I am currently making a new set of containers / skins and i'm trying a few new things:

The first thing that I have done is used the ability to (in my skin) set a default container for a specific pane (By setting the ContainerType, ContainerName, and ContainerSrc properties in the XML file as described in the Skinning documentation).  I had been meaning to test out this feature for a while now, but this is the first time I have done so - it is working well...

My next requirement is that I would like to define, with a container, what a few default CSS styles should be set to.

I can't seem to use a class because the Text/Html module ends up overwriting my class with its own 'Normal' in an inner element.

I can't seem to use an ID because the ID will be programatically renamed by DotNetNuke when defined at the Container level.

I'm sure that i'm missing something fundimental here, can someone describe how I would, for example:

Create a container so that if a Text/HTML module is created using my container, any text written in it (assuming that no other style is explicitly selected) shows up in RED.

Thanks guys - I'm ussually a developer, not a designer :)

keeperofstars wrote Fear not my friend :) You can install / use the FCKeditor for your text/html module. The advantage to using the FCKEditor is it has a xml file which sets / controls the styles it offers. You can thusly make changes to its xml file and provide a list of custom CSS based styles to be used by the user. This is great cause you can even define the type of tag to use. IE as to prevent tons of font tags. Since you can point the styles to your skins / containers CSS style sheet you can code out any style you might need. Now as a trick / pointer the FCKEditor tries to display what the style looks like in the style dropdown, this can cause issues when your style uses float right etc. To fix this just put _________________ to the left or right of the style name and it will push the style name into the dropdown window. A small price to pay for pure CSS text/html styling.

I am already using the FCK editor, as this is a new site; and I am aware of this potential, however it does not solve the problem that I have.

My goal is to make content management as easy as I possibly can;  If I can save the step of having to train the user to select a particular class for each block of text, it will result in less questions being sent my way - and content being created properly to begin with.

If the content manager wants to override my default style (which i am trying to set at the container level), then they should have the option; but the FCK suggestion you made does not fix the scenario where if i change the container of an existing Text/HTML module to a different container, it will take on a new look and feel, as defined in that new container.

I really appreciate your advice.  Are you telling me that by suggesting this solution that you don't beleive that what I want to accomplish is possible?

Thanks again,

Matt