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 Webmaster@ADefWebserver.com
 

Setting-up Your

DotNetNuke®
Development Environment
(without using IIS)

Also see:
 The ADefWebserver DotNetNuke HELP WebSite

 

What You Need:

  • Visual Web Developer Express
     (download)
  • SQL Server Express
     (download)
  • The latest copy of the DotNetNuke
    "Install Version"
     (download)
 
This describes the fastest and cleanest method for DotNetNuke module development.

Also see: Setting-up the Development Environment (using IIS)

My DotNetNuke Development Environment

I own the full version of Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 but for DotNetNuke development I don't use them.

The reason is that I have found that Visual Web Developer Express gives me access to all the tools I need in a smaller faster package.

Using SQL Server Express allows me to set up a DotNetNuke website faster than using SQL Server 2005.

     

Download DotNetNuke

The trick here is to download the Install Version. The source is bulky and not useful for module development because you don't want to develop a module on an installation that is not standard. 

 
     
Create a directory on your hard drive. Do not put it under the wwwroot directory because it will most likely have permissions set that will make the installation difficult.
Unzip the files to the directory
Open Visual Web Developer Express (or Visual Studio 2005)
Select File then Open Web Site
Open the root of the web site
From the toolbar select Debug then Start Without Debugging
The site will build and the internal web server will start
The installation wizard will appear and guide you through the installation.

Choose AUTO
   
Click on Click Here To Access Your Portal and the site will come up
Return to Visual Web Developer and right-click on the root of the website in the Solution Explorer and select Refresh Folder
This will show the newly created folders such as the DesktopModules folder.

You can now right-click on it and create a new folder

You can now start building your module in the directory
If you are new to DotNetNuke Module Development, it is suggested you start here:

(start on the second page if you have used the set-up described in this article)

 

 

 

 

NOTE:

Visual Web Developer Express can cause SQL Server Express to lock.

 
If you click on the Database Explorer tab...
It will allow you to manage your SQL Server Express database...
But then you get this error when you try to view the site in your web browser:

Error Installing DotNetNuke

Current Assembly Version: 04.03.04

ERROR: Could not connect to database specified in connectionString for SqlDataProvider

 

The problem is Visual Web Developer Express has locked the database.  
Right-click on the database and select Close Connection
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
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DotNetNuke® is a registered trademark of Perpetual Motion Interactive Systems Inc.

 

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