DNN Forums

Ask questions about your website to get help learning DNN and help resolve issues.

Upgrading DNN Blog Module

 7 Replies
 1 Subscribed to this topic
 33 Subscribed to this forum
Sort:
Author
Messages
New Around Here
Posts: 7
New Around Here
New Poster
New Poster
Congrats on posting!

I’m currently planning an upgrade of the DNN Blog module as part of a broader effort to move my site to DNN 10.

The site is currently running Blog module version 6.04.00 on DNN 9.6.2 and includes a number of customizations that were added over time. The site also makes use of multiple instances of the Blog module. From what I understand, both the internal structure of the module and the way multiple module instances relate to each other evolved in later 6.x releases.

I’ve also noted that this version still uses the older pattern where the admin/manage ASCX and code-behind files are tightly coupled, and based on release notes it looks like the Cake-build restructuring began around 6.04.02, where those code-behind files were phased out.

Given the scope of changes between 6.04.00 and more recent releases, I’m trying to determine the most sensible upgrade strategy.

My instinct, based on what I’ve seen so far, is to start with a clean install of a newer version and then reapply the necessary customizations.

A few questions I have:

  • Is a clean install followed by selectively reapplying customizations generally the best approach when upgrading from a version like 6.04.00?
  • Is there a recommended way to carry customizations forward incrementally instead, or is that typically more trouble than it’s worth given the changes?
  • Given the use of multiple Blog module instances, are there any specific considerations or pitfalls to be aware of during the upgrade?
  • Is it recommended upgrading directly to the latest release, or is there an intermediate version that works better as an initial step from 6.04.00?
Veteran Member
Posts: 363
Veteran Member
4 Helpful Replier
Helpful Replier
Thanks for being such a helpful replier!
New Poster
New Poster
Congrats on posting!
4 Engaged Reader
Engaged Reader
You are an engaged reader!
2 Avid Reader
Avid Reader
Avid Reader art thou!
2 Most Liked
Most Liked
Congrats, your posts are really liked!

Hi Nick!

You probably already have this link, but in here you'll find the recommended path for upgrading DNN itself. Moving your blog module to the latest version will depend on how you're going to upgrade the DNN platform.

My recommendation will be to start a clean install because the amount of scenarios you might be facing are unknown and this might take you a lot of time (specially with all the customizations you mentioned). 

Now if you want to upgrade the module one version at a time I'll recommend you to read carefull all the release notes for each version before running each upgrade.

I haven't seen any recommended path for upgrading the forums module the onlye recommended path I'm familiar with is the one I shared already on this post.

At last, make sure you get a clean and fresh backup for your website before starting the upgrade process.

Regards.

Advanced Member
Posts: 233
Advanced Member
4 Helpful Replier
Helpful Replier
Thanks for being such a helpful replier!
New Poster
New Poster
Congrats on posting!
4 Engaged Reader
Engaged Reader
You are an engaged reader!
Posted By Marco Alvarado on 12/29/2025 1:12 PM

I haven't seen any recommended path for upgrading the forums module the onlye recommended path I'm familiar with is the one I shared already on this post.

Marco, the original poster is asking about upgrading the blog module not the forums module.

 

New Around Here
Posts: 7
New Around Here
New Poster
New Poster
Congrats on posting!

Thank you so much for your response Marco! Do we know if an old version of the Blog module will break the site when trying to upgrade it? For example, let's say I decide to just do a fresh install of the newest version of the Blog module on DNN 10. Will I need to remove any v6.4 Blog module reference I have on the site? Or can I upgrade to DNN 10 with v6.4 of the Blog module then install the latest version of the Blog module once the upgrade to DNN 10 is complete? Or will I have to incrementally upgrade v6.4 of the Blog module to be compatible with DNN 9.13 and then upgrade to the latest version of the Blog module to be compatible with DNN 10?

Veteran Member
Posts: 838
Veteran Member
3 Helpful Replier
Helpful Replier
Thanks for being such a helpful replier!
New Poster
New Poster
Congrats on posting!

Hi Nick

I recommend 2 things:

  1. Create a vanilla site on your local machine using NVQuicksite. In 15 minutes, you know if the target blog module version is compatible with the target DNN version.
  2. Before upgrading, create a clone for staging/accept. On that environment, upgrade the modules to the latest and then upgrade DNN. Some vendors / suppliers have documentation in place stating whether their modules are compatible or not.

Cheers

Tycho

New Around Here
Posts: 7
New Around Here
New Poster
New Poster
Congrats on posting!
Posted By Tycho de Waard (SU) on 12/29/2025 3:40 PM

Hi Nick

I recommend 2 things:

  1. Create a vanilla site on your local machine using NVQuicksite. In 15 minutes, you know if the target blog module version is compatible with the target DNN version.
  2. Before upgrading, create a clone for staging/accept. On that environment, upgrade the modules to the latest and then upgrade DNN. Some vendors / suppliers have documentation in place stating whether their modules are compatible or not.

Cheers

Tycho

Hi Tycho, 

Thanks for your response! I actually tested with NVQuickSite which led me here to the forum to ask these questions since v6.4 of the Blog module was throwing a couple of compatibility errors when trying to place the module in DNN 10.

But you're basically saying to test the Blog upgrade in a staging evironment to see what happens? I also assume I could delete the old module and just install the newer version rather than bothering with any form of Blog module upgrade? At this point I think the customizations I made will have to be re-made given how different v6.7 is to v6.4 of the blog module. Not sure what the simplest course of action would be given my requirements.

Thanks again,

Nick

 

 

Veteran Member
Posts: 363
Veteran Member
4 Helpful Replier
Helpful Replier
Thanks for being such a helpful replier!
New Poster
New Poster
Congrats on posting!
4 Engaged Reader
Engaged Reader
You are an engaged reader!
2 Avid Reader
Avid Reader
Avid Reader art thou!
2 Most Liked
Most Liked
Congrats, your posts are really liked!
Posted By johnhenley on 12/29/2025 12:30 PM
Posted By Marco Alvarado on 12/29/2025 1:12 PM

I haven't seen any recommended path for upgrading the forums module the onlye recommended path I'm familiar with is the one I shared already on this post.

Marco, the original poster is asking about upgrading the blog module not the forums module.

 

Two in a row... too much forms module for me, now my brain thinks everybody talks about this. I apologize, my bad.

 

New Around Here
Posts: 1
New Around Here
New Member
New Member
You are a new member!
Before upgrading, create a clone for staging/accept. On that environment, upgrade the modules to the latest and then upgrade DNN. Some vendors / suppliers have documentation in place stating whether their modules are compatible or not.


Agreed, before initiating upgrade on Live site make a clone to test it first. 

 

These Forums are for the discussion of the open source CMS DNN platform and ecosystem.

For the benefit of the community and to protect the integrity of the ecosystem, please observe the following posting guidelines:

  1. If you have (suspected) security issues, please DO NOT post them in the forums but instead follow the official DNN security policy
  2. No Advertising. This includes the promotion of commercial and non-commercial products or services which are not directly related to DNN.
  3. No vendor trolling / poaching. If someone posts about a vendor issue, allow the vendor or other customers to respond. Any post that looks like trolling / poaching will be removed.
  4. Discussion or promotion of DNN Platform product releases under a different brand name are strictly prohibited.
  5. No Flaming or Trolling.
  6. No Profanity, Racism, or Prejudice.
  7. Site Moderators have the final word on approving / removing a thread or post or comment.
  8. English language posting only, please.

Would you like to help us?

Awesome! Simply post in the forums using the link below and we'll get you started.

Get Involved