Partial View with self updating - asp.net-mvc

Question

I'm learning ASP.NET MVC and I've encountered a problem in my practice project (MVC Music Store). I have made a partial view to search for an artist. I expect the partial view to take no arguments and work on its own.
Partial view in the right half part
I have a view specific model for the Artist Search Partial View. The model is as follows:
public class ArtistSearch
{
public string SearchString { get; set; }
public List<Artist> SearchResult { get; set; }
public ArtistSearch()
{
SearchResult=new List<Artist>();
}
}
Controller code is as follows:
public ActionResult Search(string query)
{
ArtistSearch asResult = new ArtistSearch();
if (query != null)
{
var temp = from a in db.Artists
where a.Name.Contains(query)
select a;
asResult.SearchResult = temp.ToList();
asResult.SearchString = query;
}
return PartialView(asResult);
}
The Partial View is as follows:
#model MvcMusicStore.Models.ArtistSearch
<div class="big-search-box">
<form action="#Url.Action("Search","Artist")" method="post" role="form">
<div class="input-group">
#Html.TextBox("query", #Model.SearchString, new { #class = "form-control nrb input-lg", placeholder = "Input your search query..." })
<div class="input-group-btn">
<input type="submit" name="Send" value="Search" class="btn btn-primary btn-iconed btn-lg" />
</div>
</div>
</form>
</div>
<div class="big-search-result-info clearfix">
<div class="pull-left">Showing results for <strong>#Model.SearchString</strong>.</div>
<div class="pull-right"><strong>#Model.SearchResult.Count</strong> artist(s) found.</div>
</div>
<table>
#foreach (var item in #Model.SearchResult)
{
<tr>
<td>
#Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Name)
</td>
<td>
<a href="#item.Id" >
<img src=#item.PhotoURL alt=#item.Name style="width:100px;height:70px;">
</a>
</td>
</tr>
}
</table>
I wish to place this partial view anywhere on the site. Lets say i placed it(using RenderAction) on Artist/Index Controllers View page.
The simple functionality that I'm trying to achieve is that when i click on search it should self update the partial view with search results. Right now it is transferring me to Artist/Search page.
Thanks for the patience.

Answer 1

Try to use Ajax.BeginForm, below is an example:
Action
public ActionResult Search(string query)
{
ArtistSearch asResult = new ArtistSearch();
if (query != null)
{
var temp = from a in db.Artists
where a.Name.Contains(query)
select a;
asResult.SearchResult = temp.ToList();
asResult.SearchString = query;
}
return PartialView("MyParitalView",asResult);
}
View
<script src="~/Scripts/jquery-1.10.2.min.js"></script>
<script src="~/Scripts/jquery.unobtrusive-ajax.js"></script>
#using (Ajax.BeginForm("Search", "Home", new AjaxOptions { UpdateTargetId = "result" }))
{
<div class="input-group">
#Html.TextBox("query", #Model.SearchString, new { #class = "form-control nrb input-lg", placeholder = "Input your search query..." })
<div class="input-group-btn">
<input type="submit" name="Send" value="Search" class="btn btn-primary btn-iconed btn-lg" />
</div>
</div>
}
<div id="result"></div>
Parital View : MyParitalView
#model MvcMusicStore.Models.ArtistSearch
<div class="big-search-result-info clearfix">
<div class="pull-left">Showing results for <strong>#Model.SearchString</strong>.</div>
<div class="pull-right"><strong>#Model.SearchResult.Count</strong> artist(s) found.</div>
</div>
<table>
#foreach (var item in #Model.SearchResult)
{
<tr>
<td>
#Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Name)
</td>
<td>
<a href="#item.Id">
<img src=#item.PhotoURL alt=#item.Name style="width:100px;height:70px;">
</a>
</td>
</tr>
}
</table>