Here's a definition of modules according to they guys at DNN Corp…"Modules are one of the extension types, you may use to tailor your DotNetNuke based website to suit your needs. Within these extension types, modules are the primary driver of functionality and content within a DotNetNuke web site. You can find modules that provide functionality to deliver a web site with a Blog, Community Forums, an Events Calendar, and just about any other type of functionality you could desire."
We're going to be talking about a few different modules this month (one core and two 3rd party) we've come to be experts on over the years.
We'll start out with one of DNN's core modules: Form & List
One of the main goals as a DNN developer, yet also one of the most challenging goals, is getting a website set up in a way where it's super easy for clients to add content to, without sacrificing any of the design and functionality. This can get pretty tricky when you have things like rotating banners and accordions/tabs.
Sure you could just use a text/html module to do these things, but then when the client goes to edit or add more content, all hell is going to break loose. Unless they're code wizards themselves, they're going to break the code and functionality 99.99% of the time, and in the .01% chance they don't break anything, you can count on the design getting screwed up.
This is where the Form & List module comes in. With some detailed customization on the developers end, you can turn this module into a powerful and flexible module for anything from rotating banners to accordions. It will not only look and function great, but allow the client to easily add content. (Just what you want, and just what they want)
And since it's a core module, no need to worry about compatibility issues when you upgrade…It's a win win for everyone!
We're not going to get into specifics about how to get these modules set up to function like a rotator or accordion, but we're going to show examples of what can be done. (If you've been to any of our DNN conferences, you've probably heard us give some presentations over how to do this.)
Rotating Banner Example
What it Looks Like
What the client sees when they want to add a new slide or edit content.
In this example, when a client wants to add a new slide, they get a simple text box for the title of the slide and two rich text editors, one where content/text goes, and the other where they upload their desired image for that slide.
What you get is an easy to update rotating banner that isn't going to break when a client adds content . Of course you can add any number of desired "fields" for the client to input information, but in this instance, all we needed was a "title", "content", and "image" field.
Accordion/Tabs Example
In this example, we start out with tabs until we get to more of a mobile size where the tabs turn into an accordion.
What it Looks Like on Desktop
What it Looks Like on Mobile
What the client sees when they want to add/edit one of the tabs/accordions.
That's it, just 3 easy to fill out fields!
And as you probably already guessed by the name of this module, Form & List, it can also be used to do simple contact forms and lists! But as you can see, with a little bit of customization, it can easily be turned into a powerful module that can do just about anything.
To celebrate March Module Madness we're giving away a 25% discount* to set up any custom form & list module. (Design for the look and feel of the module not included in discount)
So if you have a rotator/accordion/tabs on your site and are looking for an easier way to input content, or would like to implement the form & list module on your site, contact us today and we can get you switched over and end the headaches.
*Offer good through April 30, 2014 and good for up to $250 off