Hello hello.
I am writing to ask about one of the features that Joomla 2.5 now has and that is support for Microsoft SQL servers.

Currently, I have 3 sites on the DotNetNuke (DNN) platform. I've been following your videos and have been interested in transitioning to Joomla at some point over the last few years.

How will this new support in Joomla 2.5 (for Microsoft SQL servers) now benefit me and my sites? I think that Joomla will be better for me to use, so wondering if I can transition easily enough, or would I need to completely redesign the site with a new skin etc. since Joomla and DNN are different?

One of the main reasons I've been wanting to use Joomla instead as an alternative Content Management System is because of the cost associated with using Microsoft SQL servers. Linux ones are cheaper because there is far more competition with them, being the server of choice. I can only imagine that Joomla is also less glitchy than my version of DNN, as well as the ease of use of plugins and extensions, which I expect to benefit from.

Thanks!
Guy.

Sorry but the short answer is "this is no help at all".


The long answer is ...

The database that Joomla uses, until now, has been MySQL. This, along with the other underlying software (Linux, Apache and PHP) is open source. Joomla HAS been able to be hosted on Windows IIS, but it still required the use of the MySQL database, which can happily be deployed on IIS.

Microsoft has shown an interest in Joomla. I don't know what has been going on behind the scenes, but the latest version of Joomla, 2.5, can now store the data using SQL Server or MySQL. Some developers prefer SQL Server and my guess is that Microsoft will start to promote Joomla, as it now plays nicely with the Microsoft database. However I strongly doubt that the code will ever be ported to ASP.Net as that is an immensely more difficult task. As such, it will continue to run using PHP, which also can play nicely on Windows.

But your situation is effectively the opposite. DNN is executed using ASP.Net. Data is stored in MS SQL Server databases (although I think you can use the free Express version). The database structure is completely different. The code is completely different. As such there is no way to migrate a DNN site to a Joomla site. You're going to have to start from scratch. You could however take much of the design you have and find an experienced Joomla developer to create a Joomla version (subject to your template license - if you're using a commercial DNN template, the developer might not like you creating a Joomla version).

I have some experience with DNN so I know where you're coming from. I used versions 1 and 2 and found them to be a memory hog as well as clumsy to use. I then tried Umbraco which is a better free solution and then used Kentico which is a commercial ASP.Net solution. But I needed extra help to deploy sites and the exercise became expensive. So I moved to Joomla because it is cheaper to host, easier to manage myself, and has THOUSANDS of extensions.

Hope that helps.

Thanks so much Richard!
There's some insight that I've never had before; some things I hadn't known.

In terms of recreating the skin/theme in Joomla, how hard is that process or what kind of costing would I be looking at do you think?
I've thought of going with a new skin anyway, but it will be worth knowing the potential costs for that as something to consider. There might be benefits of a site looking exactly the same. It's not an over-complicated site, if that helps.

But also, I don't think it would be a problem for the developer.. I searched them out on the site where we bought the skin initially and they weren't on there anymore. Bought the skin about 6 years ago now...

Cheers again mate,
Guy.

Guy

There are literally thousands of free Joomla 'skins' available and many commercial examples for sale - although you'd better get used to calling them templates!

There's also a program available called Artisteer (www.artisteer.com) for the creation of templates - and not just for Joomla - it'll handle Wordpress, Drupal, Blogger as well as DNN. It costs about $US140 from memory - less than you'd pay to get a copy made for you I would have thought.

Joomla takes some getting to know - especially if you have to drop habits learned elsewhere, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty good.

You will search for an awful long time to find a better training resource than this site - and probably come up short then.

Have a crack at making a site or two - download Joomla and run it locally on WAMP or XAMPP and follow the Basics videos step by step. They are an excellent and comprehensive guide - and no Richard doesn't have me on commission!

Good luck

Ian

Guy Mansbridge wrote:

Like anything, not hard if you know what you're doing. Depends on the complexity of the template. Find someone at oDesk. Might only be a couple of hundred dollars.

Guy Mansbridge wrote:

If it is 6 years old then it is time for a revamp. For the cost of a couple of cartons of beer, you can get an excellent commercial template that will give the site a fresh look and help to get you up and running quickly.