DNN 6 Form Pattern - Html Conventions

Feb 3

Written by:
2/3/2012 9:47 AM  RssIcon

I am now in the situation to convert the DNN FAQs module to DNN 6. The first thing to do is to implement the new form pattern from DNN 6. I looked around in the internet to find some resources which help with that and found a video from Ian Robertson in the DNN Wiki and some blog posts but no document where everything is documented together . So I decided to put that information together in a blog post

Module wrapper

The content of your module has to be wrapped by the “dnnForm” CSS class. All the styles for dnnForm are defined in default.css

<div class="dnnForm">
   <!-- form content goes inside -->
</div>

for overwriting some of the styles in module.css define a module specific class

<div class="dnnForm dnnMyModule">
   <!-- form content goes inside -->
</div>

Navigation

Admin Tab Navigation

The Navigation Tabs (used mostly in the settings area) are written as a simple ordered list:

<ul class="dnnAdminTabNav">
   <li><a href="#ssBasicSettings">Basic Settings</a>
   <li><a href="#ssAdvancedSettings">Advanced Settings</a>
</li></ul>

<div id="ssBasicSettings">
   <!-- Content goes here-->
</div>
<div id="ssAdvancedSettings">
<!-- Content goes here-->
</div>

Collapsible Panels

 Collapsible panels

If there are 3 or more groups of content, first panel should be expanded and the rest should be collapsed.

<h2 class="dnnFormSectionHead">
   <a class="dnnSectionExpanded">Site Details</a>
</h2>
<fieldset>
   <!--Content goes here-->
</fieldset>

Form Items

Form Item

A typical form item is build of two or more components: Label, Input, Validation

<div class="dnnFormItem">
   <dnn:label />
   <asp:textbox class="dnnFormRequired" />
   <asp:requiredfieldvalidator cssclass="dnnFormMessage dnnFormError" />
</div>

Messages

Messages follow a simple scheme:

Info

formpattern-infomessage

<div class="dnnFormMessage dnnFormInfo">
   Your message
</div>

Success

formpattern-successmessage

<div class="dnnFormMessage dnnFormSuccess">
   Your message
</div>

Warning

formpattern-warningmessage

<div class="dnnFormMessage dnnFormWarning">
   Your message
</div>

Error

formpattern-errormessage

<div class="dnnFormMessage dnnFormError">
   Your message
</div>

Buttons

formpattern-action

Define your actions as Hyperlinks or LinkButtons in an ul-list of class “dnnActions”.

<ul class="dnnActions">
   <li><asp:linkbutton id="cmdUpdate" cssclass="dnnPrimaryAction" runat="server"></asp:linkbutton> 
   <li><asp:linkbutton id="cmdCancel" cssclass="dnnSecondaryAction" runat="server"></asp:linkbutton> 
</li></ul>

Update:

There is a very good new DNN UX Guide online. See this link: http://uxguide.dnngallery.com


2 comment(s) so far...


Gravatar

Re: DNN 6 Form Pattern - Html Conventions

Hey there, very usefull info! I am pulling my hair out, trying to create a nice validating wizard form in DNN6.

Have you perhaps figured out how to use validationGroups with dnnTabs?

I am using jquery validation now, but I can't get this to work right in IE. I suppose asp.net validation would be the better point, but I am afraid all the postbacks will drive me crazy too.. Although I suppose the form paradigm should take care of that.

Best regards,
Ries

By Ries Spruit on   2/16/2012 9:53 PM
Gravatar

Re: DNN 6 Form Pattern - Html Conventions

Sorry, I don't know the answer, because my jquery skills are very low. Perhaps this new DotNetNuke UX Guide could help : uxguide.dnngallery.com/UIPatterns/ModuleMessages/tabid/239/Default.aspx

By Torsten Weggen on   3/12/2012 10:40 AM

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