Compare .NET calendars. Experience first acquaintance

Online planners are good because they allow you to access your calendar from any device. You do not have to worry about losing data in case of problems with a computer or a smartphone or sync schedules between devices. However, the number of tools for the creation of such schedulers can cause confusion. There JavaScript calendar, .NET calendars.

Calendars can be a third-party plug-ins for popular frameworks, or one of the components of these frameworks. Available as stand-alone, and calendars with the ability to integrate with other products. The purpose of this article - to consider four different .NET components to help determine which of them should pay attention to and what is the best for users of different levels.

Here is the list of applicants for today:

- DayPilot ASP.NET Event Calendar

- DHTMLX Scheduler .NET

- Devexpress ASP.NET Scheduler

- Telerik .NET Scheduler

For comparison, we will create a basic calendar, simultaneously paying attention to how good records and see what possibilities it offers and how it looks. Since the process of creating such an application as a whole passes the same for each of the instruments (creation of the calendar database to store events and linking them together), in the article, we will not give the sample code. Instead, pay attention to how easy it is to create a basic application for the first time with the use of documentation.

Let's get started.

DayPilot ASP.NET Event Calendar

DayPilot offers us some tools to manage the schedule:

- ASP.NET Event Calendar, a calendar of events that allows you to plan your day on the clock:

- ASP.NET Monthly Calendar, a calendar of events with the scale of a few months. Suitable for longer planning processes:


- ASP.NET Scheduler, which is ideal for group events in several categories or resources:


- ASP.NET Gantt Chart helps to build a Gantt chart:

Since the last two components are fairly specific tools, we will look for something more general, namely ASP.NET Event Calendar.

Key features:

Integrated Message Bar;

Using a drag-and-drop to change the date and duration of the event;

Export. Supported formats: BMP, PNG, GIF, JPG;

Customize the appearance of the calendar and events;

Localization.

A full list of features can be found on this page.

Try this calendar can be in on the demo page.

The site contains a set of quite DayPilot runaway tutorials available at this address: www.daypilot.org/tutorials. There you can find a guide to create, export and configuration of available components. Also, there are some practical examples. For example, an application for reservation of tables in the restaurant.

But since we are interested in the basic calendar, we need this manual page here. Creating an application is divided into steps: the creation of the project in Visual Studio, create a database, loading data from the database, etc. Available code in C # and VB.NET. The impatient can immediately download the source code here.

After completing all the steps we can test the basic calendar:

Minimalist application not happy abundance of available options. Create an event can be moved on the calendar grid. It was added to the database during the creation of the application. The ability to add new events there is no default. To add to this, and other functions, you have to immerse yourself in the documentation. I would also like to note that this calendar is not possible to change the scale. Thus, in order to be able to plan the events of a few days, you will have to use the Monthly Calendar.

The good news is the availability of open-source version of the calendar with a reduced set of features.

Price:

DayPilot offers several solutions. Starting from the free version DayPilot Lite, finishing with commercial versions of the components. Version DayPilot Pro Web Edition for one developer with the ability to create a single application at the time of this writing will cost you $ 499. Component version for unlimited number of developers and an unlimited number of projects will cost in the $ 2,499. Also available unrestricted commercial license for educational purposes, which costs $ 999. For the opportunity to create a SaaS-applications (DayPilot Pro SaaS Edition) or as part of a binary redistribution application (DayPilot Pro OEM) asking from $ 999 to $ 4999. Each version is also available the opportunity to receive updates for 12 months.

So move on.

DHTMLX Scheduler .NET

DHTMLX Scheduler .NET is another stand-alone tool for creating a scheduler. You can see a demo page to imagine what you can create with it.

List of main features:

The ability to choose between several types available: Decade view, Grid view, Year view;

Recurring events;

Drag-and-drop interface;

Support for touch screens;

Localization;

Customizable appearance;

Integration with Google Maps and Google Calendar.

And much more. A fairly detailed list of all available features available on this page.

There are several ways by which you can set the calendar. You can download a package with the necessary files or install a calendar using NuGet or Package Manager Console. To help with the installation can this man page.

Now let's talk about the documentation. Since DHTMLX Scheduler .NET by and large is a .NET-wrapper dlyaJavaScript calendar from the same developer documentation is divided into two parts: pages devoted to osnovnomservernoy parts and articles on the client side. The documentation is divided into sub-sections and allows you to quickly find the right tutorial: from the creation of the base calendar to a thin configuration. Each page of the document is a step by step guide. Available as a video tutorial for the lazy.

What we are interested in at the moment, so it is to create a basic scheduler. The developer was able to find a blog that's guide to creating ASP.NET calendar. It describes in detail the necessary actions step by step and contains screenshots necessary action. If you see Visual Studio at least the second time in my life, your problems should arise.

So, what we've got:

At this time we have an opportunity to change the scale of the calendar. The options «Day», «Week» and «Month». The current day is highlighted, but if you do get lost in the schedule, the button «Today» will help you.

Create a new event in several ways. You can select an area of the calendar, which will correspond to the duration of the event and display the editing window:

It can also be called by double-clicking in the calendar, but in this case, the start and end of the event will have to be entered manually. The ability to change the scale is useful if you want to schedule Ranged Event:

Created events can be dragged on the calendar grid in the event of a change of plans.

This list of features of the base calendar ends. It may be noted that, unlike a calendar from DayPilot, we do not need to use a separate calendar for display on the scale of the schedule of the week or month. Default Calendar also allows you to add events. To further enhance its functionality you can use the documentation. Fortunately, it is broken down into thematic walkthroughs and beginners will understand.

Price:

DHTMLX Scheduler .Net offers two types of licenses: a commercial for $ 299 and $ 979 for corporate. Depending on the type of license you are invited to a standard or premium support, the ability to receive only minor or all updates go, the ability to use components to create a single project or an unlimited number of support SaaS-applications.

Devexpress ASP.NET Scheduler

DevExpress offers a wealth of tools to create applications for different platforms. The site can be found solutions for WinForms, iOS, ASP.NET components for online applications, and more.

Fairly detailed description of calendar options available on this page.

The installation file can be found on the download page. Ability to set the scheduler separately available. For his work will have to install a complete set of .NET and MVC components that can not please fans of minimalism.

Documentation. Her much. If we talk specifically about ASP.NET Scheduler, then the corresponding page dokumentatsiirazdelena into meaningful chapters: «Start Here», Learn More ",« How To »and« Reference ». Each of them consists of sub-sections that contain separate articles on specific topics. All pretty thoroughly and helps to consistently explore all the details of the work with this tool. However, if you want to experience the basic scheduler in practice, without going into details, it is in fact possible to restrict the two video tutorials available on YouTube: The Project Wizard, which talked about the basics of creating a project (project type, pattern, skin, etc.) iGetting Started with the ASPxScheduler, dedicated, in fact, create the scheduler. These fourteen minutes will be enough to get an idea of ​​how things work.

And, in fact, the result of learning. Basic planner:

And here we are waiting for a pleasant surprise. No action for the localization of the calendar did not have to produce. He chose the desired settings based on the language used by the operating system.

We have access to several different scales display the calendar: "Day", "Work Week", "full week", "month" and the mode "Schedule", which you can conveniently track events scheduled for the current week. The navigation bar on the right allows you to see the distribution shown in calendar days by month and switch between months and years. To create a new event, you need to select the time period that it takes, then right-click a window to add a new event:

There is the possibility to set up a sufficiently large number of parameters. In addition to the date of beginning and end of the event name, additional information and things like that, you can also select a label, set an alarm, select whether this event is repeatable, etc .:



It should also be noted that each event depending on the labels and other settings will have a unique look. Here's how it looks in the "Schedule":

Price:

In order to get the scheduler by this developer, you can buy a license for the set of ASP.NET components, which will cost you $ 899.99. Also, there are three options to subscribe to a set of different kinds of components: DevExtreme Complete, DXperience and Universal. .NET Components are included only in the last two set. Their cost is $ 1499.99 and $ 2199.99, respectively.

Telerik .NET Scheduler

As with the previous survey participants, Telerik offers a fairly extensive set of solutions on almost all occasions: a platform for creating mobile applications for iOS, Android and Windows Phone; JavaScript, HTML5 widgets for the Web; a set of .NET components for creating desktop, mobile, and online applications and much more.

But we are currently interested in RadScheduler. The link you will find a detailed list of calendar options, each of which is available for its demo page.

As in the previous case, download scheduler separately we will not work and if you want to use it, will have to install a complete set of .NET components.

Page document contains sections on all available components. Available to you walkthroughs, detailed documentation, videos, infographics and much more. At first, you can easily get lost in all this variety, which may scare off newcomers who do not know where to start. If you desire to understand in all this, you can, again, available on YouTube to see a video guide. It lasts more than an hour, and tells some detail about the possible settings, but in order to create a basic minimum the calendar you have enough first thirteen minutes.

And that's what you get as a result:

Calendar of Telerik is also trying to default to adjust to the language familiar to the user. But as you can see, he is coming out only partially. Russified only the names of days and months. These translation difficulties will force you to spend some time on the solution to this problem.

But to return to the calendar directly. You may notice the familiar ability to change the size of the calendar. We are available Day, Week and Month. Timeline option works similarly to that of the planner from Devexpress. What is new is the mini-calendar, which can be accessed by clicking on the button next to Today, as well as the opportunity to choose between showing the full schedule and only working hours:

The process of creating a new event similar to the previous scheduler. But this time we have the opportunity in some detail set up recurring events:

With drag-and-drop, you can change the start date and duration of each event.

Price:

Planner by Telerik is included in the two sets of components: ASP.NET AJAX and ASP.NET MVC. Each of them will cost you $ 999. This amount includes the cost of support and the possibility of obtaining updates for a year.

Conclusion

The above calendar may be divided into two types. The first two are stand-alone tools. In the case of DayPilot buy any one favorite ingredient you do not succeed, since it applies only in the form of a set. Of the four options, only DHTMLX Scheduler .NET allows you to buy the calendar separately, which can be interesting to those who are not interested in additional components.

Two remaining calendar includes a large set of .NET tools and get them You can only download the entire bundle as a whole. So, pay attention to them is that if you need integration with other components.

DayPilot and DHTMLX Scheduler .NET

Products from DayPilot look pretty nice. The documentation describes in some detail the details of working with each of the components. Present tutorials are generally well understood, even for beginners. However, that newcomers do not like, so it is a low functionality of the base application for the extension which would have to dig in the documentation. Several uncomfortable seems impossible scaling calendar. Judging from everything, will have to choose what you prefer or use two types of calendars to your project, it may not be quite convenient. The good news is that in addition to the paid components is available to you free open-source version, albeit with a limited set of functions. Select the appropriate version can be on this page.

DHTMLX Scheduler .NET in this plan looks much more attractive. Documentation page contains walkthroughs of various levels of difficulty. Also available video tutorial. Deal with the scheduler can even beginners. Created base calendar is already looking pretty functional app. It is possible to zoom in on a calendar day to a month, add and edit events, edit them using drag-and-drop. This calendar is distributed under a commercial license. Also available is a 30-day trial version. Download mozhnozdes.

Alternatively, you can try the JavaScript version of the calendar, which is available in two versions: Business Pro Edition, and Standard Edition, version of the open source software.

Devexpress ASP.NET Scheduler and Telerik .NET Scheduler

Calendars from the two companies are part of a rather large set of tools. As has been said, to choose them for the sake of the calendar is hardly worth it. Tools from Devexpress Telerik and integrated with Visual Studio, which allows you to configure the application in the establishment phase. You can, for example, set the pattern for the skin and appearance. The documentation for each of the participants in some detail. Also, each of them can boast the presence of video tutorials.

Documentation from Devexpress looks more comfortable for the beginner. Each topic is divided into subsections, grouped by level of difficulty. Calendar looks more functional. For example, the ability to choose a label for the events looks pretty comfortable. Also, many may like approach to localization. The cost depends upon the components that you choose. Help determine the choice of the trial version. Details here.

Documentation from Telerik is formed is not as convenient, which can cause confusion for beginners. Create calendar is fairly easy, it has all the necessary functions for easy operation. Also, as in the case with the previous developer, Tellerik offers a fairly wide selection of sets of components, and trial versions of each of them.

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