Getting Started with ASP.NET MVC Kanban Control

8 Nov 202321 minutes to read

This section briefly explains about how to include ASP.NET MVC Kanban control in your ASP.NET MVC application using Visual Studio.

Prerequisites

System requirements for ASP.NET MVC controls

Create ASP.NET MVC application with HTML helper

Install ASP.NET MVC package in the application

To add ASP.NET MVC controls in the application, open the NuGet package manager in Visual Studio (Tools → NuGet Package Manager → Manage NuGet Packages for Solution), search for Syncfusion.EJ2.MVC5 and then install it.

Install-Package Syncfusion.EJ2.MVC5 -Version 25.1.35

NOTE

Syncfusion ASP.NET MVC controls are available in nuget.org. Refer to NuGet packages topic to learn more about installing NuGet packages in various OS environments. The Syncfusion.EJ2.MVC5 NuGet package has dependencies, Newtonsoft.Json for JSON serialization and Syncfusion.Licensing for validating Syncfusion license key.

NOTE

If you create ASP.NET MVC application with MVC4 package, search for Syncfusion.EJ2.MVC4 and then install it.

Add namespace

Add Syncfusion.EJ2 namespace reference in Web.config under Views folder.

<namespaces>
    <add namespace="Syncfusion.EJ2"/>
</namespaces>

Add stylesheet and script resources

Here, the theme and script is referred using CDN inside the <head> of ~/Pages/Shared/_Layout.cshtml file as follows,

<head>
    ...
    <!-- Syncfusion ASP.NET MVC controls styles -->
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/25.1.35/fluent.css" />
    <!-- Syncfusion ASP.NET MVC controls scripts -->
    <script src="https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/25.1.35/dist/ej2.min.js"></script>
</head>

NOTE

Checkout the Themes topic to learn different ways (CDN, NPM package, and CRG) to refer styles in ASP.NET MVC application, and to have the expected appearance for Syncfusion ASP.NET MVC controls. Checkout the Adding Script Reference topic to learn different approaches for adding script references in your ASP.NET MVC application.

Register Syncfusion script manager

Also, register the script manager EJS().ScriptManager() at the end of <body> in the ~/Pages/Shared/_Layout.cshtml file as follows.

<body>
...
    <!-- Syncfusion ASP.NET MVC Script Manager -->
    @Html.EJS().ScriptManager()
</body>

Add ASP.NET MVC Kanban control

Now, add the Syncfusion ASP.NET MVC Kanban control in ~/Views/Home/Index.cshtml page.

@Html.EJS().Kanban("kanban").Columns(col =>
            {
           col.HeaderText("To Do").KeyField("Open").Add();
           col.HeaderText("In Progress").KeyField("InProgress").Add();
           col.HeaderText("Testing").KeyField("Testing").Add();
           col.HeaderText("Done").KeyField("Close").Add();
       }).Render()

Press Ctrl+F5 (Windows) or +F5 (macOS) to run the app. Then, the Syncfusion ASP.NET MVC Kanban control will be rendered in the default web browser.

ASP.NET MVC Kanban Control

Populating cards

To populate the empty Kanban with cards, define the list or remote data using the DataSource property. To define DataSource, the mandatory fields in the list should be relevant to KeyField. In the following example, you can see the cards defined with default fields such as ID, Summary, and Status.

@model List<KanbanSample.Controllers.KanbanDataModels>

@Html.EJS().Kanban("kanban").KeyField("Status").DataSource((IEnumerable<object>)Model).Columns(col =>
	{
	   col.HeaderText("To Do").KeyField("Open").Add();
	   col.HeaderText("In Progress").KeyField("InProgress").Add();
	   col.HeaderText("Testing").KeyField("Testing").Add();
	   col.HeaderText("Done").KeyField("Close").Add();
   }).CardSettings(card =>  {
	   card.ContentField("Summary").HeaderField("Id");
   }).Render()
public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        return View(KanbanDataModels.KanbanTasks());
    }
}
public class KanbanDataModels
{
    public string Id { get; set; }
    public string Title { get; set; }
    public string Status { get; set; }
    public string Summary { get; set; }
    public string Type { get; set; }
    public string Priority { get; set; }
    public string Tags { get; set; }
    public Double Estimate { get; set; }
    public string Assignee { get; set; }
    public int RankId { get; set; }
    public string Color { get; set; }

    public static List<KanbanDataModels> KanbanTasks()
    {
        List<KanbanDataModels> TaskDetails = new List<KanbanDataModels>();
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 1", Title = "Task  - 29001", Status = "Open", Summary = "Analyze the new requirements gathered from the customer.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Low", Tags = "Analyze,Customer", Estimate = 3.5, Assignee = "Nancy Davloio", RankId = 1, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 2", Title = "Task  - 29002", Status = "InProgress", Summary = "Improve application performance", Type = "Improvement", Priority = "Normal", Tags = "Improvement", Estimate = 6, Assignee = "Andrew Fuller", RankId = 1, Color = "#7d7297" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 3", Title = "Task  - 29003", Status = "Open", Summary = "Arrange a web meeting with the customer to get new requirements.", Type = "Others", Priority = "Critical", Tags = "Meeting", Estimate = 5.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 2, Color = "#27AE60" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 4", Title = "Task  - 29004", Status = "InProgress", Summary = "Fix the issues reported in the IE browser.", Type = "Bug", Priority = "Release Breaker", Tags = "IE", Estimate = 2.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 2, Color = "#cc0000" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 5", Title = "Task  - 29005", Status = "Review", Summary = "Fix the issues reported by the customer.", Type = "Bug", Priority = "Low", Tags = "Customer", Estimate = 3.5, Assignee = "Steven walker", RankId = 1, Color = "#cc0000" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 6", Title = "Task  - 29007", Status = "Validate", Summary = "Validate new requirements", Type = "Improvement", Priority = "Low", Tags = "Validation", Estimate = 1.5, Assignee = "Robert King", RankId = 1, Color = "#7d7297" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 7", Title = "Task  - 29009", Status = "Review", Summary = "Fix the issues reported in Safari browser.", Type = "Bug", Priority = "Release Breaker", Tags = "Fix,Safari", Estimate = 1.5, Assignee = "Nancy Davloio", RankId = 2, Color = "#cc0000" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 8", Title = "Task  - 29010", Status = "Close", Summary = "Test the application in the IE browser.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Low", Tags = "Review,IE", Estimate = 5.5, Assignee = "Margaret hamilt", RankId = 3, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 9", Title = "Task  - 29011", Status = "Validate", Summary = "Validate the issues reported by the customer.", Type = "Story", Priority = "High", Tags = "Validation,Fix", Estimate = 1, Assignee = "Steven walker", RankId = 1, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 10", Title = "Task  - 29015", Status = "Open", Summary = "Show the retrieved data from the server in grid control.", Type = "Story", Priority = "High", Tags = "Database,SQL", Estimate = 5.5, Assignee = "Margaret hamilt", RankId = 4, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 11", Title = "Task  - 29016", Status = "InProgress", Summary = "Fix cannot open user’s default database SQL error.", Priority = "Critical", Type = "Bug", Tags = "Database,Sql2008", Estimate = 2.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 4, Color = "#cc0000" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 12", Title = "Task  - 29017", Status = "Review", Summary = "Fix the issues reported in data binding.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Normal", Tags = "Databinding", Estimate = 3.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 4, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 13", Title = "Task  - 29018", Status = "Close", Summary = "Analyze SQL server 2008 connection.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Release Breaker", Tags = "Grid,Sql", Estimate = 2, Assignee = "Andrew Fuller", RankId = 4, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 14", Title = "Task  - 29019", Status = "Validate", Summary = "Validate databinding issues.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Low", Tags = "Validation", Estimate = 1.5, Assignee = "Margaret hamilt", RankId = 1, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 15", Title = "Task  - 29020", Status = "Close", Summary = "Analyze grid control.", Type = "Story", Priority = "High", Tags = "Analyze", Estimate = 2.5, Assignee = "Margaret hamilt", RankId = 5, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 16", Title = "Task  - 29021", Status = "Close", Summary = "Stored procedure for initial data binding of the grid.", Type = "Others", Priority = "Release Breaker", Tags = "Databinding", Estimate = 1.5, Assignee = "Steven walker", RankId = 6, Color = "#27AE60" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 17", Title = "Task  - 29022", Status = "Close", Summary = "Analyze stored procedures.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Release Breaker", Tags = "Procedures", Estimate = 5.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 7, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 18", Title = "Task  - 29023", Status = "Validate", Summary = "Validate editing issues.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Critical", Tags = "Editing", Estimate = 1, Assignee = "Nancy Davloio", RankId = 1, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 19", Title = "Task  - 29024", Status = "Review", Summary = "Test editing functionality.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Normal", Tags = "Editing,Test", Estimate = 0.5, Assignee = "Nancy Davloio", RankId = 5, Color = "#8b447a" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 20", Title = "Task  - 29025", Status = "Open", Summary = "Enhance editing functionality.", Type = "Improvement", Priority = "Low", Tags = "Editing", Estimate = 3.5, Assignee = "Andrew Fuller", RankId = 5, Color = "#7d7297" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 21", Title = "Task  - 29026", Status = "InProgress", Summary = "Improve the performance of the editing functionality.", Type = "Epic", Priority = "High", Tags = "Performance", Estimate = 6, Assignee = "Nancy Davloio", RankId = 5, Color = "#6d7492" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 22", Title = "Task  - 29027", Status = "Open", Summary = "Arrange web meeting with the customer to show editing demo.", Type = "Others", Priority = "High", Tags = "Meeting,Editing", Estimate = 5.5, Assignee = "Steven walker", RankId = 6, Color = "#27AE60" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 23", Title = "Task  - 29029", Status = "Review", Summary = "Fix the editing issues reported by the customer.", Type = "Bug", Priority = "Low", Tags = "Editing,Fix", Estimate = 3.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 6, Color = "#cc0000" });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 24", Title = "Task  - 29030", Status = "Testing", Summary = "Fix the issues reported by the customer.", Type = "Bug", Priority = "Critical", Tags = "Customer", Estimate = 3.5, Assignee = "Steven walker", RankId = 1 });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 25", Title = "Task  - 29031", Status = "Testing", Summary = "Fix the issues reported in Safari browser.", Type = "Bug", Priority = "Release Breaker", Tags = "Fix,Safari", Estimate = 1.5, Assignee = "Nancy Davloio", RankId = 2 });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 26", Title = "Task  - 29032", Status = "Testing", Summary = "Check Login page validation.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Release Breaker", Tags = "Testing", Estimate = 0.5, Assignee = "Michael Suyama", RankId = 3 });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 27", Title = "Task  - 29033", Status = "Testing", Summary = "Fix the issues reported in data binding.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Normal", Tags = "Databinding", Estimate = 3.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 4 });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 28", Title = "Task  - 29034", Status = "Testing", Summary = "Test editing functionality.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Normal", Tags = "Editing,Test", Estimate = 0.5, Assignee = "Nancy Davloio", RankId = 5 });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 29", Title = "Task  - 29035", Status = "Testing", Summary = "Fix editing issues reported in Firefox.", Type = "Bug", Priority = "Critical", Tags = "Editing,Fix", Estimate = 1.5, Assignee = "Robert King", RankId = 7 });
        TaskDetails.Add(new KanbanDataModels { Id = "Task 30", Title = "Task  - 29036", Status = "Testing", Summary = "Test editing feature in the IE browser.", Type = "Story", Priority = "Normal", Tags = "Testing", Estimate = 5.5, Assignee = "Janet Leverling", RankId = 10 });
        return TaskDetails;
    }
}

ASP.NET MVC Kanban with Cards

Enable swimlane

Swimlane can be enabled by mapping the tags SwimlaneSettings.KeyField to appropriate column name in dataSource. This enables the grouping of the cards based on the mapped column values.

@model List<KanbanSample.Controllers.KanbanDataModels>

@Html.EJS().Kanban("kanban").KeyField("Status").DataSource((IEnumerable<object>)Model).Columns(col =>
		{
	   col.HeaderText("To Do").KeyField("Open").Add();
	   col.HeaderText("In Progress").KeyField("InProgress").Add();
	   col.HeaderText("Testing").KeyField("Testing").Add();
	   col.HeaderText("Done").KeyField("Close").Add();
   }).CardSettings(card =>  {
	   card.ContentField("Summary").HeaderField("Id");
   }).SwimlaneSettings(swim => {
	   swim.KeyField("Assignee");
   }).Render()

ASP.NET MVC Kanban with Swimlane

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub.

See also