MVC Passing ViewModel to #Html.Partial - asp.net-mvc

Question

Passing ViewModel to #Html.Partial
Have two ViewModels
public class RegisterVM
{
... some properties
public AddressVM AddressInformation { get; set; } //viewmodel
}
public class AddressVM {
public string Street1 { get; set; }
public string Street2 { get; set; }
public string PostalCode { get; set; }
}
When loading main view using VM:
#model ViewModels.RegisterVM
All field load. But When I add Partial View and pass viewmodel
#Html.Partial("_AddressDetails", Model.AddressInformation)
It fails
Error: Exception Details: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. Why does it fail?
The partial View _AddressDetails is expecting a
#model ViewModels.AddressVM
Update
Based on changes from Prashant,
When submitting the information The Address information is NULL.
In The controller:
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Register(RegisterVM vm){
...
//when viewing vm.AddressInformation.Street1 is null. and there is a value
//Is there a different way of retrieving the values from partial view?
}
Thanks for reading.

Answer 1

The error is generated because property AddressInformation is null, and you need to initailize it in a parameterless constructor or in the controller before you pass it to the view, for example
public class RegisterVM
{
public RegisterVM() // default constructor
{
AddressInformation = new AddressVM();
}
public AddressVM AddressInformation { get; set; }
....
}
However you usage means that the controls generated will be
<input name="Street1" .../>
whereas they need to be
<input name="AddressInformation.Street1" .../>
in order to bind to your model. You can either make your partial an EditorTemplate (/Views/Shared/EditorTemplates/AddressVM.cshtml) and use in the main view as
#Html.EditorFor(m => m.AddressInformation)
or pass the prefix to the partial as additional ViewData
#Html.Partial("_AddressDetails", Model.AddressInformation, new ViewDataDictionary { TemplateInfo = new TemplateInfo { HtmlFieldPrefix = "AddressInformation" }})

Answer 2

This is working for me. You just need to instantiate your VM, attach it and send it to the view.
Page Action
public ActionResult Page(){
RegisterVM vm = new RegisterVM();
vm.AddressInformation = new AddressVM();
return View(vm);
}
Page.cshtml
#model Project.Web.Models.RegisterVM
<!-- loading partial view -->
#Html.Partial("_AddressDetails",Model.AddressInformation)
Partial View File
<input type="text" name="name" value=" " />

Answer 3

I am not having more info about code but as per mention details, can you try this
public ActionResult Register(){ return View(register); }
i know you may tried this but try to assigned explict value. as this is basic MVC implementation. if it not work out then you need to provide more code details.
hope this help.

Answer 4

in Register get Method must instatiate your viewModel because in view, call other partial with viewModel members(proprties);
public ActionResult Register(){
RegisterVM vm = new RegisterVM();
return View(vm);
}