Wow, where to begin? I am trying to evaluate the ASPxScheduler to determine if I want to use it in a project. I installed the trial (8.2.2) just fine but whenever I add the scheduler control to a web page I get 2 errors:

1. ASPxScheduler1 - value cannot be null. Parameter name: input
2. The type or namespace name 'ASPxEditors' does not exist in the namespace 'DevExpress.Web' (are you missing an assembly reference?)    File:AppointmentForm.ascx.cs

So I add a reference to "DevExpress.Web.ASPxEditors.v8.2" (why would I have to do this?) and I get 7 new errors:

1. 'DevExpress.Web.ASPxClasses.ASPxDataWebControl' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'DevExpress.Web.v8.2, Version=8.2.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9b171c9fd64da1d1'.
2. 'DevExpress.Web.ASPxClasses.Internal.IMasterControl' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'DevExpress.Web.v8.2, Version=8.2.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9b171c9fd64da1d1'.
3. 'DevExpress.Web.ASPxClasses.Internal.IRequiresLoadPostDataControl' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'DevExpress.Web.v8.2, Version=8.2.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9b171c9fd64da1d1'.
4. 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.Commands.IInnerSchedulerCommandTarget' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.v8.2.Core, Version=8.2.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9b171c9fd64da1d1'.
5. 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.Commands.ISchedulerCommandTarget' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.v8.2.Core, Version=8.2.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9b171c9fd64da1d1'.
6. 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.Native.IInnerSchedulerControlOwner' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.v8.2.Core, Version=8.2.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9b171c9fd64da1d1'.
7. 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.Native.ISupportAppointmentEdit' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'DevExpress.XtraScheduler.v8.2.Core, Version=8.2.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9b171c9fd64da1d1'.

I really don't want to hunt down every reference that is needed just to add a custom control to a web page. Is this normal for DX? Is this a known bug? Am I just missing something incredibly obvious?

I am looking to use the scheduler in a smaller project right now with an eye on picking up an entire suite for a large project that I have coming up very soon. I have it narrowed down to DX and Telerik. By just reviewing the online demos for each product I was leaning toward DX, but I can't even add the control to a page.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rip Lakish:

Is this normal for DX?

I can honestly say that nothing even remotely like this has happened to me. I have only use DX for a year, so perhaps old timers will be familiar with the symptoms.

 Hey Rip - take a look at this issue numer http://www.devexpress.com/Support/Center/p/B96177.aspx

I had exactly the same problems with 8.2.2 and DevEx sent me this workaround; looks like a fullsized kludge but it will get you started so that you can evaluate further.  This is a major exception to the rule - DevEx products have always worked direct out of the box, you can programme with full confidence, but this is a really strange one!

Here's their workaround:

Hello Rip,

sorry for the inconvenience. You can download the updated installation package here:

http://downloads.devexpress.com/Share/DXP/080818/DXperience-8.2.2.exe

Thanks, Brian.
R&D, .NET Team, Developer Express Inc.
P.S. If you wish to receive direct assistance from our Support Team, use Support Center at http://www.devexpress.com/Support/Center

Thanks for the help guys.

Brian: Is this package different than the DX 8.2.2 that I downloaded yesterday?

The new version didn't work and I got similar results like the previous version I installed. It appears that 2 things are happening. The first is that when I add the control to the form, not all of the references are being added (ie. DevExpress.Web.ASPxEditors.v8.2, DevExpress.Web.v8.2). Secondly, after I added these 2 references I get errors related to editor controls on the auto-generated ASPxSchedulerForms.

In case it matters I am using Visual Studio 2005, I created the project as an ASP.NET Ajax Enabled Web Application, and I am using Visual Studio's built-in web server. The ASPxScheduler demo in the Demo-Center works, but it appears to be using IIS. Also, when I installed DX I unchecked everything except the ASPxScheduler control.

 It appears that you have previous version assemblies uninstalled. Please check the GAC, Temporary ASP.NET Files folder and your project paths for the DevExpress assemblies, delete them if found and perform a clean install of the latest version available via the link in my previous post.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks, Brian.
R&D, .NET Team, Developer Express Inc.

Brian,

I did all of that before when I downloaded the new version that you linked for me. However, I went through it again just in case and I still get the error. I did notice that there is an older version (6.3) of the winform Xtra* assemblies when I looked in the .NET Framework utility under Control Panel. I did not install these, they are part of the commercial database application Toad for MySQL by Quest Software.

Nevermind, I was getting the errors, but now they are gone. Strange. Thanks Brian for your help.

And again I spoke too soon.

The schedule control now appears in design mode, but the web app still doesn't compile. I've created some test projects and the issue seems to lie with the fact that I created my project as a Web Application Project (WAP) instead of as a Web Site. When I create the test site as a Web Site, the site runs fine. However, when I create a site as WAP none of the controls in ASPxSchedulerForms are recognized. The errors that are generated are "is not a known element" or "does not exist in the current context". Could this be because WAP automatically assigns a namespace to all new pages added to the project?

Error messages indicate that designer files for the ASPxScheduler forms are missing or they do not compile. In the Solution Explorer, right-click the page (or folder) name and click Convert to Web Application, if available,  to create a .designer.cs file(s). Also you can delete the folder DevExpress containing forms and switch to the design view - this folder should be re-created automatically along with its content.

Please let us know whether this helps.

Thanks, Brian.
R&D, .NET Team, Developer Express Inc.

Thanks Brian, that did the trick