mvc No data in ActionResult method after submit - asp.net-mvc

Question

I have an Index page on which there is a section to write a project name and select from a dropdownlist a project type.
Below that I have a submit button that directs to the ActionResult method Create in the Projects controller.
Code:
[UPDATE]
index.cshtml:
#using reqcoll.ViewModels
#model myViewModel
#{
ViewBag.Title = "ReqColl - project";
}
#* First half *#
#using (Html.BeginForm("CreateProject", "Projects"))
{
#Html.AntiForgeryToken()
<div class="top-spacing col-md-12 col-lg-12 col-sm-12">
#RenderTopHalf(Model.modelProject)
</div>
}
#* Second half *#
#using (Html.BeginForm("CreateRequirement", "Projects"))
{
#Html.AntiForgeryToken()
<div class="form-group" id="pnSecondHalf">
#* Requirements list *#
<div class=" col-md-6 col-lg-6 col-sm-12">
#RenderBottomLeftHalf(Model.modelRequirement)
</div>
#* New/Edit requirements panel *#
<div class="col-md-6 col-lg-6 col-sm-12">
#RenderBottomRightHalf(Model.modelRequirement)
</div>
</div>
}
#* ================================================================================= ============= *#
#* Helpers *#
#helper RenderTopHalf(reqcoll.Models.Project project)
{
<div class=" well">
#Html.ValidationSummary(true, "", new { #class = "text-danger" })
<div class="row">
#Html.LabelFor(model => project.projectName, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "control-label col-md-2 col-lg-2 col-sm-12" })
<div class="col-md-10 col-lg-10 col-sm-12">
#Html.TextBoxFor(model => project.projectName, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "ProjectNameInput" })
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => project.projectName)
</div>
</div>
#Html.ValidationSummary(true, "", new { #class = "text-danger" })
<div class="row row-spacing">
#Html.LabelFor(model => project.projectType, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "control-label col-md-2 col-lg-2 col-sm-12" })
<div class="col-md-10 col-lg-10 col-sm-12">
#Html.DropDownListFor(model => project.projectType, new SelectList(
new List<Object>{
new { value = 0 , text = "...Select..." },
new { value = 1 , text = "Windows application" },
new { value = 2 , text = "Web application" },
new { value = 3 , text = "Device application"}
},
"value",
"text",
project.projectType), htmlAttributes: new { #class = "DropDownList" })
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => project.projectType)
</div>
<input type="hidden" value="" id="hdProjectID" />
</div>
<div class="row top-spacing col-md-offset-5 col-sm-offset-5">
<div id="pnCreate" class=" col-sm-4 col-md-4 col-lg-4">
<input type="submit" class="btn btn-default" value="Create" />
</div>
<div id="pnEdit" class=" col-sm-4 col-md-4 col-lg-4">
<input type="submit" class="btn btn-default" value="Edit" />
|
<input type="submit" class="btn btn-default" value="Delete" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
}
#helper RenderBottomLeftHalf(reqcoll.Models.Requirement requirement)
{
<div class=" well">
<table class="table">
<tr>
<th>
#if (Model.modelProject.Requirements != null)
{
var m = Model.modelProject;
if (m.Requirements.Count > 0)
{
#Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.modelProject.Requirements[0].shortDesc)
}
}
else
{
<label class="label label-primary col-sm-12 col-md-6 col-lg-6">No requirements available</label>
}
</th>
<th></th>
</tr>
#if (Model.modelProject.Requirements != null)
{
var m = Model.modelProject;
if (m.Requirements.Count > 0)
{
foreach (var item in Model.modelProject.Requirements)
{
<tr>
<td>
#Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.shortDesc)
</td>
<td>
#* buttons here*#
#*#Html.ActionLink("E", "Edit", new { id = item.requirementID }) |
#Html.ActionLink("D", "Delete", new { id = item.requirementID })*#
</td>
</tr>
}
}
}
</table>
</div>
}
#helper RenderBottomRightHalf(reqcoll.Models.Requirement requirement)
{
<div class=" well">
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<div class="row">
#Html.LabelFor(model => requirement.shortDesc, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "control-label col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-12" })
<div class="col-md-8 col-lg-8 col-sm-12">
#Html.TextBoxFor(model => requirement.shortDesc, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "RequirementShortDesc" })
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => requirement.shortDesc)
</div>
</div>
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<div class="row row-spacing">
#Html.LabelFor(model => requirement.longDesc, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "control-label col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-12" })
<div class="col-md-8 col-lg-8 col-sm-12 RequirementLongDesc">
#Html.EditorFor(model => requirement.longDesc)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => requirement.longDesc)
</div>
</div>
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<div class="row row-spacing">
#Html.LabelFor(model => requirement.priorityCode, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "control-label col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-12" })
<div class="col-md-8 col-lg-8 col-sm-12">
#foreach (var value in Enum.GetValues(requirement.priorityCode.GetType()))
{
<div class="control-label col-sm-5 col-md-5 col-lg-5">
#Html.RadioButtonFor(m => requirement.priorityCode, value)
#Html.Label(value.ToString())
</div>
}
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => requirement.priorityCode)
</div>
</div>
<input type="hidden" value="" id="hdRequirementID" />
<div class="row top-spacing col-md-offset-5 col-sm-offset-5">
<div id="pnReqCreate" class=" col-sm-12 col-md-6 col-lg-6">
#* submit button here *#
#*#Html.ActionLink("Add", "Add", "Requirement", new { #class = "btn btn-default btnSize" })*#
</div>
<div id="pnReqEdit" class=" col-sm-12 col-md-6 col-lg-6">
#* submit buttons here *#
#*#Html.ActionLink("Edit", "Edit", "Requirement", new { #class = "btn btn-default btnSize" })
#Html.ActionLink("Delete", "Delete", "Requirement", new { #class = "btn btn-default btnSize" })*#
</div>
</div>
</div>
}
#section Scripts {
<script>
$(function () {
var pID = $('#hdProjectID').val();
if (pID != null) {
if (pID.length > 0) {
$('#pnEdit').show();
$('#pnCreate').hide();
$('#pnSecondHalf').show();
} else {
$('#pnEdit').hide();
$('#pnCreate').show();
$('#pnSecondHalf').hide();
}
} else {
$('#pnEdit').hide();
$('#pnCreate').show();
$('#pnSecondHalf').hide();
}
var rID = $('#hdRequirementID').val();
if (rID != null) {
if (rID.length > 0) {
$('#pnReqEdit').show();
$('#pnReqCreate').hide();
} else {
$('#pnReqEdit').hide();
$('#pnReqCreate').show();
}
} else {
$('#pnReqEdit').hide();
$('#pnReqCreate').show();
}
});
</script>
#Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jqueryval")
}
ViewModel:
using reqcoll.Models;
namespace reqcoll.ViewModels
{
public class myViewModel
{
public Project modelProject;
public Requirement modelRequirement;
}
}
Controller:
using System.Web.Mvc;
using reqcoll.Models;
using reqcoll.ViewModels;
namespace reqcoll.Controllers
{
public class ProjectsController : Controller
{
private myContext db = new myContext();
// GET: Projects
public ActionResult Index()
{
// allow more than one model to be used in the view
var vm = new myViewModel()
{
modelProject = new Project() { projectName = "test", projectType = 1 },
modelRequirement = new Requirement() { requirementID = -1 },
};
return View(vm);
}
[HttpPost]
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
[AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
public ActionResult CreateProject(myViewModel vm)
{
if (vm != null)
{
var ab = Request.Form;
// key 1: __RequestVerificationToken
// key 2: project.projectName
// key 3: project.projectType
if (ModelState.IsValid)
{
Project project = vm.modelProject;
// db.Project.Add(project.Item1);
// db.SaveChanges();
// return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
}
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
if (disposing)
{
db.Dispose();
}
base.Dispose(disposing);
}
}
}
[ORIGINAL]
#using (Html.BeginForm("Create", "Projects"))
{
#Html.AntiForgeryToken()
<div class="top-spacing col-md-12 col-lg-12 col-sm-12">
<div class=" well">
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<div class="row">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Item1.projectName, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "control-label col-md-2 col-lg-2 col-sm-12" })
<div class="col-md-10 col-lg-10 col-sm-12">
#Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.Item1.projectName, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "ProjectNameInput" })
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Item1.projectName)
</div>
</div>
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<div class="row row-spacing">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Item1.projectType, htmlAttributes: new { #class = "control-label col-md-2 col-lg-2 col-sm-12" })
<div class="col-md-10 col-lg-10 col-sm-12">
#Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.Item1.projectType, new SelectList(
new List<Object>{
new { value = 0 , text = "...Select..." },
new { value = 1 , text = "Windows application" },
new { value = 2 , text = "Web application" },
new { value = 3 , text = "Device application"}
},
"value",
"text",
0), htmlAttributes: new { #class = "DropDownList" })
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Item1.projectType)
</div>
<input type="hidden" value="" id="hdProjectID" />
</div>
<div class="row top-spacing col-md-offset-5 col-sm-offset-5">
<div id="pnCreate" class=" col-sm-4 col-md-4 col-lg-4">
<input type="submit" class="btn btn-default" value="Create" />
</div>
<div id="pnEdit" class=" col-sm-4 col-md-4 col-lg-4">
<input type="submit" class="btn btn-default" value="Edit" />
|
<input type="submit" class="btn btn-default" value="Delete" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
}
ProjectsController:
private myContext db = new myContext();
// GET: Projects
public ActionResult Index()
{
// allow more than one model to be used in the view
return View(new Tuple<Project, Requirement, Priority>(new Project(), new Requirement(), new Priority()));
}
[HttpPost]
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
[AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
public ActionResult Create([Bind(Include = "projectName,projectType")] Project project)
{
if (ModelState.IsValid)
{
db.Project.Add(project);
db.SaveChanges();
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
So when the submit button is clicked, the ActionResult Create is called, but the ModelState is not valid and does not have the information enterd by the user.
What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Your model is looking like complex object as you are using model.Item1.projectName and model.Item1.projectType, but in action method you are trying to get values directly which is wrong.

Answer 2

[Updated code]
With the new code posted, this quick correction to your model will allow it to bind correctly from your view:
namespace reqcoll.ViewModels
{
public class myViewModel
{
public Project project;
public Requirement requirement;
}
}
[Original]
Despite the fact of using a Tuple<> type instead of defining a class that would encapsulate the data to pass to the view. You can still achieve what you want by creating a helper in your view.
#helper RenderMyProject(Project project) {
...
#Html.TextBoxFor(x=> project.projectType)
...
}
Then, you will call this helper
#RenderMyProject(model.Item1)
Whats the difference?
The name of the input will change. Instead of posting [Item1.projectType] Inside the response object to your controller, it will look like [project.projectType] which will be mapped to your project parameter automatically.

Answer 3

Found the problem.
I added {get; set;} in the myViewModel to both the models and then it worked.
so:
using reqcoll.Models;
namespace reqcoll.ViewModels
{
public class myViewModel
{
public Project Project { get; set; }
public Requirement Requirement { get; set; }
}
}