This is a question that I have searched for a answer to for many, many days now. I have not found this question on any forum. Feel free to add links to other threads that may hold pertinent value.

 

New in DotNetNuke 3.0.12 is the ? icon (next to the minimize icon) that links to the help page for any given module, whether or not a app_LocalResources folder with a corresponding ascx.resx file is available. It would seem that this vehicle for help is geared toward content developers only. I am trying to make this ? (help) icon viewable to all users, regardless whether or not they are logged in or have only view and/or anonymous privelleges (Currently it seems that either admin or edit privelleges are required for this link to appear). I have searched very zealously to figure out how to do this, but to no avail so far. I am at an impass. I am beginning to wonder if the core must be modified for this to work as all modules, custom or not, receive this icon in edit mode. I have looked in the admin section of the dotnetnuke solution. I have searched the containers and skin section DotNetNuke; all with no solution.  I have figured out how to add items to the drop down menu for modules, but alas the drop down menu only seems to appear for users with edit or admin privelleges. If there is a way to either display the drop down menu with limited options or get the help icon to appear (with its functionality kept) I would very much like to know. Either of these will solve my problem. I would even settle for a button inside my custom module(s) with code to link to the help page/resource file, but this is the least preferred solution at the moment.

Any and all input would very much be appreciated. Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jason Baisden

I think the only way to anything like that is to develope an active container .!

I have never done this before, but if I need anything like you describe I would have a look in that way.

Even if I not understand what kind of help you will offer to one that don't have any rights. But that is your problem.

HTH

The help would be minimal, such as how to perform certain tasks such as registering to the site and so forth. Once registered they would probably only have view permissions. DotNetNuke does not show the '?' icon to any user except those with admin or edit permissions.

Two more things to add:

1) What do you mean by Active Containers? It is a term that I haven't heard before.

2) I have been looking at skinning and container creation and see how to add the help functionality to my skin; however, it seems that who sees this controls is not adjustable by the skin itself (to my knowledge). I was hoping to mimick the mechanisms that keep the Print button always viewable on the module for the help control. If somebody could point me to the code which keeps the print button (not the one in the menu but the one displayed on the module with a printer icon) visible, I believe that would be a great help as well.

Thanks!

Does anyone have any suggestions? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am also noticing that the Minimize button (the control itself is called visiblity.ascx) remains viewable for all to see, regardless of privelleges (even guests can see it). I just trying to find out how these thing tick. What is it in the code that is making the visibility control and the printModule conrtrol visible to all? I don't know if its the controls themselves, where they are located, or some override option some where else.

All of this is a means to an end in implementing a mechanism for providing the end user with help. How are you guys offering your users help?

Sincerely,

Jason Baisden

In the module settings > page settings, there is a check box for "Allow Print" and "Allow Syndicate".. the container checks the values here to determine whether to display the icons or not.

One way to accomplish what you are after is to build it into the skin or the conatiner. other wise it would be a core change...

I was wondering where that setting was stored. It would seem, though, to get the effect I want, I would have to modify the ModuleInfo object so that it has another boolean variable to store the show / hide aspect of the help control ( which is really either a link control or an ActionButton ), add the label and check box to ModuleSettings.ascx, and then modify ModuleSettings.ascx.vb to store the user's selection. I am thinking after all of this is done, the value may be retained so I can simply check against this value when the help control gets added to see whether or not to make it visible.

This is where I am confused. Now do I need to look at the Container.vb code to modify the logic that adds the control? I honestly don't know where the control is added to the module. I am assuming it is somewhere in the skin or container code.

I am wondering if this is more trouble than its worth. It probably is, but for fact finding in general I would still like to see how this would be accomplished. Can someone tell me if my thought process above is on target or just way off base?

I have discovered something very curious. I have a container that when uploaded in dotnetnuke 3.0.10, I can see the help button at all times. This containers uses static *.htm files with the container.xml file to define tokens. When I upload the same container in 3.0.12, the help buttons dissappear just like they normally do. I am wondering if anyone knows of any significant changes made on dotnetnuke 3.0.12 since version 3.0.10 that would cause this to happen. One thing of note is that this container does not use .ascx files. I was wondering if that is what was controlling the buttons, but, as I said earlier, loading this container into v3.0.12 does not keep the help buttons from dissappearing. I have the conainer file zipped if any one would like it. Post your email and I will send it to you. I'm not sure if that is against forum policy or not.

Sincerely,

 

Jason Baisden

Well, I want to thank every one for participating. I have solved this little riddle. If you go to the ActionBase.vb file in the path: DotNetNuke --> Admin --> Containers, look for the following bit of code:

 

' help module actions available to content editors and administrators

If _portalModule.ModuleConfiguration.ControlType <> SecurityAccessLevel.Anonymous And Request.QueryString("ctl") <> "Help" Then

_menuActionRoot.Actions.Add(GetNextActionID, Services.Localization.Localization.GetString(ModuleActionType.ModuleHelp, Services.Localization.Localization.GlobalResourceFile), ModuleActionType.ModuleHelp, "", "help.gif", NavigateURL(_portalModule.TabId, "Help", "ctlid=" & _portalModule.ModuleConfiguration.ModuleControlId.ToString, "moduleid=" & _portalModule.ModuleId), Secure:=SecurityAccessLevel.Anonymous, Visible:=True, NewWindow:=False)

If Not Null.IsNull(_portalModule.ModuleConfiguration.HelpUrl) Then

_menuActionRoot.Actions.Add(GetNextActionID, Services.Localization.Localization.GetString(ModuleActionType.OnlineHelp, Services.Localization.Localization.GlobalResourceFile), ModuleActionType.OnlineHelp, "", "help.gif", FormatHelpUrl(_portalModule.ModuleConfiguration.HelpUrl, _portalModule.PortalSettings, _portalModule.ModuleConfiguration.FriendlyName), UseActionEvent:=True, Secure:=SecurityAccessLevel.Edit, Visible:=True, NewWindow:=True)

Else

_menuActionRoot.Actions.Add(GetNextActionID, Services.Localization.Localization.GetString(ModuleActionType.OnlineHelp, Services.Localization.Localization.GlobalResourceFile), ModuleActionType.OnlineHelp, "", "help.gif", FormatHelpUrl(glbHelpUrl, _portalModule.PortalSettings, _portalModule.ModuleConfiguration.FriendlyName), UseActionEvent:=True, Secure:=SecurityAccessLevel.Edit, Visible:=True, NewWindow:=True)

End If

End If

 

You can do this two ways: Completely comment out the first if statement and the last 'End If' or remove everything from the first if statement except Request.QueryString("ctl") <> "Help" and make an if statement out of just that. I briefly tested the second method and so far it seems to work. You must also change the security level of the control. Anonymous will show the help link for everybody logged in or not. I believe view will show the icon for only users that are logged in, but that is all that is required.

I hope somebody out there is helped by this. I know it took me a whole lot of effort to figure this out.

Thank you for letting me use this forum as a spring board to this conclusion.

Sincerely,

jbaisden

 

Looks like an Oppurtunity for an extra setting in the core to allow you to configure this. Rather than removing it, it should be selectable in the Portal Settings ? if you agree, I'll make the changes and we can submit them to the core team maybe ?

I agree wholeheartedly; however, another way of doing this could be to provide options to include help for admin and editors as well as another version of help that is available to the viewable user. That is just a thought, though, simply adding what you have suggested would be a grand help.

 

 

with all of the help threads .. I am going to bump this up.

It would be a great enhancement to:

1.  option for '?' to always appear

2.  option for online help to appear or not

3.  option for module help to appear or not

most of which is in this area of code already with if statements ..

The Help is Module Help which has nothing to do with the content displayed, it is of no use but to let the vistors to know how you built your portal, I think.

Will you please explain more about why you do that?

ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!