DotNetNuke User Guide: Getting Started

Guides and Instructions that make it easy to:

1. Login In for the first time.
2. Secure your Host Account.
3. Create a New Page.
4. Place a module on your page to display content.

Step 1: Login for the first time.

1. Enter the IP address of your new portal in your browsers address bar.
   (i.e. http:// localhost/dotnetnuke)
2. Click on Go to reach your portals home page.
3. Click on the Login link, located in the banner or menu of your portal.
4. Enter your username and your password.
5. Click on the Login button.

To Logoff click on the same link which now reads Logoff.

Note: If you performed a raw installation of your software from the core DotNetNuke.zip files your Host and Administrator passwords are located in Welcome Message found in the center content pane. If you are logging in to a pre setup portal refer to your service providers’ documentation to obtain your password. 

Step 2: Secure Your Host Account.

There is only one Host Account in your portal. This SUPER USER account lets you create more portal domains, sub portals and install new content modules.

If you have logged in with the username admin and the password admin you will not see the Host tab.

If you have logged in with the username host and the password host complete the following steps.

Figure 1 – Host Account Screen

1. Use your browser to navigate to the Host Account Link located at the right side of the main menu bar below the Logout Button.
2. Click on the Host Account Link. You will now have opened your Host Profile Account Screen.
3. Enter a new first and last name if applicable. Host and Account are fine.
4. Enter a new username of your choice. This is the username you will use when logging into the host account from now on.
5. Enter a new password of your choice. This is the password you will use when logging into the host account from now on.
6. Enter the password again to confirm.
7. Enter an email address where host portal messages can be sent to.
8. Click on the Update link in the lower left hand corner.

Creation Date and Last Date Logged in are displayed at the bottom of the page. Make sure you store your username and password in a safe place.

You have now secured your Host Account. You will also have to secure your admin account in the same manner.

Step 3: Create a new page.

Each page in your portal refers to a tab. To add a new page you must first create a tab. By default your first page is created and the tab is called Home.

Figure 2 – Administrator Menu Bar

1. Click on the Add Tab Admin Link in the top left side of your screen. You will then be brought to a form called "Tab Management" which sets up your new page.
2. Enter a Tab Name.  For this test page you can leave the following default values and click Update in the lower left hand corner.

   Title: Enter a title for the tab.
   Description: Provide a description of the page.
   Keywords: Enter keywords for the page. Leave this blank for now.
   Icon: Accept the default value.
   Parent Tab: Selecting Home places your new Tab under the Home Tab name in a dropdown list. None Specified places the Tab on the main menu bar next to the Home Tab name.
   Template Tab: Accept Default Value.
   Tab Skin: Allows you to apply a different look to each page by selecting a skin from the drop down list.
   Tab Container: Allows you to choose a different container template for each page.
   Hidden: Accept Default Value Check Mark.
   Disable Link: Accept Default Value Blank.
   Authorized Roles: Accept Default Values.

3. Click on Update.

You have now created a new page. The name you entered as the Tab Name now appears in the menu bar.

Step 4: Place a module on your page to display your content.

Locate the drop down Module List located at the top of your screen.

1. Choose Text/HTML from the Module drop down list. (see figure 2)
2. Select a Pane from the drop down menu list, Content Pane is fine.
3. Select the module alignment.
4. Click Add - located next to the module Alignment drop down list. You have now added a new Text/HTML module to your page.
5. Mouse over the edit icon located at the top of the module.
6. Highlight and click Edit. You will now see the Edit Text/HTML screen.
7. Click on the radio button to select Rich Text Editor.
8. Click on the Cancel link
9. Click to re-enter the Edit link (why enter it twice?)
10. Highlight “Add Content” and type “Hello World”.
11. Click on the Update Button located at the bottom of the module.

You have now set up your first portal page. For instructions on the pencil edit see Module Guide.

Congratulations! You have now logged in for the first time and created a new page with a content module.