How to add reference to System.Web.Optimization for MVC-3-converted-to-4 app

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I’m trying to use the new bundling feature in a project I recently converted from MVC 3 to MVC 4 beta. It requires a line of code in global.asax, BundleTable.Bundles.RegisterTemplateBundles();, which requires using System.Web.Optimization; at the top.

When I do this, I get the red squiggly lines that say, “Are you missing an assembly reference?” When I try and add reference, and click on the .NET tab in the dialog, sort from A-Z, I do not see System.Web.Optimization.

How do I add this reference to my project?

7 Answers
7

Update
Version 1.1.x is available, read the release notes: https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.AspNet.Web.Optimization

The Microsoft.Web.Optimization package is now obsolete. With ASP.NET (MVC) 4 and higher you should install the Microsoft ASP.NET Web Optimization Framework:

  • Install the package from nuget:

    Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.Web.Optimization

  • Create and configure bundle(s) in App_Start\BundleConfig.cs:

    public class BundleConfig
{
    public static void RegisterBundles(BundleCollection bundles) {
        bundles.Add(new ScriptBundle("~/Scripts/jquery").Include(
            "~/Scripts/Lib/jquery/jquery-{version}.js",
            "~/Scripts/Lib/jquery/jquery.*",
            "~/Scripts/Lib/jquery/jquery-ui-{version}.js")
        );

        bundles.Add(new ScriptBundle("~/Scripts/knockout").Include(
             "~/Scripts/Lib/knockout/knockout-{version}.js",
             "~/Scripts/Lib/knockout/knockout-deferred-updates.js")
        );
    }
}

  • Call the RegisterBundles() function from Application_Start() in your global.asax.cs:

    using System.Web.Optimization;

protected void Application_Start() {
     ...
     BundleConfig.RegisterBundles(BundleTable.Bundles);
     ...
}

  • In your view.cshtml include the Optimization namespace and render the bundle(s):

    @using System.Web.Optimization

@Scripts.Render("~/Scripts/jquery")
@Scripts.Render("~/Scripts/knockout")

See http://www.asp.net/mvc/overview/performance/bundling-and-minification for more information

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