Using ExtJS in ASP.NET

Question

I don’t have advanced knowledge in JavaScript, and I am trying to learn how to use ExtJS framework in ASP.NET (C# or VB.NET) environment. I’ve got couple of samples, but was unable get the project working. Can anyone point in the right direction such as website or book so I can go a read up about the ExtJS in more details and how I can include this into my website?

Answer 1

Any particular reason you've settled on ExtJS out of all the different frameworks out there? If not, since you're using ASP.Net I recommend jQuery instead as it's going to be officially supported by Microsoft soon.

Answer 2

I suppose you've been all through the samples at http://extjs.com/deploy/dev/examples/samples.html

You really need to read this entire post http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001163.html to decide if ExtJS is a better choice.

If you decide to stick with ExtJS, you may find http://www.codeplex.com/ExtJsExtenderControl useful.

Answer 3

Thank you all for your responses. I am in process of switching jobs and the company that I am going to heavily using ExtJS, so I’ve decided to experiment with it by including it in my testing site to be familiar with ExtJS before I start a new job. Also, learning something new excite me since programming is my hobby and a job at the same time.

Answer 4

Mike,

The best example site out there is http://examples.extjs.eu/. Each example has a link for viewing HTML, javascript and CSS separately.

We are successfully integrating ExtJS with the ASP.NET MVC framework. A separate post detailing how to put everything together is probably in order.

Answer 5

When I was learning to incorporate Ext JS with ASP.NET at my previous position, I found the best way to learn it (aside from the documentation and examples) was just going thru the forums and picking up up sample code here and there from user posts.

Once you've learned the nuances of the client API (and their online documentation and forums have been excellent in this regard), it's then just a simple matter of having your ASP.NET code returning the correct JSON for Ext JS to consume.

I have a rather outdated ASP.NET MVC / Ext JS sample project that probably won't compile anymore (it was built with an early preview release of MVC) but you can probably still go thru the code to see how Ext JS interacts with the server side code.

Ext JS and ASP.NET MVC Sample Project

Answer 6

Take a look at the Script# project.

This, at build time, generates JS from your c#.

Take a looksie here:

http://projects.nikhilk.net/ScriptSharp/

This is particularly good for writing desktop like applications.

Answer 7

Also see http://www.coolite.com/ (Just providing the link and in no way endorsing it, as I haven't really seen it in action.)

Answer 8

i wrote a post on using extjs grid with asp.net mvc. although you are not planning to use ext on mvc fm. i think other details like how to render it using javascript, parsing parameters in requests sent by the grid, json serialization...etc will be relavant and helpful to you.

Answer 9

I worked on a project that was using ExtJS heavily. I don't really know what king of problems do you actually have but we used a great combination of ExtJS, Asp.net, WCF for ExtJS Ajax calls to the server. Worked like a charm. But we abandoned the regular asp.net control usage almost completely, because most of the UI was build in ExtJS. We also used our own layout and controls with a different look and feel than ExtJS. So it didn't really look like an ExtJS app.

You could get by with regular WebMethods (as in Web Services) as well.

You will definitelly benefit a lot by using tools like Firebug and Fiddler to debug your javascript code and to examine all messages going back and forth between client and server.

Getting examples is better and better every day, since more and more people are using ExtJS in combination with various technologies. Asp.net as well.

Answer 10

The best ASP.Net MVC Tag Library for the popular ExtJS framework. Website:http://www.mvcnext.com

MVCnExt simplifies ExtJs for ASP.Net MVC.

Makes it easier for to integrate ExtJs compoments for ASP.Net MVC.

Answer 11

And this one: http://extaspnet.codeplex.com/

Answer 12

Here you will find a Guide on how to use ExtJS Grids with an ASP.NET MVC backend http://abreakorcontinue.blogspot.com/2010/05/extjs-grid-with-aspnet-mvc-backend.html