Case Study: Web Development with DNN Technology

Abstract

A US based company asked us to redesign a series of web sites, including designing the appearance of the whole web site, maintaining the website content, and some development of modules with special functions.

Situation

The client holds a group of outstanding Golf clubs in US. Each club needed different portals which contain different appearance of interfaces, different menus, different authorization configurations as well as different client pools. These web sites could be put into three categories: Group web site, Club web site open to everyone and Club web site specifically open to the Membership. Mainly consisting of some text and images information, the three web sites had the same major functions. However there were some special functions required by the client such as the specialized Photo Galley in support of pictures upload and management, specialized Event Calendar module in support of displaying and editing the arrangement of curricula/matches in the Club, the customized information collection of the clients' requests.

Solution

Since all the club web sites shared similar basic functionalities, we decided to use Dotnetnuke, an open source framework hosted by Microsoft, to develop all the web sites.

We started solving the following problems:

1. How to deploy these club sites?
After analysis, we decided to deploy all the sites on a DNN site for development. Every Club site will be corresponding to each DNN portal with different domain names.

2. How to realize the Layout information on the web site? How to realize homepage background image dynamically changing?
We designed a suit of skin for each portal respectively, destined special skins for each homepage, and displayed corresponding pictures under the directory of appointed portal taking advantage of javascript.

3. How to deal with a mass of text and image information?
These modules contained only simply static information and would not be updated frequently. Therefore we decided to use the cost-free HTML/Text Module of DNN to achieve that purpose.

4. How to realize release and management of regular document information?
For the sake of reducing cost, we decided to use the cost-free CrossArticle module to realize this function.

5. How to realize site map?
We decided to look for open source – the DNN modules to realize this function. Luckily, we found a cost-free module named DnnSiteMap.

6. How to realize displaying and editing the arrangement of curricula/matches in the Club?
We decided to create a module named Event Calendar specialized in realizing these features.

7. How to make the image information on the web site more convenient for management and more attractive?
As per the client's requirements, we realized a functional module similar to ZenPhoto of PHP, and we named it PhotoGellery, which was in support of pictures upload and management, as well as management of picture files. In order to provide better user experience, we applied the Ajax technology.

8. How to collect requirement information from the common clients?
Of course it is easier and more direct to collect these information by a customized table, so we decided to develop this request module on our own.

We submitted our analysis and subsequent solution to the client. After communication with the client, we decided to develop a demo site at first. After the demo was confirmed by the client, we implemented the first 2 Club sites, and published the two sites to the client. Upon our client's confirmation of the two sites, we went on with the rest sites. After all the sites were published, we continued to maintain those sites. The whole development process was organized and positive. Two months later the whole development work was successfully accomplished and we were recognized by this client.

The Partnership

The client approached us out of recommendation of one of their business partner, who have been working together with Nova for over 4 years. With pre-trust the client gave Nova a Time & Material contract without any other test project. Nova's good performance turned out to live up with the client's expectations.

Benefits to the Client

The client has a web site cluster that totally meets his requirements.
The web site runs very well at present and the internet traffic has been increased.