Great-Webs.Com

Memorial Day 2011 - Hartland, CT

2011-05-31T07:52:00.001-07:00

Like many American's yesterday, my family and I observed Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom and our way of life. Below are photos from the parade and ceremony that took place in the small town of Hartland Connecticut.

See the full gallery on Posterous

New DotNetNuke PowerShell Module

2011-05-03T07:11:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago DotNetNuke Corp announced that they had hired Ben Zong. Ben is the developer who was responsible for the initial conversion of the DotNetNuke core framework from VB to C# so I decided I would follow him on Twitter . Earlier this week Ben put out a tweet announcing a new command line module for DotNetNuke. The module is called DotNetNuke.Powershell and is a command line tool that easily allows for website host or admin to add multiple pages to a DotNetNuke website with a simple command line. The module is also designed to backup and upgrade a DotNetNuke installation. I wanted to test the module so I fired up WebMatrix and created and local install of DotNetNuke.

My initial attempt at installing the module failed.

As the error indicates the assembly couldn't load because the runtime for the website set by WebMatrix was set to .NET 2 (integrated)

Once I changed the .Net Framework Version under the settings tab in WebMatrix the module installed as expected.

To use the module, simple place an instance on a page and run either the page or backup upgrade commands.

After running the above page command you can see that multiple pages where created.

It is possible to create both top level pages and sub pages which can be very helpful when setting up a new website.

The backup upgrade command works much the same way. Simply type the command "backup upgrade" into the command line area and press enter. After a few minutes a confirmation message is displayed with the path to the backup files. The backup creates a zip file with all of the site files and also a .bak (native SQL Database backup) file and places it into the root of the website. Even though the site was running 5.6.1, and not the latest 5.6.2, the upgrade feature did not preform but I'm assuming that is because the available upgrade message was not displayed in my local install.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this little utility may be a preview of things to come in the upcoming DotNetNuke 6.0 Version release. This is the first preview release or alpha version so use at your own discretion.

DotNetNuke and the WebsitePanel

2011-04-18T06:58:00.001-07:00

I moved an existing #DotNetNuke site to my ASP.Net web hosting account on Arvixe. I used the backup and restore module from Evotiva to facilitate the move and everything looked good. I logged in and made a few changes, upgraded the DNN install to the latest version and was testing that everything was working, when I realized that some of my Google Map data was not displaying. The site relies heavily on custom Google Maps. Data that was being pulled from xml files was displaying but data from KML and KMZ files was missing. I quickly realized that I had forgotten to add the Google Earth custom MIME types that are required to serve KML and KMZ files. No problem, I logged into my Arvixe WebsitePanel and added the MIME types. I went back to my map and the files were being served and the map was functioning as expected. That was the good news.

The bad news was, something had gone terrible wrong and the site started to experience a number of problems. DotNetNuke uses a dynamically generated page called LinkClick.aspx to serve PDF and other files. All of the LinkClick.aspx links were broken and displayed a Server Error – 404 page not found to the users. I also use AJAX Tabs to display data and they were not displaying. I could login to the site but could not edit or change anything, no postback was occurring. I noticed some other odd things and I couldn’t even log out of the site. I went back into the WebsitePanel and removed the MIME types. The site was still broken.

After hours of searching the DNN forums and trying to troubleshoot the problem, I finally realized that part of my Web.Config file was missing. I first realized that the WebsitePanel was writing to the Web.Config when I saw a default document section, something I had never seen in a DotNetNuke Web.Config file before. Upon closer examination I realized that all of the handlers had been removed from the system.webServer section of the Web.Config file. For some reason when the WebsitePanel writes to the Web.Config file, the handlers are not retained. I added the handlers section back and the site came back to life. Looking at this section, it becomes obvious why LinkClick and AJAX tabs weren’t working and I couldn’t log off. Once I got the site working again I manually added the Google Earth custom MIME types to the system.Webserver section of the web.Config file like this:

So, if you start to experience problems with your DotNetNuke website after changing something under the website section of the WebsitePanel, look for missing handlers.

Turns out that any change made within the website section of the website panel will strip the handlers. I changed the home folder and the same thing happened. To quickly recover I have copied the handlers section and keep them commented out so that I can quickly replace them if needed.

This blog was originally posted at http://blog.arvixe.com/dotnetnuke-and-the-websitepanel/ but I decided to cross post it here.

Simsbury Connecticut - 360° Virtual Tour

2011-04-10T12:41:00.001-07:00

Great-Webs.Com specializes in 360 VR Photography and Virtual Tours. Click in the photo and drag your mouse to move the image. A to zoom in Z to zoom out. You can also use the points on the map in the lower left to navigate from one panorama to another. Still images and text can also be incorporated. The example below is from Simsbury, Connecticut. (Click here to open in new window)

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Simsbury Connecticut - Virtual Tour

My Panorama Photography Now on Google Earth

2011-04-08T22:27:00.001-07:00

I've been taking panorama photographs for several years now. I started with just a regular camera and tripod and found it very difficult and time consuming to stitch the photos together into a 360 spherical panorama. Most panos I took would need 40-50 photos to ensure I captured the complete 360 sphere. I've since moved up to professional gear including a digital SLR, Fish-eye lens, specialized tripod and pano head. I can now take a complete pano in 8 shots (6 around, one up and one down). There are a number of tools and techniques available to stitch and view panoramas. Currently the most popular and practical method for presenting 360 panorama images is through a Adobe Flash interface in a web browser. Apple Quick Time movies was an earlier method for viewing the spherical panoramas. There are also stand alone applications available for viewing panoramas on your local computer. Being a web designer I enjoy the technical aspects of stitching the photos and then presenting them on the web as single panoramas or in tours that link 360 images together. My intention has always been to create a site to showcase all of my work and maybe even the work of others. I do have some of them published on my personal and business websites. But, due to time restraints and other priorities I've yet to find the time to create a site dedicated to the subject so recently I joined a site that does exactly that. 360Cities.Net is the 360 equivalent to photo sharing sites like Flickr or Panoramio. One of the things that attracted me to 360Cities is their relationship with Google Earth. Selected panoramas posted on 360Cities.Net are now included in the default image layer on Google Earth. Since I am selling virtual tours as part of my web design business, I thought it would be great exposure if I could get some of my 360 images on Google Earth. Google Earth displays the images using the same method they use for their Street View feature.

Well, I am happy to report that all 14 of the panoramas I have posted to 360Cities are now included in Google Earth photo layer. I have 100's more yet to post. Here is a link to the Google Earth KMZ file for my photos. I hope you enjoy exploring the world in 360 as much as I do.

http://www.360cities.net/ge_kml/author/greatwebs.kml (You'll need Google Earth to view this file)

Here is my profile on 360Cities.Net http://www.360cities.net/profile/greatwebs

If you are interested in having a custom 360 panoramic photograph or tour created please contact me. I'll be happy to send you additional links for tours I have created.

Thronebrook Views

2009-04-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

I was hired to develop a website for a guy selling 35 beautiful acres in Granby Connecticut. The land has great views and we decided a 360 panorama would be a great way to show the potential buyers what the property looks like. In addition to the 360 panorama, I creates a Flash driven interactive photo gallery and used Google Maps to create a custom property map. You can view the website at http://thronebrookviews.com.

Fun with Panoramas

2009-01-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

I've been working with some panoramic images and wanted to post this one of the Barkhamsted Reservoir in Barkhamsted CT. This point is called Gidman's Ledge and is on MDC property. I sought special permission to access this area. I will be posting a series of panoramas all linked together.

2/15/2009 - I have now added a second scene to this Panorama. Click on the target icon to be transported to the Beach Rock Panorama, also overlooking the Barkhamsted Reservoir.

http://great-webs.com/panos/gidmans/index.html

Town of Barkhamsted Website Re-Design

2008-12-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

Great-Webs.Com is proud to announce the launch of the newly re-designed website for the Town of Barkhamsted, Connecticut. The site is on-line at http://barkhamsted.us/ and is a full content management system which allows town staff to quickly and easily update the website. The State of Connecticut enacted a law which requires towns to post public meeting minutes within seven days from the meeting. Staff can easily upload meeting minutes, change text or images and even add new pages by simply login into the site with a regular web browser.

Farmington River Coordinating Committee

2008-11-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Great-Webs.Com has just completed a new interactive website for the Farmington River Coordinating Committee or FRCC at http://farmingtonriver.org/ The FRCC is responsible for federal Wild and Scenic designation of the upper Farmington River. The site is a content management system that allows authorized users the ability to easily update content using a regular web browser. The site features forums, blogs, photo galleries and a web based email subscription and management system

Barkhamsted Historical Society Website Redesign

2008-06-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Great-Webs.Com has recently re-designed the Barkhamsted Historical Society website at http://barkhamstedhistory.org/ the new website is a content management system which allows users to update the site with a regular web browser. The site also offers forums, blogs and photo albums. Private pages are available to board members only.

Harmony Seamless Gutters

2008-03-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Great-Webs.Com has created a new site for Harmony Gutters based in Goshen, CT. Harmony Seamless Gutters has been serving the Northwest Connecticut and surrounding area for 20 years. Started in 1988 we are a full service gutter contractor dealing with home owners and contractors alike. Don't Get Soaked! Call Harmony Seamless Gutter

Still River Antiques Update

2007-12-17T09:30:00.000-08:00

Still River Antiques just sent me all new images for the image slide show on their site. Still River Antiques specializes in Hitchcock furniture and restoration and is located in Riverton Connecticut Check out the new photos here: http://stillriverantiques.com/gallery.htm

Richard

Great-Webs.Com Blog

2007-12-11T18:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Bloggers. Great-Webs.Com will be blogging about web design, programming, ASP.Net, AJAX, Flash development, Google Earth and Maps and other computer and technical topics.

Sonoma County Transit Re-Design

2007-10-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

Great-Webs.Com has recently re-designed the website for Sonoma County Transit http://www.sctransit.com/. The underlying website code as well as the design were updated. The site is now CSS based and is completely accessible to those with disabilities. In addition to the new design, Great-Webs.Com has added additional features to the site. All 1,200 bus stops and 20 plus bus routes have been mapped and coded for Google Earth and Google Maps. Click here for the list of routes. http://www.sctransit.com/routes.htm

FarmingtonValley.Net gets a re-design.

2007-06-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Today Richard English announced the availability of the newly designed FarmingtonValley.Net website. The design is similar to the old design however, the technology the site is based on has changed. The site now offers users Free blogs and Photo albums as well as community based discussion forums. Check it out at http://farmingtonvalley.net