Hi, I just started using asp.net ajax with UpdatePanel. However, it is kind of slow when I have a lot of fields that need to be updated. What is asp.net ajax control toolkit? Is that base on top of the UpdatePanel and expanded the functionalities so that we develop ajax applictions more eaisly? But will there also be slowness if I use the toolkit? If I want to make my ajax faster, then I will need to build javascript functions, is that correct?

You can't get faster than ajax.  The update panel is a built in to asp.net.  Its not part of the kit.  I have an update panel on my site to do the heavy lifting of a grid.  It works cool.  Ajax toolkit is mostly about can I do this on the webpage without making a trip to the server like display a calendar to help users enter a date without going back to the server.

Javascript is still a big part of web development.  Its in VWD2008.  http://www.asp.net/learn/3.5-videos/ watch videos 6,7,9

Download the toolkit source and look at the javascript.  http://ajaxcontroltoolkit.codeplex.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=16488

Have fun with the Kit!

Hi, Isn't there client side ajax (built on top of javascript) and the asp.net ajax which uses the scriptmanager and updatePanel and does the ajax automatically (which doesn't require me to write any javascript), but then it send a lot of data which make the application slow. If I build my own client side javascript or Jquery, will that run faster than the build in asp.net ajax or toolkit? The following article should clear of what I mean.

http://encosia.com/2007/07/11/why-aspnet-ajax-updatepanels-are-dangerous/

 Hi

The article points out potential hazards of using updatepanel if not used properly . And I can easily say that if not used properly then any technology can be dangerous . Asp.net ajax provides an envoirnment similar to that of server side processing in client side . There are various features of asp.net ajax which I guess you have not looked into . If you are concerned about the traffic then you can happily drop updatepanel and start using web services . 

Also having toolkit controls on your page forces lots of script resource files to be downloaded . You can actually get a performance benifit by checking out the following blog by Lance Zhang :- http://lancezhang.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/aspnet-ajax-performance/

Also in your scriptmanager control remember to set ScriptMode = "release" and LoadScriptbeforeUi = "false" for slight improvement in performance.

 I'm still a little confuse. asp.net ajax allows us to avoid writing javascript by providing the Scriptmanager and UpdatePanel, but it also has the option to write javascript within asp.net ajax, my question is will there be performance gain if I write client javascript for asp.net ajax, rather than directly using the ScriptManager and UpdatePanel?

The gains come from eliminating trips to the server and making a web2.0 experience for the user.  Almost zero javascript when using ajaxcontrol toolkit.

Jquery  (Microsoft announced support for jquery)  mostly its a few lines of code.

ajax load a div from jquery

JQuery("mydiv").load("myurl");

 So using ajaxcontrol toolkit will be the same speed if I build it with javascript or jquery?

http://www.asp.net/AJAX/Documentation/Live/tutorials/ASPNETAJAXWebServicesTutorials.aspx

mrmercury:

said you should try using WebServices if you want to speed

Nothing faster than MrMercury.  How to choose ajax methods.  http://www.asp.net/learn/ajax-videos/video-160.aspx

I think we need not use ajax tool kit for showing clander like little thinks which can be possible to show by using only simple javascript and more faster then ajax tool kit.