DNN (DotNetNuke) is a robust and versatile content management system (CMS) that enables developers and companies to create dynamic websites easily. One of the most basic yet commonly utilized features in web applications is the capability to capture data using forms. Whether you require a basic contact form, a registration form, or an advanced survey form, custom forms are an essential tool for capturing information and engaging with your users.
In DNN, you can design your own forms in your modules to manage a range of different tasks. This blog will walk you through each step of creating a custom form within a DNN module. From form design to securely managing the data, you’ll have the expertise and tools necessary to produce effective forms that interact smoothly with your DNN site.
Step 1: Install Your DNN Module Development Environment
You’re going to need a local installation of DNN (DotNetNuke) and Visual Studio or your chosen development tool. DNN offers a suite of templates which can assist with simplifying the module development process.
If you’re new to DNN development, be sure to install DNN’s necessary components on your machine. This will give you a complete working environment to develop, test, and deploy your module.
Step 2: Design the User Interface for the Form
The initial step in creating a custom form is to create its user interface (UI). This can be achieved in DNN through the use of HTML, CSS, and DNN controls.
You can use standard HTML to design the form layout, and DNN also offers more components to make the process easier, including validation controls, button controls, and other interactive controls. When designing the form, remember the user experience. Your form must be easy, intuitive, and simple to use, making it possible for users to submit data without getting confused.
Think about what types of fields you will have on your form (text boxes, radio buttons, checkboxes, dropdowns) and what data you want to gather from your users. In addition, ensure your form is responsive, so it scales correctly to phones, since increasing numbers of users come to the web on their smartphones and tablets.
Step 3: Process Form Submissions
Once the users submit the form after filling it, you must process their data securely. This is an important step because processing form submissions in an improper manner can create security loopholes, including data leaks or unauthorized access.
When a user fills in a form and submits it, the server will process the information. Here, you must validate the input to confirm the data is correct and complete. For example, you should verify that email addresses are properly formatted, mandatory fields are populated, and any other input conform to the required criteria.
After validation, you must persist the data. The most popular way is to save the data into a database, but you might also send it to an external service or use it for particular business logic. DNN supports integration with multiple databases and APIs, and you can save or process data in different manners according to your requirements.
Step 4: Ensure Form Validation
Validation is a vital aspect of custom forms. It ensures that the data being submitted is in the correct format and meets your criteria. Without proper validation, you might receive incorrect or incomplete data, which could lead to issues in your application.
In DNN, you can validate form fields both on the client side (using JavaScript or built-in DNN controls) and on the server side (using C# or other backend code). Client-side validation provides immediate feedback to the user, such as warning them if a required field is empty or if an email address is incorrectly formatted. Server-side validation is crucial for ensuring that even if a user bypasses client-side checks, the data is still validated on the server before it’s saved.
In addition to basic validation like ensuring fields are filled, consider security checks such as sanitizing input to protect against SQL injection or Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
Step 5: Provide Feedback to Users
Once the form submitted and processed, it’s essential to give users feedback. A simple success message after submission is important to let the user know their submission was successful. If the form submission fails due to validation errors or other issues, you should provide clear error messages that guide users to correct their mistakes.
For example, if a user forgets to fill out a required field, your form should display a message saying, “Please fill in the required fields.” Similarly, if a user enters an invalid email address, show a message like “Please enter a valid email address.”
Feedback helps users understand whether their action was successful and improves the overall user experience.
Step 6: Style and Customize the Form
Once the form is functional, it’s time to make it visually appealing and integrate it into your website’s design. You can achieve this by styling your form with CSS to match the theme and branding of your website.
The design of your form can significantly affect user engagement. A well-designed, clean, and attractive form will encourage users to complete it, while a poorly designed form could frustrate them and lead to abandoned submissions.
In addition to styling, consider adding interactive elements such as tooltips, placeholder text, and dynamic field behaviors (like showing or hiding fields based on user selection). These features can make the form more user-friendly and enhance the overall experience.
Step 7: Test and Deploy Your Custom Form
Testing is a crucial step in any development process, and it’s no different when creating custom forms in DNN. Before you deploy your form to your live website, thoroughly test it to ensure everything works correctly.
Test different scenarios, including valid and invalid form submissions, handling edge cases (such as empty fields or incorrect data), and verifying that the form saves or sends the data as expected. Additionally, test the form on different devices and browsers to ensure it’s fully responsive and works across various platforms.
Once everything tested and you’re confident the form functions as expected, it’s time to deploy the module to your live site. This may involve packaging the module and installing it on your production server, depending on your setup.
Conclusion
Creating a custom form within a DNN module can be a powerful way to collect and manage data on your website. By following the steps outlined in this blog — from designing the form and handling submissions to ensuring validation and providing feedback — you can create a seamless and user-friendly experience for your site visitors.
DNN provides a robust platform for building dynamic and feature-rich websites, and with the flexibility to create custom forms, you can enhance your site’s functionality while also improving user engagement. By carefully considering design, security, and validation, you’ll ensure that your custom form is not only effective but also secure and reliable for your users.
