PLANNING
The Secret to Creating
Great Modules with DNN Module Builder

 

Before you begin using DNN Module Builder (DNNMB) you’ll need to plan ahead. Here’s a quick guide to planning so you’ll be ready with the right information when you begin using DNNMB for the first time.

 

Step 1 – Begin with the End in Mind

 

You may or may not have an idea of what you want to do with DNNMB. Either way it’s important to use your imagination and visualize how people will be using your web application once it’s completed. This will help you define what field’s you need in your module.

 

Example: Child Actor/Model Profile Module

 

Let’s say you have a website for children who are actors and models. They use your site to promote themselves to casting agencies. A typical ‘profile module’ doesn’t have the fields you need for your website.  You can begin by thinking about what you want to see on your website and how your administrators and users will interact with it.

 

Actor Profile

Randy Williams
DOB: 9/9/1996  Age: 10

Parent Contact: Melinda Williams

Parent Phone: 212-555-1234

Parent Email: Melinda@yahoo.com

Website: www.randywilliams.com

Agent: None

Picture Gallery

Video Gallery

 

Step 2 – Back to the Future

 

Now that you have your desired output you want to go a step further and think about how you may want to extend this module in the future.  

 

Because DNN Module Builder creates and manages database tables it’s very important that you plan for all the information you need for your module BEFORE you begin.  Don't worry if you forget some fields, or your needs change in the future, you can always add/delete fields.

 

Future data fields

First Name

Last Name

Main picture, pic2, pic3, pic4, pic5, pic6, pic7, pic8

Main video, vid2, vid3, vid4, vid5, vid6, vid7, vid8

ScreenName

Primary Email

Alternative Email 1

Alternative Email 2

Primary Phone

Home Phone

Work Phone

Mobile Phone

Alternative Phone

 

 

Step 3 – What’s Your Type?

 

Each field you choose will need to have it’s type defined. DNNMB uses standard database types:

 

Int         integer 

Num     number            

[list all of these]

 

You’ll be asked to define the type of each field while you are creating each field so it’s important you know the types of each field before you begin.

 

Step 4 – Who’s in Control?

 

Your next step is to think about how the users, viewers and administrators will control the data. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

 

Will administrators add any fields manually?

Will registered users see more fields than visitors?

Which fields will not be editable?

What privacy concerns are there with this data?

Do I want to mask any data?

 

How the data is entered, displayed, modified and controlled are important things to know before you begin.

 

Summary

 

Planning is the secret to creating great modules with DNN Module Builder. No module is perfect and the more you create modules the better you’ll get at planning.

 

Finally, don’t stress out. It’s so easy to create modules with DNN Module Builder that if you make a mistake you can easily start over and create an even better module quicker than you did the first.