How to install AJAX Control Toolkit
To install AJAX Control Toolkit, first of all download it from the links provided in the previous article ASP.Net AJAX Control Toolkit. Now after downloading the zip file, follow these steps:
1. Create a folder AJAX Control Toolkit at path C:\Program Files\Microsoft ASP.NET\ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions or the drive where you have installed the Windows on PC.
2. Then extract the files of downloaded Control Toolkit .zip inside new created folder.
3. You will get the following folders and files from the extracted items:
- AjaxControlExtender
- AjaxControlToolkit
- Binaries
- SampleWebSite
- TemplateVSI
- ToolkitTests
- AjaxControlToolkit.sln [Visual Studio Solution file]
4. Double click on AjaxControlToolkit.sln solution file to open it in Visual Studio 2005. It will show a security warning with two project load options:
- Load project for browsing
- Load project normally
5. Select load project normally and click ok.
6. After loading the solution it will display AJAXControlToolkit, SampleWebSite, ToolKitTests, TemplateVSI in the solution explorer.
Right click on TemplateVSI and click build. After successful compile and build go to the path X: or C:\Program Files\Microsoft ASP.NET\ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions\AJAX Control Toolkit\TemplateVSI\bin
At this path you will get the fresh build of AjaxControlExtender.vsi
7. Next Right click on SampleWebSite in the solution explorer and Build Web Site to get the fresh copy of AjaxControlToolkit.dll. You will get the fresh AjaxControlToolkit.dll at:
X: or C:\Program Files\Microsoft ASP.NET\ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions\AJAX Control Toolkit\SampleWebSite\Bin
Note: You can see all the Control Toolkit components included in this framework by right clicking on above SampleWebSite in solution explorer --> select view in browser. It will show the sample web site showing the demo of all AJAX control toolkit components.
8. Now you are ready to add the Control Toolkit in your Visual Studio 2005. First of all go to TemplateVSI bin folder discussed in step 6 and run AjaxControlExtender.vsi. This installer will install the ASP.Net web template that will enable you to create AJAX Control Toolkit Web Site.
9. After installing AjaxControlExtender.vsi, open the Visual Studio 2005 and go for New Web Site, there you will see a new My Template item as AJAX Control Toolkit Web Site, select it and create a new website.
How to include AJAX Control ToolKit Components in Toolbox
It’s also simple to add Toolkit on Visual Studio Toolbox. In the above new AJAX Control Toolkit Web Site, move your mouse on Controls Toolbox at right side and create a new Tab with name AJAX Toolkit. Then right click under the AJAX Toolkit tab and select choose items, this will open Choose Toolbox Items dialog box. Click on browse button at bottom and select the AJAXControlToolkit.dll file at this path: X: or C:\Program Files\Microsoft ASP.NET\ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions\AJAX Control Toolkit\SampleWebSite\Bin
It will populate the AJAX controls into the AJAX Toolkit tab.
Continue to next tutorial: AJAX Toolkit Accordion Control Extender to learn how to display expand-collapse type panels.
