May
24
2017
When running a website your end users see the front end of the website whereas you have to work in the back end to add, edit, delete and modify the website content. Modern CMS (content management systems) allow website owners to manage the content of their websites without technical knowledge of HTML, and this is exactly what DNN CMS (DotNetNuke) does too. DNN’s functionality for a website’s content management can be extended by adding in third party applications. But upgrading the DNN modules can be a bit tricky at times and certain measures have to be taken to avoid mishaps.
Here are some tips to help you upgrade your DNN modules.
Use the DNN Installer
When you upload something to DNN the DNN installer will always come in handy. Using DNN installer makes the life easier for installer because it stores the information about any pre-installed modules on it. This helps shorten the process of installation because once it recognized the version of the module that’s already installed, it only installs the version that’s not already there. This installer contains all the information that DNN needs to have in order to incorporate a newly installed module and so the end user is saved from dozens of steps that would have to be done otherwise.
Search on Web for Errors during Installation
You will be wrong if you think installation for DNN modules will take place without any problems. More often than not you will come across a problem while installation and the first thing that you need to do at that time is make a copy of whatever error you have received on the screen – in most cases it will be in red color. Search this error on Google or any search engine and keep some basic information with you while asking for a solution to the problem such as the exact point where the installer encountered the error.
Always Remember DotNetNuke Backups
This is your first pointer and something you would want to write on a sticky note and put on your screen. Whenever you are installing a new module or upgrading an already installed one, the first thing you must do is get a backup. In order for you to take the backups, you will have to know where the files of your module are being installed. There can be different locations for installations of files for different modules. Here are the main steps to follow while taking a backup:
1. Take a backup of the database.
2. Create a zip file of the module. For example create a zip of desktopmodules/softwarexyz/DMX folder
3. Follow the same steps for your DNN’s bin folder.
In less than 10 minutes you should have a backup ready of your module before the installation. Now, what will you do if something goes wrong during the upgradeprocess? Follow the easy steps given below:
1. Make a copy of the report and paste it in a plain text file.
2. Perform app pool recycling
3. Get the database restored
4. Get rid of the directory created in the first set of steps i.e. the zipped file created in step 2 of the backup.
5. Unpack the folder that was here before creating the new zip.
6. Perform the same steps on the bin folder.
7. Put the site back up.
All these steps should be completed within 20 minutes i.e. 10 minutes for backing up and restoring the backup. It does not matter how confident you are on your skills, never take chances of creating backups – always create backups before dotnetnuke module upgrades.