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user-interfacedocumentationcontrolsdotnetnukedotnetnuke-5

Should I use DotNetNuke Controls instead of standard ASP controls and where I can find documentation for them?

I'm starting with DNN 5.5 development and I noticed that there exists DNN versions of standard asp web controls.
As you have standard asp control like Button or DataGrid, you also have special DNN version of this controls DnnButton, DnnDataGrid,...

  • So what is the benefit if I use DNN version of controls, if I understand correctly this simplifies theming of your DNN web page and brings you more uniform look.

  • Where can I find any documentation about this DNN versions of controls?

Solution

  • Documentation is non-existent, so far as I can tell (outside of the code itself).

    Some of the controls are just simple wrappers which do localization for you (i.e. just set the Text property, don't use ResourceKey).

    Some of the controls use the corresponding Telerik control, apply a skin to the control (Simple skin plus potential control-specific CSS from the DNN skin), and also do the localization(1). If you don't have a Telerik license, these wrappers are your only access to the bundled Telerik controls.

    Some of the controls are more prescriptive combinations of controls.

    It is my assumption that DNN is going to start using these controls exclusively, so it will help the uniformity of your site to use them. However, it's not a huge advantage (or officially announced), so where it's easier to ignore them, don't get too worried.

    (1)One thing to note is that there are some issues with bad localization in the DnnGrid which is fixed in DNN 5.6.