This document provides step-by-step instructions for installing, configuring, administering, and theming a DotNetNuke Community Edition 7 website. It covers downloading and extracting DNN, setting up IIS and the SQL database, configuring DNN settings during installation, adding users and modules, editing pages, changing skins and containers, and links to additional theming resources. Tips are also included for recovering lost host or administrator account passwords.

1. Graphicguru India
DotNetNuke Community 07
Installation, Administration
& Theming Step-by-Step
– by Vinod Dangudubiyyapu
Contents
Who’s this is for ................................................................................................................................................................1
Author ...............................................................................................................................................................................2
Requirements....................................................................................................................................................................2
Installation ........................................................................................................................................................................2
DNN Setup.....................................................................................................................................................................2
Database Setup.............................................................................................................................................................4
Configuration Settings ..................................................................................................................................................7
Website Administration..................................................................................................................................................11
Disable Update Feature ..........................................................................................................................................11
Add Users................................................................................................................................................................12
SMTP Settings .........................................................................................................................................................14
Edit Page..................................................................................................................................................................15
Theming DNN..................................................................................................................................................................16
DNN Structure.........................................................................................................................................................16
Change Skin /Container ..........................................................................................................................................17
Upload New Skin/Container....................................................................................................................................17
Delete Installed Skins / Containers .........................................................................................................................18
Artisteer Theming ( updating soon)........................................................................................................................19
Resource..........................................................................................................................................................................20
Links / Reference.....................................................................................................................................................20
Skinning Help Links..................................................................................................................................................20
Modules ..................................................................................................................................................................20
Rescue:....................................................................................................................................................................20
Who’s this is for
A web designer or a web developer who was intruder on DNN to create a world class website with .Net CMS
Platform

2. Author
My Self Vinod Dangudubiyyapu is a Web and Graphic Designer and exploring to new technologies on CMS for Look
and feel with full understanding on Platform from Setting up environment to Maintenance. This guide is to referred
from self-exploration to relevant issues on search result base information and clubs them at one place
Requirements
1. Download Dotnetnuke Community Edition 7.0 or above
2. SQL Server 2008 R2 with Management Studio
3. Configure IIS 7
4. Visual Studio 2010 or above for Editing
5. Artisteer 2 .0 or above for Theme Creation
Installation
DNN Setup
1. Download DotNetNuke Community Edition and Extract to a folder
2. Right click on Extracted folder and click Properties
3. Select Security tab and Add Full Permissions to the user IIS_IUSRS

3. 4. Open IIS from run command by typing inetmgr (if windows feature not enable you not able to open IIS to
enable the IIS. Goto Control Panel > Programs and Features > on Left side click Turn on windows feature >
Select Internet Information service > click ok. Open browser type in address bar http://localhost to check IIS
installed and working)
5. Create New Website under Site node and Point to the folder where DNN Extracted, Provide Port number
6. Goto Application Pool. Select the New Website created

4. 7. Click on Basic settings under Edit Application Pool select .Net version 4.0 from Dropdown
Database Setup
1. Open SQL Server
2. Create Database with name DotNetNuke Click ok

5. 3. Create USER under Login Security with admin user > select as SQL Authentication uncheck Enforce Polices >
Select Database Name from default database Dorpdown . Note : Remember the passwords
4. Goto the tab Server Roles and check dbcreator

6. 5. Goto the tab User Mapping and check the Database name and in below section check the db_owner
6. Goto the tab Status and make sure Permissions Grant and the Login is Enabled

7. 7. Select database > Login > user properties and select the db_owner in both sections
Configuration Settings
1. Edit the web.config file for pointing the database to start DNN instalation, Edit parameter
a. passwordFormat="Clear" for lost password retrieval
b. Comment in both <connectionStrings> and <appSettings>
<add name="SiteSqlServer" connectionString="Data Source=.SQLExpress;Integrated
Security=True;User Instance=True;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|Database.mdf;"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
c. Comment in both and change database name with credentials <connectionStrings> and
<appSettings>
<add name="SiteSqlServer" connectionString="Data Source=.SQLExpress;Initial
Catalog=Dotnetnuke;User ID=dnnadmin;Password=dnnadmin@123"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
2. Run the DNN Site and install wizard start follow simple steps for database configuration. Enter User name &
Password (Tip: use the system password to remember, Note: Remember the passwords) and Website Name.

8. 3. Configure Database
a. Select Custom in Database Information section
b. Select SQL Server/SQL Server Express Database from Database Type section
c. Enter Server Name: .SQLExpress
d. Enter Database Name: DotNetNuke
e. Select User Defined from Security
f. Enter Database Login name and Password
g. Check the Database Owner

9. 4. Finalizing DNN Setup.

10. 5. Click View Website after Installation finished

11. Website Administration
Disable Update Feature
1. After Installation finished you will notice a update notification icon on next to DNN logo to disable this goto
Host menu and click on Host Settings
a. To do changes in site level login with Host Account
b. Click Host Settings under Host menu
2. Uncheck the check box of Check for upgrade?

12. 3. Provide details for HOST Account and Click Update Button
Add Users
1. Click on Users Menu and Click Add New User

13. 2. Enter the New user details
3. A new user is been created
4.

14. SMTP Settings

15. Edit Page
1. Login with Host Account and Click on Edit Page tab on Top Ribbon bar
2. After Selecting Edit Page you will see regions to move the controls, change settings & add new controls

16. 3. After Editing finish Click Edit Page tab and click Close edit button
4.
Theming DNN
To Create DNN a there are certain ways. HTML structure with DNN defined attributes or using software
called Artisteer
DNN Structure
1. Logo
2. Search
3. Login
4. Menu
5. Banner
6. Grouping of three Content
7. Grouping of four Content
8. Another piece of Content
9. Footer which is grouped by four as well
DotNetNuke structure is through Panes and Containers. Essentially a Pane will always be wrapped within a
Container.
Skin is the Look and Feel of Website
Container is contentment area the part of the website.
Skin Location: C:inetpubwwwrootDotNetNukeDotNetNukePortals_defaultSkins
Containers Location: C:inetpubwwwrootDotNetNukeDotNetNukePortals_defaultContainers

17. Change Skin /Container
1. Click on Admin Menu > click on Skins
2. Under Skin Editor change the skin and container related to skin > click update to change the skin
Upload New Skin/Container
1. Click on Host Menu > click on Host Settings

18. 2. Scroll down click on Upload Skin/Container
3. Choose file to upload and click next to follow instructions
4. Choose the upload type Skin or Container or Not a Skin/Container (other extension).
5. Check the Accept License > Click Next > Next > Return
Delete Installed Skins / Containers
1. Goto Host > Extensions
2. Scroll down to Skin Section and as same for the containers

19. 3. Delete the added skin/container from the list
4. Check the Delete Files check box > Click the Uninstall Package > Click Ok for Confirmation
DNN Skinning
Include your css and js files to your ascx page by registering "DotNetNuke.Web.Client.ClientResourceManagement" namespace to
page and using its "DnnCssInclude”, "DnnJsInclude" control element.
Artisteer Theming (updating soon)

20. Resource
Links / Reference
http://www.ifinity.com.au/2012/11/12/The_Top_5_Things_in_DotNetNuke_7_that_you_will_love
Skinning Help Links
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16396350/dotnetnuke-7-skinning-tutorial
http://artisteertutorial.com/
http://artistutorial.blogspot.in/
http://www.dnnskins.com/
Modules
http://store.dnnsoftware.com/
http://www.codingstaff.com/products/dotnetnuke-modules
Rescue:
Lost Password Host or Admin Accounts
As there are frequent requests from users, who lost the password of the host account (and you cannot
request the host password by email), the following solution will help
For all DNN 3 and 4 installations
(http://www.deutschnetnuke.de/AboutDotnetNuke/V3V4TippsTricks/HostLoginvergessen.aspx,
http://knowledge.3essentials.com/web-hosting/article/376/Reset-DNN-host-password.html)
Please note, that your need direct access to the database to succeed with the issue:
1. If "register" is not displayed for the portal, go to table "Portals" in your database and enter
value "2" into column "UserRegistration".
2. Create a new user account by registration (this time, please remember the password you
enter!)
3. go to database, enter table "ASPNet_Membership"
4. go to new user account (usually the last one) and copy the encrypted values of columns
"Password" and "PasswordSalt" into the same columns of user account "host" (usually th first
entry in this table)
5. Login as user "host" using the new password and delete the reshly created other user.
6. if changed, revert UserRegistration mode in Site Settings
7. Keep remembering your password ;)
For above DNN 5+ (http://twentytech.net/dotnetnuke/recover-your-dotnetnuke-host-password/ )
1. Edit the parameters in Web.config file.
a. enablePasswordRetrieval="true"
b. passwordFormat="Clear"
2. Create a new file called RecoverPassword.aspx
3. Paste in the follow code
<%@ Page Language="C#" %>
<script runat="server">
void Page_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
DotNetNuke.Entities.Users.UserInfo uInfo =
DotNetNuke.Entities.Users.UserController.GetUserById(0, 1);
if (uInfo != null)
{
string password =
DotNetNuke.Entities.Users.UserController.GetPassword(ref uInfo, String.Empty);
Response.Write("Password: " + password);
} else {

21. Response.Write("UserInfo object is null");
}
}
</script>
<html> <head>
<title>Recover Password</title>
</head> <body> </body></html>
4. Now upload the file to the root of your DotNetNuke installation install folder and visit the page
5. Copy the password and REMEMBER and not forget to the delete this page IMMEDIETELY