How to add jQueryUI library in MVC 5 project?

Question

I've just installed Visual Studio 2013 and started new MVC 5 project. I'm kind of new in MVC developing and I can't figure out how to add libraries in my project.

I see some similar parts. For example, on the _Layout.cshtml I have this code:

@Styles.Render("~/Content/css")
@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/modernizr")

Then in the packages.config file:

<packages>
  <package id="Antlr" version="3.4.1.9004" targetFramework="net45" />
  <package id="bootstrap" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="net45" />
  <package id="EntityFramework" version="6.0.0" targetFramework="net45" />
  <package id="jQuery" version="1.10.2" targetFramework="net45" />
  <package id="jQuery.Validation" version="1.11.1" targetFramework="net45" />
</packages>

Then as far as I know something happens on Global.asax

So, I've downloaded jQuery UI libraries with .js and css files. My question is: Where and what should I add in term of use this libraries everywhere like default libraries (bootstrap or jquery)? And jQuery UI has 3 folders with content. I added this folders with all content to my project, I just need to add references.

Answer 1

As specified in the accepted answer by Simon C, indeed it is necessary to bundle jQuery UI js:

bundles.Add(new ScriptBundle("~/bundles/jqueryui").Include(
  "~/Scripts/jquery-ui-{version}.js"));

and the use by calling:

@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jqueryui")

at the same time as of 23 Jan 2021 the css files does not include jquery.ui.* prefix.

It is also not necessary to include these individual files as it specified in the header of jquery-ui.css:

• Includes: core.css, accordion.css, autocomplete.css, menu.css, button.css, controlgroup.css, checkboxradio.css, datepicker.css, dialog.css, draggable.css, resizable.css, progressbar.css, selectable.css, selectmenu.css, slider.css, sortable.css, spinner.css, tabs.css, tooltip.css, theme.css

So, one can just write this to bundle jquery-ui.css:

bundles.Add(new StyleBundle("~/Content/themes/base/css")
    .Include("~/Content/themes/base/jquery-ui.css");

and use it in pages by means of:

@Styles.Render("~/Content/themes/base/css")

Answer 2

The code you see rendering css and scripts on your _Layout.cshtml page (i.e. @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/modernizr")) is called bundling. Check out some info here: http://www.asp.net/mvc/tutorials/mvc-4/bundling-and-minification

So, to add jQueryUI you would do the following:

In your Global.asax.cs file you should see a number of registrations:

BundleConfig.RegisterBundles(BundleTable.Bundles);

This goes to the BundleConfig class which registers any bundles. For jQueryUI you could do the following:

bundles.Add(new ScriptBundle("~/bundles/jqueryui").Include(
            "~/Scripts/jquery-ui-{version}.js"));

This is creating a new script bundle called ~/bundles/jqueryui.

Then it can be added to your layout page by doing this:

@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jqueryui")

Then you'll do the same for css:

bundles.Add(new StyleBundle("~/Content/themes/base/css").Include(
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.core.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.resizable.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.selectable.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.accordion.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.autocomplete.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.button.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.dialog.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.slider.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.tabs.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.datepicker.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.progressbar.css",
              "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.theme.css"));

and add it with

@Styles.Render("~/Content/themes/base/css")

Note:

• In MVC4, a non-empty project already has jQuery set up. For an empty project you would have to add it yourself. Not 100% sure about the new MVC 5.
• You can install jQueryUi from NuGet, but the official package doesn't add this bundling stuff.
• You could just do the old fashioned referencing of you css and js files (e.g. <script language="JavaScript" src="~/Scripts/jQuery.ui.1.8.2.js" />

Answer 3

After installing JQuery ui using the NuGet add following snippets to BundleConfig.cs as shown below

            bundles.Add(new ScriptBundle("~/bundles/jqueryui").Include(
        "~/Scripts/jquery-ui-{version}.js"));

also

            bundles.Add(new StyleBundle("~/Content/themes/base/css").Include(
        "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.core.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.autocomplete.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/jquery.ui.theme.css"));

Now add following snippets to your _Layout.cshtml as shown below

 @Styles.Render("~/Content/themes/base/css")

and

@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jqueryui")

I just want to make it little bit clear, hope this will help. Thanks

Answer 4

To install jQueryUI + the latest version of jQuery you can use NuGet:

Install-Package jQuery.UI.Combined

This will update your existing jQuery libraries to the latest version.

You can then reference this by going in App_Start/BundleConfig.cs and add:

bundles.Add(new ScriptBundle("~/bundles/jqueryui").Include(
            "~/Scripts/jquery-ui-{version}.js"));

bundles.Add(new StyleBundle("~/Content/themes/base/css").Include(
            "~/Content/themes/base/all.css"));

You can then use it on individual pages or globally in _Layout.cshtml

@Styles.Render("~/Content/themes/base/css") // Add to <head> tags
@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jqueryui") // Add above </body>

Answer 5

The css bundle should look as follows for version 1.11.1 now:

bundles.Add(new StyleBundle("~/Content/themes/base/css").Include(
        "~/Content/themes/base/accordion.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/all.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/autocomplete.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/base.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/button.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/core.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/datepicker.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/dialog.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/draggable.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/menu.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/progressbar.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/resizable.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/selectable.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/selectmenu.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/slider.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/sortable.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/spinner.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/tabs.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/theme.css",
        "~/Content/themes/base/tooltip.css"));

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