How to return to calling page, but with a slight difference, in MVC3? - asp.net-mvc

Question

I need to call another MVC3 page(P2) and then return to calling page(P1). However the slight twist is that P2 needs to call itself, so the referrer can end up being P2.
So:
P1 - (P2 -> P2 -> P2) ->P1
So the question is how do I get P1's referrer URL and keep it and then use it later to go back to P1, regardless of the number of time P2 calls itself.
I did try and populate ViewBag.Referrer:
Back
using the following controller code, trying to only set it on the original call. However ViewBag.Referrer always seemed to pick up the P2 Referrer URL, even though in debug mode it was not resetting ViewBag.Referrer due to IsOriginalCall=0. It is weird. It is as if I am storing a pointer and not the value.
public ViewResult Index(int id = 0, int IsOriginalCall = 0)
{
if (IsOriginalCall =1)
{
if (Request.UrlReferrer != null)
{
ViewBag.Referrer = Request.UrlReferrer.LocalPath;
}
}
ViewBag.SLIid = id == 0 ? 4 : id;
return View(db.StdSection.Where(r=>r.InWizard).OrderBy(r=>r.Name).ToList());
}
Thoughts and a solution would be hugely appreciated. I have been going around in circles on this one.
Thanks in advance.
EDIT, Attempt 2 with TempData:
Calling code:
#Html.ActionLink("Sections", "Index","SSLI2", new { id=item.Id, ReturnUrl = Request.Url.ToString() },null)
Controller:
public ViewResult Index(string ReturnUrl, int id = 0)
{
if (ReturnUrl != "x")
{
//ViewBag.Referrer = Request.UrlReferrer.LocalPath;
TempData["Referrer"] = ReturnUrl;
}
ViewBag.SLIid = id == 0 ? 4 : id;
return View(db.StdSection.Where(r=>r.InWizard).OrderBy(r=>r.Name).ToList());
}
View:
Back
Which produces:
Back when P2 goes back to P2, but seems to use P2 referrer URL ????

Answer 1

You could pass the ReferrerUrl in from P1 querystring and then store the value in TempData. It will then survive transition from one action call to another.
Another option would be to pass the ReferrerUrl in from P1 in the querystring and then put the value in a hidden input on P2.
#Html.HiddenFor(m => m.ReferrerUrl)
or
#Html.Hidden("ReferrerUrl", ViewBag.ReferrerUrl)
then pick the value up on each post-back and render it as a hidden input value again.
Edit
You could maybe try doing something like:
public ViewResult Index(string returnUrl, int id = 0)
{
ViewBag.ReturnUrl = returnUrl;
ViewBag.SLIid = id == 0 ? 4 : id;
// This can be picked up in another action method.
TempData["ReturnUrl"] = returnUrl;
return View(db.StdSection.Where(r=>r.InWizard).OrderBy(r=>r.Name).ToList());
}
Then maybe render it using:
Back