I am so annoyed at DotNetNuke! There are so many things that are just not right. Maybe they work right...but only for those who know how. Let me describe a few minutes at work.

I start at the forums for DotNetNuke. Well...I was going to replicate an earlier problem but I cannot find the post I was looking at. This seems like a good place to start then. Just a few minutes ago I went into the forums and saw something about skins. The message said that more skins were in the archive section with version 3.??. So...I left and looked for Archives. Nada! Did a search. Nada! Homepage have it? Nope! Is there a site map...nope!

OK...back at my site. www.Route611.com ...Signed in as admin. Load up the skins module (right term?) from the Admin link button. Not a lot of choices, but the grey looks nicer than the blue for my graphics.

I have to choose between Host skin type or Site skin type. Hmmmm...That might mean that I can choose to have them look alike or different. There is a help button...I click it. I am told that the buttons "Select the type of skin to display." Duh! That's why I am on this page...what I wanted to know is the extent of the effect of my choice.

Ok...I discover that I can select them both. Ok...I can assume that this will keep them both looking the same. That should be a good thing. But, that's just a guess.

Oh...there is a help button on the bar...right upper corner. Maybe that will be helpful....nope Module help...really isn't. It's empty. But, it did take the skins module away...no back button...oh...there is a cancel button...not the worst situation. But what are we canceling? Aren't we going back?

OK...I like the Horizontal Menu with grey backround and the Containers with Image Header and white background. I click apply to both. and the page changes.

I can apply them to portal and admin. There isn't even a helpful help button for this one. Can this mean that I can apply to a portal and the what the admin sees? Select them both...why not? better that everyone sees the same thing.

OK...looks as good as it can since I cannot get those other skins and cannot yet make my own. Now...how do I close the skins module? I see HELP, ONLINE HELP, and PRINT. Module help still pointless. Online is a bit better.

Navigate to Admin>Site...no...wait...there is Site Settings, Site Wizard, and Site Log...no just plain site. Where to from here? Crap!

Ok...well...that was a fustrating waste of time. Now I have site settings open. My only option is to click update. I hope I didn't change anything inadvertantly. Where is a close or cancel button?

I click home...at least I am out of there. What!!!!! After all that I lost the graphic bars when I got to the home page!!!!

Hmmm what else can I do. I have a place holder banner ad to the right of my logo. Lets change that. OK...Admin...Vendors...I have a couple of fake ones...one has a banner ad on file. Now I ...What? Now I what? There isn't even a fake help button this time....just as well... Back to the DNN website and a search for vendors banner...Online help...lots of entries for Vendors...none for banners. The search was better...lots of things to waste my time on.

Wait...I got there! Pirates didn't bury their treasures as deeply as you buried the choices for setting up a banner ad.

Working my way out...at Vendors. I notice that the graphics ad is on here. Is there a way to close Vendors or do I just replace it...seems to be no choice but to replace it. But the graphics are on at the home page.

While I am here...I made a page while looking around when I first got the program....its still there. Haven't stumbled on to a way to take it out. Oh...page functions...delete. But, why did it kick me out when I used it...whatever...the page is gone.

Well...that's it for tonight. I got a banner up for three hours work where I expected to work a few minutes. Seems you guys spend all your time on writing code. Maybe you need to see where people have touble using DNN and making some help files that would really help.

 

Have you seen the Help Page?

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/About/DotNetNukeOnlineHelp/tabid/787/Default.aspx

Immediately go download the documentation and read it.  You might also want to pick up one or more of the DNN books out, though they really just duplicate documentation for the most part.  DNN, like many products, has a learning curve.

Jeff