Calling background method from mvc4 view - asp.net-mvc

Question

I want to call method which will do something in background, but I don't want to change the current view. This is the method:
public ActionResult BayesTraining(string s,string path)
{
XmlParse xp = new XmlParse();
using (StreamWriter sw = System.IO.File.AppendText(path))
{
sw.WriteLine("d:/xml/"+xp.stripS(s)+".xml");
sw.Close();
}
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
As you can see, I'm currently using RedirectToAction, that just reloads the page after the method is done working. Having in mind that method doesn't effect UI, I don't want to refresh web page every time I've used it. It's job should be done in background. So, how could I call it, without the need to redirect the view?

Answer 1

If you want something you can fire and forget use an ajax call. For instance if you change your action method to
public JsonResult BayesTraining(string s,string path)
{
XmlParse xp = new XmlParse();
using (StreamWriter sw = System.IO.File.AppendText(path))
{
sw.WriteLine("d:/xml/"+xp.stripS(s)+".xml");
sw.Close();
}
return Json("Success");
}
Then in your view bind to the UI event you need to via jQuery, for instance to bind to a button with id of BayesTraining do the following
$("#BayesTraining").click(function(){
$.post('#Url.Action( "BayesTraining" , "ControllerNameHere" , new { s = "stringcontent", path="//thepath//tothe//xmlfile//here//} )', function(data) {
//swallow success here.
});
}
DISCLAIMER: above code is not tested.
Hopefully it'll point you in the right direction.

Answer 2

If the method doesn't affect the UI, does it need to return an ActionResult? Couldn't it return void instead?
public void BayesTraining(string s,string path)
{
XmlParse xp = new XmlParse();
using (StreamWriter sw = System.IO.File.AppendText(path))
{
sw.WriteLine("d:/xml/"+xp.stripS(s)+".xml");
sw.Close();
}
}