Ajax Control Toolkit - Controls Disabled in Tool Box

Tags: Ajax Control Toolkit

Monday, October 27, 2008 2:49:00 PM

Having my PC broken, I had to work on another machine. I downloaded Visual Web Express and Ajax Control Toolkit. I installed the toolkit as described by Nannette. But nothing appeared on my toolbox. Thinking that I might have missed something, I tried to repeat the process. When I was giving the name during the tab creation step, VWD responded by saying that

Tab name 'Ajax Control Toolkit' already exists.

I was surprised to know that the tab has been successfully created but it was not dislayed. Playing around with different options, I clicked 'Show All' option. This option comes when you right click on the empty area of general tab. Checking this option showed me a number of tabs which I haven't seen earlier.

This also showed me my 'Ajax Control Toolkit' tab. But all the options (controls) in this tab disabled (grayed out). I had code view of a aspx page opened on the screen. Thinking that these might get active on the design view, I switched to it. But this did not worked.

Then I restart VWD and opened the website again. But still these are grayed out. Finally I shut down the PC calling it a day. Next day, when I opened the project again, all ajax tab were there and all controls were enabled.

So, if you are also facing the same error, do the following.

  1. Restart Visual Web Express. If it does not work,
  2. Restart the Pc.

I also found one more solution somewhere on the net later on. This is described below:

  1. Close VWb and any other express product installed running such as Visual C# EE.
  2. Open windows explorer and navigate to the
    'C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Application Data\Microsoft\VWDExpress\9.0'
    folder. You might have to enable 'Show Hidden Files' under the folder options' View tab.
  3. Delete any .pdb file, you found in this folder.
  4. Start VWD and reinstall the ACT as described here.

By the way, In one of the comments on nannette blog, skain said,

"Am I the only one who thinks it is utterly ridiculous that we're supposed to use a dll from the WebSite project as the main reference for the toolkit?  Why isn't this in a separate class library project?"

skain, I also agree with you. I think that there should be some installer package that will do all this on a single click.

 

 

 

11 Comments

  • todev said

    Nice post. Installing ACT is a real hurdle. I agree with you that they should have an installer like msi for ACT. But I surprise why don't they bundle this with VS or VWD itself. Hope this will be an integrated part of VS 2010.

  • yochevedd said

    I have also the same problem with the ajax control toolkit, which are not shown untill I press the 'show all' and then- it disabled. I tried to do your resolution, but the folder VWDExpress in 'C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\VWDExpress\9.0' doesn't exist in my computer. do you have an idea for me?

  • yochevedd said

    I have got the resolution!!! Just have to change the Target Franework to framework 3.5. right click on the solution-> properties pages->choose Build->change the Target framework to 3.5. That's it! (Dont forget to add the dll-ajaxControlToolKit if needs.)

  • baskar said

    hi friends i have another problem that when i use the ajax control of tab container or modelpopupextender it will show in the design page but its not appear in the browser pls help me and one think this two controls only i was used. what about other control i dont know.

  • Scott said

    I had this hidden toolbox issue in vwd 2010 express and found that I needed to changed the target .net framework from 2.0 to at least 3.5 to get the ajax control toolkit to be enabled. In VWD 2010 Express: 1. On the menu bar goto Website>>Start Options 2. Select Build on the left 3. Modify Target Framework on the right.

  • Aguirre Arellano said

    i had also encountered this scenario. at first, i thought that it is all about the ownership of the dll library of ACT in Windows 7 because i am not using admin account. But when i change the framework of my project from 2.0 to 3.5 and restart the VS2008, the toolkit appear and it is not disabled anymore. Just sharing my findings. Hope it help! :)

  • kartheek said

    I had this hidden toolbox issue in vwd 2010 express and found that I needed to changed the target .net framework from 2.0 to at least 4.0 to get the ajax control toolkit to be enabled. In VWD 2010 Express: 1. On the menu bar goto Website>>Start Options 2. Select Build on the left 3. Modify Target Framework on the right.

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