First Gantt chart tools for Microsoft .Net

Scheduling applications for a range of industries can now be developed quickly following optimisation software firm Ilog’s release of the industry’s first set of C#-based graphics tools for creating Gantt charts in Microsoft’s .NET development environment. They’re an extension of Ilog’s existing Visualisation Suite, and aimed primarily at industry enterprise software developers. ERP vendors currently in the frame, wanting Gantt as part of their visualisation technologies, include SAP, Manugistics, EDS, Eigner and AspenTech. Currently, developers either adapt ActiveX-based products to the .NET framework, or create their own Gantt charts from scratch. Ilog Gantt for .NET is expected to speed time-to-market for developers, and equip end-users with the ability to visualise and edit schedules and plans. Says Patrick Megard, director of Ilog’s visualisation product line: “Before this, there was no real components for visualisation of a Gantt chart. Users are migrating to the .Net platform but they haven’t had the tools The system has a flexible data model that can be adapted to any data source, and that auto-synchronises data with views. Customisation is further supported with a set of Windows Forms controls that the developer can assemble, and with a rule-based tool that allows developers to reflect data values using graphical representations. As for cost of the software, the firm quotes eur6,500 (£4,500, includes development and deployment). There’s also a three year payment option involving instalments of eur3,250 (£2,250).