When downloading a module, skin object, or skin from the dotnetnuke.dk site, it will be packed in a zip file. The Zip file should be extracted on your local machine, and the zip file contains the following parts:

• Documentation document in PDF format
• End User License Agreement (EULA)
• One or more zip files to upload to your DotNetNuke installation.

These included zip files are packed for direct upload and should not be unpacked on your local system.

Module installation

Modules are packed in a zip file that contains “PA” in the name, normally you don't unpack the archive, all information to install the module is located inside the archive and DotNetNuke knows how to unpack and install the module.

To have security access to upload a module, you must login as the host manager account (default name is host), go to the host menu and select the Module Definitions.

Inside the Module Manager, select the Upload New module at the bottom - or select the same in the action menu, which you enable by pointing the mouse to the edit image (pencil) in the upper left corner and a drop down menu will be displayed. Use the browse button to select the module archive file on your own computer. Press Install New Module link.

The screen will now be full of installation messages, check that no errors are reported and it says Success at the bottom.

Now the module is installed and you can place it on any page just like the build in modules.

Skin object installation

Skin objects are simple DotNetNuke modules that are used by skins to provide special functionality. In the skin you use the skin object using the associated tag [tagname] in the html file. The skin objects are uploaded to your DotNetNuke web site using the same process as the full DotNetNuke modules described above.

Skin installation

Like modules, skins are packed into zip files and the files contain “SKIN” in the name. Again do not unpack the skin zip file; DotNetNuke will handle all the unpacking and installation for you.

Unlike modules, the skins can be uploaded at two different security levels, the host and portal level.

When you upload skins at the host level with the host manager (default username is host), you use the skin manager located in the host menu. The skins will be available to all the portals hosted by the DotNetNuke installation.

When you upload skins at the portal level with the portal manager (default username is admin), you use the skin manager located in the admin menu. The skins will only be available in the portal to which it is uploaded.
When logged in with the right security access level, and you located the right skin manager (host or admin menu), select the Upload Skin link at the bottom - or select the same in the action menu, which you enable by pointing the mouse to the edit image (pencil) in the upper left corner and a drop down menu will be displayed. Use the browse button to select the module archive zip file on your own local computer. Press the Install Skin Package link.

The new skin is now installed and you are able to use it in your portals and pages. You can use a skin for a whole site, by selecting it within the portal site setting, or you can use the skin in a single page within your portal, using the page settings.