Professional DotNetNuke 4

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Professional DotNetNuke 4

DotNetNuke (DNN) is a popular Open Source Web ApplicationFramework for ASP.NET, which developers can employ to create Web sites quickly.It can also be easily customized by including rich and powerful features, suchas Forums, FAQs, and much more. All of these features are included with theproduct, so there is absolutely no need to install any other third-partyapplication. But to effectively use these features, a developer shouldunderstand each one of them. A developer should also understand how to properlyinstall DotNetNuke in different environments, as well as the application ofvarious skins and modules. Unfortunately, many of the tutorials written aboutDotNetNuke are scattered all over the Web. It s not surprising, then, thatthere is a great demand for a book that examines not only the features ofDotNetNuke, but also the core aspects of it.

ProfessionalDotnetNuke 4 from Wrox provides a comprehensive overview about the latestversion of DotNetNuke using ASP.NET 2.0. The book is packed with 17 chapters ofhigh-quality content written by eight popular authors. Chapter 1 examines indetail the evolution of DotNetNuke. The next two chapters provide comprehensiveexplanations about the installation procedures, various aspects involved withthe portal, and modules (including brief coverage of User roles). While Chapter4 analyzes the administration aspects of a DotNetNuke portal, the next chaptershows you how to administer it as a host. Chapter 6 is important as it examinesthe use of various modules. You ll most probably make use of these moduleswhile working with DotNetNuke, so you need a good understanding about each oneof them. The chapter also provides brief coverage about the installation of third-partymodules.

The remaining chapters of the book target advanceddevelopers who work a great deal with DotNetNuke.Chapters 7 through 17 examine the architecture of DotNetNuke, APIs, Roles,Localization, and Module development using different layers such as Database,Business Logic, and Presentation. The final two chapters demonstrate the processfor creating a custom skin and the various aspects involved with the deploymentof DotNetNuke. Unfortunately, I found a minor copy editing error in Chapter 12in which Visual Studio 2005 was incorrectly referenced as Visual Studio .NET2005. I wonder how the technical editors forgot to trace these minor mistakesand hope the publisher will rectify them in the next edition of the book.

The book includes two appendixes that cover some of theuseful resources available for learning more about DotNetNuke in addition to alist of system tokens. From my point of view, the book is a useful resource toexplore DotNetNuke completely and the authors have made an excellent attempt toexplain difficult concepts in a nice manner. Beginners will sometimes find itdifficult to grasp the content on the book because the writing style of certain chapters are difficult to understand unlessthe reader is well versed in the coding structures.

Anand Narayanaswamy

Rating:

Title: Professional DotNetNuke 4

Authors: ShaunWalker, Joe Brinkman, Bruce Hopkins, Scott McCulloch, Chris Paterra, Patrick J.Santry, Scott Willhite, Dan Caron

Publisher: Wrox

ISBN: 0-471-78816-3

Web Site: http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/productCd-0471788163.html

Price: US$39.99

Page Count: 517