Personalization Server Controls
Important: The EktronCatalogPart, EktronCommunityCatalogPart, EktronWebPartZone and PersonalizationManager server controls are used in conjunction with Microsoft’s WebParts. You should have a good understanding of Microsoft’s WebParts when using these server controls. For information on Microsoft’s WebParts, see http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/e0s9t4ck.aspx.
Personalization server controls allow you to create a Web page that site users can personalize when they are logged into the site. Below is a typical layout for a Personalization Web page utilizing Ektron and Microsoft Web Parts.
Ektron CMS400.NET can easily be integrated with Microsoft’s WebParts in Visual Studio. Ektron CMS400.NET’s server controls are configured for use as WebParts within a EktronWebPartZone in VS. By combining the simplicity of Ektron CMS400.NET and the power of Visual Studio 2005, developers can create pages that users can easily personalize their Ektron CMS400.NET Web site.
Ektron provides four server controls for site personalization:
EktronCatalogPart - when placed inside a Microsoft CatalogZone, it allows site users to choose the type of Ektron CMS400.NET control to be added to a WebPartZone. See Also: EktronCatalogPart Server Control
EktronCommunityCatalogPart - when placed inside a Microsoft CatalogZone, it allows site users to add Discussion Boards (Forums) and Blogs to their Web page. Which Discussion Boards (Forums) and Blogs a site user can add depends on their permissions in Ektron CMS400.NET. See Also: EktronCommunityCatalogPart Server Control
EktronWebPartZone - provides a location for content to be displayed on a Web page. A site user can move content from one EktronWebPartZone to another when they are logged into the site. The EktronWebPartZone is similar to a Microsoft WebPartZone. The difference is in the way each is formatted. The Microsoft WebPartZone is setup to be a generic WebPartZone. The EktronWebPartZone is designed for use specifically with the Ektron CMS400.NET. See Also: EktronWebPartZone Server Control
PersonalizationManager - provides a control that allows site users to personalize their Web page. When personalizing a Web page, site users can add content, move content from WebPartZone to WebPartZone, and Hide content. See Also: PersonalizationManager Server Control
Microsoft WebParts
Since Ektron’s Personalization server controls are built off of the Microsoft WebParts platform, you must add the following Microsoft WebParts to your page for the personalization page to work correctly.
LoginView - the LoginView control allows you to display different information to anonymous and logged-in users. The control displays one of two templates: the AnonymousTemplate or the LoggedInTemplate. In the templates, you can add markup and controls that display information appropriate for anonymous users and authenticated users, respectively.
- Login - the Microsoft Login control displays a user interface for user authentication. The Login control contains text boxes for the user name and password and a check box that allows users to indicate whether they want the server to store their identity using ASP.NET membership and automatically be authenticated the next time they visit the site.
- Login Status - the Microsoft LoginStatus control displays a login link for users who are not authenticated and a logout link for users who are authenticated. The login link takes the user to a login page. The logout link resets the current user's identity to be an anonymous user.
WebPartManager - controls all of the Web parts controls on a Web page. Only one WebPartManager is allowed on each page. The WebPartManager needs to appear first on the page before any other Web Part Controls. See Also: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms366728.aspx
EditorZone - allows users to select content for a control inside a Web part. It also serves as a host for other Editor WebParts:
Important: While you must add an EditorZone to your Web page, the EditorParts listed below are optional. The EditorZone on a Web page with no other EditorParts allows a site user to choose the content for a control that appears in a WebPartZone.
- AppearanceEditorPart - enables site users to customize the look of an EktronWebPartZone at run time, such as width, height and title. See Also: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms366716.aspx
- BehaviorEditorPart - enables site users to customize the behavior of an EktronWebPartZone at run time, such as displaying minimize, close and edit buttons. By default, when an EditorZone is added to a page, EktronWebPartZones display minimize, close and edit buttons. Which buttons appear depend on a user’s privileges in Ektron CMS400.NET. See Also: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms366717.aspx
- LayoutEditorPart - enables site users to customize the layout properties of an EktronWebPartZone at run time, such as selecting between a minimized and normal state. See Also: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms366711.aspx
- PropertyGridEditorPart - enables site user to edit the custom properties associated with a control in an EktronWebPartZones at run time. For example, if a Collection control is added to an EktronWebPartZone, a site user can set the DisplayXslt property for the control.
For additional information on the EditorZone server control, see http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms366516.aspx
CatalogZone - hosts catalog parts that enable site users to choose the types of controls or content displayed in EktronWebPartZones. The following is a list of catalog parts that are used with a CatalogZone:
Important: You must add a CatalogZone and at least one catalog part to your Web page. If you choose, you can add multiple catalog parts.
- EktronCatalogPart - allows users to choose the type of Ektron CMS400.NET control that is added to a WebPartZone. See Also: EktronCatalogPart Server Control
- EktronCommunityCatalogPart - allows site users to choose from any available Discussion Boards and Blogs and add them to a WebPartZone. See Also: EktronCommunityCatalogPart Server Control
- DeclarativeCatalogPart - allows you to create a predefined list of content that site users can select from. See Also: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms227985.aspx
For additional information on the CatalogZone server control, see http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms227557.aspx
