How to create DotNetNuke(DNN) Scheduler

Did you ever need to write disconnected process which should be run at a defined interval time? Commonly, when we are in such need – we use to write window service which is based on some timer mechanism where we set some interval for the timer and in its elapsed method we execute the process we want to run at defined interval.

When you work with DotNetNuke and you come across with such functionality that need tobe implemented – you can consider creating “DotNetNuke Scheduler”. While creating a DNN Scheduler – you are actually creating a simple class library which would be built and hosted in the DNN Schedule environment to be executed at the defined interval time.

The possible scenario in which one need to look at such schedule functionality is:
[1] You may need to send some set of fixed newletter everyday at defiend time to your customers.
[2] You may need to read some of third party product feed to read regular update and modify your product database.
[3] You may need to send some system generated reports to your third party vendor at some regular intervals.

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How would you create a perfect DotNetNuke (DNN) Environment/Installation

Today, I am going to describe complete process of creating a perfect DotNetNuke Environment or say how would you install DNN Site (whether install or source version). I am going to use most latest and stable 05.04.00 install version of DotNetNuke. To download the source/install version you need to have login/account at official DotNetNuke site. Once you login; you would go to Download page where you can select “Community” Edition to download. There are 2 variations in DotNetNuke that you would find there. One is Community Edition and other is “Professional” edition. You can install DotNetNuke via downloading “Microsoft Web Platform Installer” that is available on the same page. This installer additionally provides you other valuable resources to install as well. For more information on Web Platform you would get here – http://www.microsoft.com/web/default.aspx, Otherwise, you may click on the “Older version” link which would redirect you to the version track page at “Codeplex” site. You would find the total “Release Track/History” at the right hand side. I have selected most stable install version to download.

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DotNetNuke – Where do you write your application CSS?

after Long time…. back in the community finally… :)

I was working in DNN application since I used to add css classes as and when I need to add which are related to specific my custom dnn modules. Initially, I used to add those classes in MinimulExtropy skin css file. But, as time goes.. it grows in size and there are situations when skin tend to change everytime (because some skin related issues or client didnt like it). Sp, everytime when any skin got changed I need to manually “copy” and “paste” those application (related to custom desktop modules) css classes in to the targetted skin folder’s css files. Because, somehow AFAIK dnn doesn’t support App_Theme folder or .skin files (because of its skin architecture).

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DotNetNuke – Invalid URI: The hostname could not be parsed error

Generally, I would like to blog post any errors that I face duing development. So that it would be helpful to me for my future reference in case I face it again as well as for the sake of any blog readers who may face same error.

Talking about the error “Invalid URI: The hostname could not be parsed error”: This the same and common error I faced previously some times back and which I also stated in my blog entry DotNetNuke – Invalid URI: The hostname could not be parsed

This time I was about to run a DNN application which is configured from my local server to live application server when I faced the same error. I tried the same work-a-round which I stated in my previous blog entry. But, this time that didn’t work even after investing some hrs investigation.

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Create PDF files on-the-fly in ASP.NET (Using Crystal Report!)

Here is another requirement (perhaps a common requirement!) I needed to implement in one of on-going project website application. I needed to generate a PDF file as output from the inputs entered by end-user in a form. On Completing the form, end-user should be able to download a PDF file of what they have given the inputs in the form.

I need to generate PDF file in a given format and force the download dialog to let the user save generated PDF save on their/client machine.

I tried searching any free :) third party dlls which would help me to generate PDF files on-the-fly. Things I tried:

[1] Tried searching almost third party tools/dlls including Siberix PDF Library , PDF Vision .Net etc etc, which are having similar functionality. But not FREE :(

[2] Tried with iTextSharp – Tutorial and PDFsharp – Download PDFsharp Version 1.20 These dlls/libraries are totally free and really interesting to work with. All we need to do is define elements like HTML and add those elements to PDF document object which then finally generated as PDF document. But, this is the problem for me as I am having a huge PDF file needed to generate as output and it would required a loot of time to code for a document by placing line by line cells, TR and TD, Tables and background, Border colors, images etc. and most of all is annoying Texts to be placed in those elements with proper fonts, colors and padding/alignment.

At last after wasting time in googling and on free tools/libraries, I got an idea to create PDF on-the-fly. I was thinking of creating PDF files dynamically and I created it smoothly with out too much work and code.

This is how it goes:

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AJAX Accordion Control “Flickering” Issue while implementing in DotNetNuke Site

While working on DNN 5.0 site, I was trying to have a left menu navigation using AJAX Accordion. Even, I got succeeded in implementing that but i come accross an issue of – flickering the Accordion control in  IE while opening and closing and navigating thru panes.

After googling, I came to know about the solution and applied which worked successfully.

Frist is, Turn off FadeTransitions Property, i mean set it to “False”,  :( yes, its the cute effect everybody want to have while using accordion with. But, while I set it to false and removed the TransitionDuration property – The problem of flickering issue got solved. So, everybody speak with me – “I dont want FadeTransition effect :) in DNN with Accordion!”.

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asp:Menu Server Control – Cross Browser Compatibility (Safari/Chrome)

Cross browser compatibility struggle is getting upsetting while working with asp:Menu Server Control. Anyhow, It was not rendering/working well with Safari and Chrome.

A bit of googling… and I have a solution for this.

I have added below small piece of code snippet in my MasterPage’s Page_Load event

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AJAX Accordion Control “Flickering” Issue while implementing in DotNetNuke Site

While working on DNN 5.0 site, I was trying to have a left menu navigation using AJAX Accordion. Even, I got succeeded in implementing that but i come accross an issue of – flickering the Accordion control in IE while opening and closing and navigating thru panes.

After googling, I came to know about the solution and applied which worked successfully.

Frist is, Turn off FadeTransitions Property, i mean set it to “False”, :( yes, its the cute effect everybody want to have while using accordion with. But, while I set it to false and removed the TransitionDuration property – The problem of flickering issue got solved. So, everybody speak with me – “I dont want FadeTransition effect :) in DNN with Accordion!”.

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DotNetNuke – Invalid URI: The hostname could not be parsed

I was having few hours of work-a-round when I was trying to Set-up/Deploy the DotNetNuke Environment at my local pc.
I restore the DB Backup of DNN, copied the source at my local pc drive and configured the Virtual Directory for the application.

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