DNN design and structured content platform
ACME Skin System II
Build polished DNN websites from more than 100 ready-to-use page designs, then manage them safely with structured 2sxc content, visual navigation tools, data-driven Razor views, and review-first AI assistance.
More than a visual theme
What makes ACME Skin System II different?
Traditional DNN skins provide a page shell and leave every project to assemble its own layouts, navigation, content model, and editing workflow. ACME Skin System II brings those layers together while preserving the normal DNN page tree, permissions, modules, and content panes.
| Capability | Traditional DNN skin | ACME Skin System II |
|---|
| Design library |
Usually a small number of fixed page layouts. |
100+ coordinated premium designs for corporate, SaaS, commerce, landing, community, portfolio, and specialist sites. |
| Content editing |
Large raw HTML documents are easy to damage during routine edits. |
Text, links, images, lists, and repeated items are stored as structured 2sxc fields. |
| Layout changes |
A new presentation often requires rebuilding HTML and re-entering content. |
Change view switches compatible components among curated layouts while retaining their data. |
| Live business data |
Every SQL or API integration starts as a separate custom page. |
Developers can retain the approved ACME presentation and bind it to existing SQL tables, database views, APIs, VisualQuery, or 2sxc entities. |
| Navigation |
Default dropdown output or hand-maintained templates. |
Standard dropdowns and advanced MegaMenus are managed together in the visual Menu Builder. |
| AI assistance |
Content tasks happen outside the page workflow. |
AI prepares scoped, reviewable proposals for content, media, accessibility, SEO, and real DNN menu links without rewriting the skin. |
One coordinated system
Key capabilities
Structured 2sxc content
Editors work with clear forms, image and link pickers, repeatable items, and native edit toolbars instead of touching fragile page markup.
Reusable component views
Hero, Footer, Testimonial, Pricing, FAQ, Events, Gallery, and other components share compatible data models with curated display views.
Data-driven Razor
Developers can map an established component to an application-owned data source while preserving its markup, CSS, responsive behavior, and empty state.
Menu and MegaMenu Builder
Arrange labels, descriptions, links, thumbnails, utility navigation, responsive behavior, and supported submenu layouts from an admin-only workspace.
Review-first AI Content
Prepare focused changes for a page, module, field, approved media item, accessibility task, or SEO value. Nothing is applied until an authorized editor confirms it.
DNN-native extensibility
Continue placing built-in and third-party DNN modules in the supplied panes. ACME enhances DNN rather than replacing its module architecture.
Navigation without template surgery
Standard menus and advanced MegaMenus
- Standard dropdown, full-width MegaMenu, compact dropdown, and simple-list modes.
- Fixed-width or full-width submenu containers with reusable content layouts.
- Image-card, service, commerce, news, and design-index submenu presentations.
- A live inventory of real DNN pages, including unused pages that can be added to the selected submenu.
- AI-assisted link auditing that replaces placeholder links with reviewable matches to real DNN pages.
- Portal-aware configuration, version history, review, and explicit save controls.
Designed for new and established portals
Upgrade without abandoning DNN
ACME includes fresh layouts for new sites and compatibility layouts for portals using Xcillion or Aperture pane structures. Existing DNN modules can remain in their assigned panes while the portal adopts the new header, navigation, design system, and structured content workflow.
The package also includes the CISS navigation integration, ACME-compatible containers, semantic server-rendered navigation, responsive behavior, lazy-loaded media, and scoped styles intended to coexist with existing DNN modules.
36 selected live previews from the 100+ design library
Each thumbnail opens a live page on dnndefender.com/acmecorp. Use these previews as a starting point, then create the required routes with Create sample pages and edit their structured content in place.
A predictable deployment path
Installation and first use
- Install the supported 2sxc package through Settings > Extensions > Install Extension. This provides the structured content and Razor application layer used by ACME pages.
- Install CISS SideMenu using the matching
CISS.SideMenu_xx.xx.xx_Install.zip package. It provides the navigation runtime and Menu Builder services.
- Install ACME Skin System II with
ACMESKIN_Install.zip. Review the DNN installation report before continuing.
- Choose the starting layout in Settings > Site Settings > Appearance:
AcmeSkin/default.ascx - the complete ACME layout for new sites and new page builds.AcmeSkin/xcillion-compat.ascx - a compatibility layout for portals using Xcillion pane assignments.AcmeSkin/aperture-compat.ascx - a compatibility layout for portals using Aperture pane assignments.
- Create only the pages you need - open the Menu Builder, select Create sample pages, choose designs from the catalog, and review the progress and final DNN paths.
- Edit structured content - use the native 2sxc toolbars to update fields and repeated items, or use Change view to select another compatible presentation.
- Build navigation - connect menu items to real DNN pages, select standard or MegaMenu layouts, review the draft, and save the published configuration.
Open and maintainable
What the system includes
- ACME skin layouts and compatibility layouts for established DNN portals.
- More than 100 page-design routes available through Create sample pages.
- Structured 2sxc components with multiple curated views.
- CISS standard navigation, MegaMenu runtime, and visual Menu Builder.
- AI Content and AI Menu Assistant with provider configuration and review controls.
- Source-level Razor and CSS customization for developers who need deeper integration.
Requirements
- DNN Platform 9.4.0 or higher (DNN 10.x fully supported)
- SQL Server (Express or higher)
- A supported 2sxc for DNN release
- The matching CISS SideMenu release installed before ACME Skin System II
Live demo
https://dnndefender.com/acmecorp
