights of the original author. This notice will be included in the specific source code files where the contribution source code resides or, in the case of a binary, a license file will be included in the corresponding folder.
Trademark
The DotNetNuke brand name was approved as a trademark on November 15, 2004 (TMA625,364 ). This trademark, which is property of Perpetual Motion Interactive Systems Inc, protects the DotNetNuke project’s name and logo.
