Steve Erbach
erbachs at gmail.com
Thu Mar 12 12:02:58 CDT 2009
John, >> IIRC I looked inside the backup zip and there was a SQL Server db file. However I have no idea whether 2005 (the only version I have installed) can mount 2K database files. << Well, as far as I know, SQL Server 2000 uses MDF database files...not sure what DB files are. If you have the MDF file and its associated LDF file, you can Attach to the 2000 database using 2005. >> Oh! And a good user manager that displays the users in a "continuous form" to use the Access analogy. I had one but of course it also does not work in 4.X. << The one that comes with DNN 4.X I think is sufficient. I can display pretty much any number at a time in "continuous" format if I'm logged in as an Administrator...I just can't edit the users "in place" while looking at the list. I do need to edit each one individually. >> And a good forums module. I have the built-in DNN forum module installed but it just doesn't "feel" right. I use forums on a lot of technical sites and the one that comes with DNN just feels funny some how, kind of hard to explain. << Have you used the forums on the dotnetnuke.com site itself? As far as I know, that's the DNN forum module right there. I've installed it on my site, but I don't have a whole lot of time for updating content. Thus I don't use the module on my sites. It's available, but I don't use it. I can't help you with your "feelings", I'm afraid! >> I also need to find a good multi-level content manager. I had a module which I really liked which put short phrases in a little menu like structure on the left and then changed the text displayed on the right as you clicked on these phrases. It functioned kind of like an editor / menu system rolled into one. I would build the menu of the names of my files on the left and then a description as long as I desired on the right, including embedded hot links to allow downloading the file. << Sounds like you could create an HTML-based table at least for now. Add a Text/HTML module to a page and create a 2-column table with file names as Links in the left-hand column and a description in the right-hand column. I don't mean to minimize the tediousness of this if you have hundreds of files you're listing, but the built-in HTML editor can handle tables and links with ease. >> As an example the link editor works, but ONLY for seeing files in the directory where it expects all your files to be. It can't seem to navigate down into subdirectories. I hate just dumping all of my files into a single directory. << The Browse Server button on the Link editor form will only allow you to pick files that are located in the Portal subdirectory and any subfolders off of that for your site, not the actual home directory for your domain. On my NeenahPolitics.com site the DNN portal folder is located at: /Portals/7 Yes, that's a bit limiting. However, using the Link Editor you can type in (yes, I know, no way to use a file picker) the URL for the file no matter where it's located on your site. I've just made an example here: http://www.neenahpolitics.com/Home/TestFileList/tabid/199/Default.aspx You'll have to use your DNN login for my NeenahPolitics.com site to see this page. I hope some of this helps. Steve Erbach Neenah, WI On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 7:50 AM, John W Colby <jwcolby at gmail.com> wrote: > Steve, > > IIRC I looked inside the backup zip and there was a SQL Server db file. > However I have no idea whether 2005 (the only version I have installed) > can mount 2K database files. > > My web host company encourages users to do their own backups, though > they do have backups they charge $40 to get it restored. I would bet I > could go to my site through the control panel and get the database > file(s) in 2005 format. I vaguely remember poking around in the tables > once just to see what they contained. > > I too am comfortable with the Host and Admin user roles and abilities. > When I say comfortable, I have to admit that there is much I do not > understand, but I can get a module uploaded and installed, modules out > onto pages, pages created and so forth. > > One thing I am having a real problem with is getting the built-in text > editor to do its job. It seems so very crude. As an example the link > editor works, but ONLY for seeing files in the directory where it > expects all your files to be. It can't seem to navigate down into > subdirectories. I hate just dumping all of my files into a single > directory. > > I also need to find a good multi-level content manager. I had a module > which I really liked which put short phrases in a little menu like > structure on the left and then changed the text displayed on the right > as you clicked on these phrases. It functioned kind of like an editor / > menu system rolled into one. I would build the menu of the names of my > files on the left and then a description as long as I desired on the > right, including embedded hot links to allow downloading the file. It > worked well and was more compact that a tab system. But of course, the > author lost apparently interest and I can't find a version for 4.x. > > I also need to find a good photo manager. And a good forums module. I > have the built-in DNN forum module installed but it just doesn't "feel" > right. I use forums on a lot of technical sites and the one that comes > with DNN just feels funny some how, kind of hard to explain. Oh! And a > good user manager that displays the users in a "continuous form" to use > the Access analogy. I had one but of course it also does not work in 4.X. > > All of this stuff just takes time to do and time to get set up, and all > of this costs money too of course. I have a ton of my own demo files > for classes and withevents and really want to get it back up and usable > for my users. > > Steve Erbach wrote: >> John, >> >> >>>> Unfortunately I STILL ended up with a low 4.X version, 4.09, when the latest stable version (and >>>> >> considered very good) is like 4.9x. Sigh. << >> >> At least you can rest easy on *that* score! What I mean is, Because >> DNN goes through so many incremental upgrades its version number often >> increments past 9 to 10, 11, 12, etc. For better or worse its version >> numbering system includes zero-padding of single digit version >> increments...but sometimes when they refer to the version number, the >> zero is omitted. Therefore 4.09 = 4.9. Confusing, yes. But you do, >> indeed, have the current version of 4.X. >> >> For example, my DNN site is at version 4.08.02. That's the same as >> 4.8.2. If you log in as Host you can see your current version number >> on the Host Settings page and whether there's an update available. >> >> >>>> I did download the entire backup of the original 2.X site to my laptop here at the office, and AFAICT it included the db although getting it to work here at my office would seem problematic. << >>>> >> >> Well, a backup of the "site" to your laptop wouldn't include the SQL >> Server database automagically. That would have to have been done in a >> separate operation using the SQL Server administrative software (SQL >> Server Management Studio for 2005...I don't remember off-hand what >> it's called in 2000). My web host has a decent site administration >> system and I can easily backup my SQL Server database for a nominal >> fee...and then I can FTP it to my system. >> >> If you don't have the SQL Server data backup then the "site" backup >> isn't going to be any good to you, sorry to say. Can you get your old >> web host to restore a backup of the SQL Server database? They may >> backup their SQL Servers on a schedule and *may* be able to >> accommodate you on that score. >> >> >>>> Are you a DNN geek? Can you answer my questions? << >>>> >> >> No, but I'm comfortable with the Admin/Host portions of content >> management. I have just about every book ever written on DNN because >> I *hoped* to become a "DNN geek" in my spare time...it's just that I >> didn't have much spare time; so my knowledge of DNN has kind of soaked >> through the skin by trial and error. >> >> Not having a job right now means that I can devote more time to >> getting up to speed on custom modules which I very much want to do as >> I have a project that's in the wings. I'm going to convert an Access >> app to a web-based app w/a SQL Server backend. The app involves >> subscriptions to a hazmat reporting service for about a dozen existing >> users around the country. I want to dump all their data into one >> database so that I can administer them all in one place. I also want >> to use the DNN capabilities for user registration, forums, custom >> modules, etc., to manage user problem reports, etc... again all in one >> place. >> >> So I have a vested interest in aspiring to become a "DNN geek"! Ask >> your questions and I'll help as much as I can. I'd like to be able to >> help. >> >> Steve Erbach