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DNN Blog
Jan
29
Posted by:
Charles Nurse
1/29/2008
When the Cambrian project was announced at OpenForce in November, we promised a First Look at some of the new features in January 2008.
As part of that commitment, I will be blogging on some of these new features over the next few weeks. The features I will be blogging about are scheduled for inclusion in the first Cambrian release - promised for the end of this quarter.
In this blog, I will be introducing the new "Features" Module and "Feature" installer.
What are Features?
DotNetNuke has long had a rich extensibility model - Modules, SkinObjects, Skins, Containers, Languages, Providers, and more recently (v4.6) Authentication Systems. Each extensibility item has historically had its own custom admin module and installer.
In Cambrian, all of these extensibility items are "Features" and ALL such "Features" will be accessible through a single consolidated Module and Installer.
This module is still in the early stages of development, so it may change significantly in appearance by release time. On the left is a treeview containing the supported "Feature" types. When a Feature type (folder) node is selected the right side of the view displays a list of the features of that type. In the example above the list of installed providers is displayed. If the Feature type node is expanded the treeview displays the list of installed features in the tree.
When the feature node is clicked the right hand side of the display now displays the detail for that feature. One of the benefits of this UI paradigm is that it requires fewer clicks to switch between features. There are four tabs in the detail view - Feature Info, Editor, License, ReleaseNotes. The first tab - Feature Info - displays the properties that are common to all features. Note that some of the properties are "new" for some feature types.
The Editor tab displays the custom properties for the specific feature - for example an Authentication System will show the editor below.
The License tab displays the License and the Release Notes displays the release notes for the "current" version.
As with the "Module Definitions" module, there are Actions for Installing and Creatiing new features. In addition at the bottom of the "View" area for the Feature there are command buttons for Updating and Uninstalling the Feature - again similar to "Module Definitions"
In future blogs I will describe how a Feature is installed and Uninstalled, how to add your own feature types - for example if you use templates as part of your module, you can use the Feature Installer to install your templates, and I will describe how the new Feature Installer works and how you can extend it.
10 comment(s) so far...
Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
it looks like a one stop shop for administrators -- very nice. the interface needs to be tightened up but it's a good start.
By afromobile on
1/29/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
I hate candy stores that don't let you have the candy! ;)
Seriously, this is awesome. Thanks for sharing. I cannot wait for the next preview!
By hismightiness on
1/30/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
So I reckon every "feature" will basicly follow the same install process, including the usage of a .dnn file (or a new format) ?
If so, would it be possible to e.g. include .dll files in a skin package?
By Varcour on
1/31/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
@Varcour - yes it would. I will go into detail in a future blog
By cnurse on
1/31/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
How does a module or Feature use the License and Release Notes features? Are these shown at the installation phase of the module or at first use?
By makeportal on
2/1/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
@makeportal - See Part 2 for the answer :)
By cnurse on
2/1/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
Thanks for the detailed info in part #2.
By makeportal on
2/1/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
Thanks for the detailed info in part #2.
By Dennis.M on
2/2/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
I would like for the "Features" part of the framework to support/enforce "minimum DotNetNuke version". This way all package types can have an attribute or xmlnode to specify what the minimum DNN version supported for the package. For instance, if I write a Module, and it requires version 5.2.1, then I should be able to signify this somewhere in my package, and DotNetNuke "Features" installer should enforce this by warning the person installing the package. This should (I suppose) also extend to Skins, Providers, Authentication, etc. I opened a New Features request at the DNN support site:
http://support.dotnetnuke.com/Default.aspx?p=2&i=7033
If you want to comment there, or offer more technical discussion.
By gille001 on
2/4/2008
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Re: Cambrian First Look - New Features Module (Pt 1)
I like it. Just a suggestion: Inlude optional feature screenshots as part of the feature package and make it visible when installing. Thanks
By locopon on
2/10/2008
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