C# – Chart tool is greyed out in Visual Studio

cchartsnetvisual studio 2010

I'm trying to add a chart to my Visual Studio form but the button is greyed out. I'm using .NET Framework 3.5 and C#. Following instructions online I've downloaded and installed the dll files from this link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14422
I also added them as references and added the following line at the top of my form file:

using System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.Charting;

but the button is still greyed out.

What have I missed?

Best Answer

To make the chart control available, you need:

  1. To be using .Net framework 4.0 or higher, OR for .Net framework 3.5 install this: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14422
  2. On the toolbox context menu -> Choose Items... have the Chart control selected. (Sort by name in the Choose Toolbox Items dialog and scroll to Chart. There are two: one for Windows forms, one for Web forms. You need only select what's relevant.)

The chart control appears in the "Data" section of the Toolbox.

You do NOT need to any any "using" clause to the form source file, or any reference in the project references. (The reference is added automatically for you when you add the control.)