Working with Templated Skins is another option when designing DotNetNuke sites. Templated sites, are usually html sites, some with elements of flash that come pre designed and delivered with html files and PSD files ready for converting to DotNetNuke sites.
Some people say it's easy, some say it's hard - it depends upon the layout, how close the site needs to be copied, the flash that might be embeded in the site and what modules are being used.
Now, then we have the experience and expectation of the site managers. Sometimes some of these templated sites can be rather fragile and look quite bad when logged in as administrator with the nice sleekness broken up with the space and panes the modules take up in general. However, an understanding administrator can work around these visual issues, and they aren't too bad at all.
The examples shown here are screen shots of some of the sites we've converted to DotNetNuke sites and they do look pretty good, and are a great start if you find something you like in a design, Templates are a good start to get your site started without the involvement and cost of designers.
The only cost is for the template - between 60 - 70US and the cost of skinning which is usually between 600US >> 2,000US.
If you would like a quote on having a templated site, please fill out our request form.
These templates are being converted to demo sites - You can click the image to see a larger picture and shortly there will be a link to a demo of the site.
Ok, so here we se the start of a new dnn site - as it's just been installed and previously before DNN 2, it was still regarded as a great product.
Prior to this, I used the fantastic CSS Skins Engine - which I will still be using and will most likely be my preference to provide cost effective skinning solutions, but will have the service of complete custom skinning available for those who really want a completely flexible site.
The template came with a flash header and while this hasn't been implemented yet, it may be used in the future.
When choosing a style you like, there's almost no limit to the design you choose.
This site was modified to suit the latest DNN, and to keep the look and feel of the template where possible.
There are sometimes small compromises to consider mainly for the economy of space used. If there are alot of curves, it may make some of the space unusuable or broken and distorted.
But that's a small price to pay, and once we have the customer logo and colours, I've been able to modify and enhance the templates to appear even better than the original.
This is only one of several templates I have converted and more are regularly being added to the portfolio of skins.
This site consists of 9 separate content panes to replicate the existing template as close as possible, but all are collapsed and hidden when not in use.
The containers still need to be applied, some may be with headers already as an image so you can't modify the text, but the rest will be able to be applied throughout the site as required.
To date, this has been the most challenging project, due to lining up the files, but it's a fixed width, centred site, with the banner background and footer running throughout the body of the site for those who have a larger monitor as I have.. and you know.. it looks just so beautiful.
You can enquire about getting your site skinned, by using files from my portfolio of current work, modifying your own site, or purchasing a template and requesting a quote for a skin conversion.
The contact form to request further information is here
Again, another minimal style site using a static template which we converted to DotNetNuke. Again, we used the Solpart Menu module to handle the menu better and there were small elements of lightweight flash across the header which really was quite appealing.
This was a template for a website selling community services. Of which, I'm not 100% sure, but it was one of those sites that is like a community pool your bills website and we can all save money. Now, this was a great looking site, I made a couple of changes, but I really wasn't 100% sure it was the right sort of look and feel for the project, but the client is always right... and... he was a bit naughty - he'd been spending his employer's money on building his own site... Motto of story - If you're going to spend your bosses money, make sure you pay me on time so I don't ring your boss and ask where the money is!
This is simply showing that the site had integreated skins and containers. .It is actually quite a lovely skin with a flash header, and there are some great templates around that are very workable and sure you might find a few other sites, very few, that may have the same template around the world and that's a very small number in the big scheme of things. This site was quite easy to manage once it was installed. We did a full width and fixed width but I prefer the fixed width for something like this - the flash header was a nice effect, but did tend to add a bit of weight to it. The menu was also a challenge in cross browser compatiblity but this was pointed and and accepted. My preference for things like this, would be to have a top level menu only or perhaps a flash menu hard coded links and then links or vertical menu throughout the site. There will be a live display of this site shortly and a link will be available once done.