Technical Interview Questions & Answers: Installing ASP.NET AJAX

Introduction

This topic describes how to install Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX. It also describes how to install the optional ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Futures CTP and optional ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit.

ASP.NET AJAX

ASP.NET AJAX enables you to create dynamic Web pages that support partial-page updates. It includes Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions, which is a server framework, and the Microsoft AJAX Library, which consists of client script that runs on the browser.

note

The installation process installs the ASP.NET AJAX assembly (System.Web.Extensions.dll) in the global assembly cache (GAC). Do not include the assembly in the Bin folder of your AJAX-enabled Web site.

You can install and use ASP.NET AJAX with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or Microsoft Visual Web Developer Express Edition. However, you do not require Visual Studio 2005 to use ASP.NET AJAX to create ASP.NET Web applications.

You can install and use the Microsoft AJAX Library without the .NET Framework. You can also install it on non-Windows environments to create client-based Web applications for any browser that supports ECMAScript (JavaScript).

ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Futures CTP

The CTP release is community supported. The features in the CTP release might be added to the supported features in future versions of ASP.NET AJAX. The CTP release is compatible with ASP.NET AJAX.

ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit

The ASP.NET Control Toolkit provides features that extend functionality of ASP.NET AJAX version 1.0. These features enhance the depth and breadth of the platform and include new ideas and concepts. The ASP.NET Control Toolkit is community supported and community driven.

System Requirements for Installation

Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX requires the following software.

Supported Operating Systems

Windows Server 2003
Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Professional
Windows Vista
Any Windows operating system version (including Windows 2000) that supports the Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0. Note that support will be limited to the terms of support for that platform.

Required Software

The .NET Framework 2.0 or version 3.0.
Internet Explorer 5.01 or later.

Optional Software

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Web Developer Express Edition

Installing Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX

Follow these steps to install ASP.NET AJAX.

To install Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX

Make sure that you are logged in with an account that has Administrator rights.

If your account does not have Administrator rights, the installation process displays the error "The system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation."
Uninstall any earlier versions of ASP.NET AJAX. If the installation process finds an earlier version on your computer, it will stop.

You can remove earlier versions with the Add or Remove Programs application in Control Panel.
Download the ASPAJAXExtSetup.msi installation package from the ASP.NET AJAX Downloads Web site.
To install ASP.NET AJAX from the Windows interface, double-click ASPAJAXExtSetup.msi in Windows Explorer.

By default, the .msi file is installed in the following location:
```
drive:\..\Program Files\Microsoft ASP.NET\ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions\v1.0.nnnn.
```
To install ASP.NET AJAX from the command line, execute the following command at a command prompt:
```
msiexec /i ASPAJAXExtSetup.msi [/q] [/log <log file name>] [INSTALLDIR=<installation path>]
```
Specify the /q option to perform the installation without user prompts. You can optionally provide an installation path and a file name for logging. If you do not provide an installation path, the default installation path is used.
If you want to add the ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Futures CTP, download and install it from the ASP.NET AJAX Downloads Web site.
If you want to add the ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit, download and install it from ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit Web site.

Using ASP.NET AJAX with Visual Studio

If you have Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 installed on your computer, the installation process installs templates for AJAX-enabled Web site projects. It also installs an assembly (AJAXExtensionToolbox.dll) that extends the Visual Studio toolbox. When you create a new AJAX-enabled Web site by using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, the template automatically includes the Web.config file that includes the elements required for ASP.NET AJAX components.

To add ASP.NET AJAX components to an existing site, modify the Web.config file in the Web application by using the configuration values from the sample Web.config file in the installation path. For more information about ASP.NET AJAX configuration values, see Configuring ASP.NET AJAX.

Using ASP.NET AJAX Without Visual Studio

If Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 is installed on a computer without Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Web Developer Express Edition, the ASP.NET AJAX installation process adds the System.Web.Extensions.dll assembly that contains server components to the global assembly cache. It also copies a sample Web.config file to the installation path. It does not install templates for AJAX-enabled Web site projects or install the assembly for extending the Visual Studio toolbox.

You can use ASP.NET AJAX in a Web application by adding the sample Web.config file from the installation folder to the Web site directory. You can also modify the Web.config file in an existing Web application by using the configuration values from the sample Web.config file. For more information about the ASP.NET AJAX configuration values, see Configuring ASP.NET AJAX.

Installing the Microsoft AJAX Library on Non-Windows Environments

You do not have to build a Web site on a Windows-based environment to use the client framework provided by the Microsoft AJAX Library. The Microsoft AJAX Library consists of JavaScript files and will work with any browsers that can run JavaScript code.