IndooGrid 2.0 Review
Posted by Mary on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 to DotNetNuke, DNN Module Review
For the past month or so, I’ve been working on a project that is data management and reporting in nature. Targeting a DNN-based solution, but not being familiar with all the various modules that are on the market today, I really wasn’t sure which direction to go; purchase a module or write one myself. As I searched, I stumbled upon the IndooGrid from IndooLab in a weekly Snowcovered email newsletter.
What is IndooGrid?
IndooGrid can be used in a wide variety of ways: everything from reporting to data management, photo galleries, forms, and questionnaires, just to name a few. Pulling from your database of choice, the module displays data and allows editing according to your specifications. Here are some of the main options:
- in-line editing
- data import and export
- properties on individual columns such as read-only, visible, format, and custom validations on edit fields
- join database tables for dropdown lists
- execute script on insert, update, and page load
- create tables or views from within the grid or use existing tables and views
- hyperlink ability from within the grid to another page or grid
- customizable sorting, paging, filtering, and record counts
- support of remote connection strings
The above list is far from complete as this module has too many features and options spell out here. A main advantage of IndooGrid is that no stored procedures need to be written as they are built right into the grid.
Installing IndooGrid
This module installs as most other DNN modules via Host > Module Definitions > Install New Module. What’s great about Indoogrid is that you can download a free trial version, which works locally without restrictions. I downloaded the trial, tested the module and participated in the IndooLab forum all before making a purchase decision. Once you are ready to use the module on a “live” site, you simply purchase via a mouse-click and receive a license key.
Documentation
A 157-page manual comes with the module and is also available as a separate pre-purchase download. The manual provides detailed directions for specific tasks. On a down-note, the IndooGrid documentation assumes at least some basic understanding and knowledge of relational databases, HTML and CSS. I come from a SQL/ASP.NET programming background and had no problems with tables, views, joins, and “pulling” the data out the way I wanted, but I had trouble with “little things” in regards to HTML or CSS-related changes. The more you know about these subjects, the easier IndooGrid will be to implement. To balance that statement, if you are setting up a module of this nature, then knowledge of relational databases and HTML and CSS is a certain prerequisite.
Support
Up until recently, support has been a dream and I’ve been receiving answers in the forum within 24 hours. During the past few weeks however, IndooGrid went through some major re-vamping and support has temporarily slowed. Even during this time though, IndooLab kept an open communication channel, which I appreciate very much. Primoz, one of the folks at IndooLab, strikes me as extremely professional in every way. I would also like to note that since my module purchase, I have requested a few additional features, which have all been accounted for in the 2.00.26 release.
Wrap Up
All in all, it’s been a very pleasant experience with IndooGrid and the folks at IndooLab. I highly recommend you take a look at the demos and download the fully functional trial version for further evaluation and testing.
Have you used IndooGrid or other "grid-style" modules? If so, please share in the comments below.
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