I can't seem to get the edit function of my view to work..i have a page that lists, a page that shows specific detail and on that page, i should be able to edit the information of the form..PROBLEM: when i run the application it says:No parameterless constructor defined for this object. What am i doing wrong...?
In the Home Controller i have:
Edit Functions:
[HttpGet]
public ViewResult EditSchoolDetails(int id)
{
var institution = _educationRepository.GetInstititionById(id);
var model = (Mapper.Map<Institution, InstitutionModel>(institution));
return View(model);
}
post
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult EditSchoolDetails( InstitutionModel institutionModel, int id)
{
if (ModelState.IsValid) {
//_get from repository and add to instituion
var institution = _educationRepository.GetInstititionById(institutionModel.Id);
// Map from the view model back to the domain model
var model = Mapper.Map<Institution, InstitutionModel>(institution);
//UpdateModel(model);
SaveChanges();
return RedirectToAction("ViewSchoolDetails", new {institutionModel = institutionModel, id = id});
}
return View(institutionModel);
}
InstitutionModel
public class InstitutionModel {
public InstitutionModel() {
NAABAccreditations = new List<AccreditationModel>();
}
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
public bool IsNAAB { get { return NAABAccreditations.Any(); } }
public string Website { get; set; }
public AddressModel Address { get; set; }
public IEnumerable<AccreditationModel> NAABAccreditations { get; set; }
}
Does the Institution class have a parameterless constructor? If not, that will be the problem. You are passing an InstitutionModel to the the edit view, so the post action should probably take an InstitutionModel too, then you can map back to the original Institution model:
public ActionResult EditSchoolDetails(int id, InstitutionModel institutionModel)
{
if (ModelState.IsValid)
{
//add to database and save changes
Institution institutionEntity = _educationRepository.GetInstititionById(institution.Id);
// Map from the view model back to the domain model
Mapper.Map<InstitutionModel, Institution>(institutionModel, institutionEntity);
SaveChanges();
return RedirectToAction("ViewSchoolDetails",);
}
return View(institutionModel);
}
Notice also how it returns the view model back to the view if the model state isn't valid, otherwise you will lose all your form values!
Here's a similar question too which might help: ASP.NET MVC: No parameterless constructor defined for this object
Is it possible you need to pass a parameter to ViewSchoolDetails? I notice in the return statement you commented out that you were passing it an id, but in the return statement you're using, you're not passing in anything.
EDIT
This (from your comment below):
parameters dictionary contains a null entry for parameter 'id' of non-nullable type 'System.Int32' for method 'System.Web.Mvc.ActionResult ViewSchoolDetails(Int32)
...tells me you need to pass a parameter to ViewSchoolDetails
EDIT 2
I saw your edit, and would say this: if the method you are calling is
public ActionResult ViewSchoolDetails(InstitutionModel institutionModel, int id)
Then you MUST pass it an object of type InstitutionModel and an int as parameters or you will get an exception. Meaning, you need
RedirectToAction("ViewSchoolDetails", new {institutionModel = institutionModel, id = id});
Whenever i get this, i have forgotten to create a parameter-less constructor on my view-model. I always add one now just in case it's needed and i forget.
Does InstitutionModel have one?
Related
I have a navigation bar, with several links, like this:
MenuItem1
This request would hit my action method:
public ActionResult Browse(int departmentId)
{
var complexVM = MyCache.GetComplexVM(departmentId);
return View(complexVM);
}
This is my ComplexVM:
public class ComplexVM
{
public int DepartmentId { get; set; }
public string DepartmentName { get; set; }
}
MyCache, is a static list of departments, which I am keeping in memory, so when user passes in DepartmentId, I wouldn't need to get the corresponding DepartmentName from DB.
This is working fine... but it would be nice if I could somehow initialize ComplexVM in custom model binder, instead of initializing it in the Controller... so I still want to use a link (menu item), but this time, a CustomModelBinder binds my parameter, 2, to ComplexVM: it needs to look up the name of department with id = 2 from MyCache and initialize ComplexVM, then ComplexVM would be passed to this action method:
public ActionResult Browse(ComplexVM complexVM)
{
return View(complexVM);
}
I want to hit the above controller without doing a post-back, as I have a lot of menu item links in my navigation bar... not sure if this is possible? Or if this is even a good idea?
I have seen this link, which sort of describes what I want... but I am not sure how the routing would work... i.e. routing id:2 => ComplexVM
Alternatively would it be possible to do this in RouteConfig, something like this:
routes.MapRoute(
name: "Browse",
url: "{controller}/Browse/{departmentId}",
// this does not compile, just want to explain what I want...
defaults: new { action = "Browse", new ComplexVM(departmentId) });
I can achieve this with little change and with one trick
MenuItem1
Controller action
public ActionResult Browse(ComplexVM complexVM)
{
return View(complexVM);
}
View model
public class ComplexVM
{
public int DepartmentId { get; set; }
public string DepartmentName { get; set; }
public ComplexVM()
{
this.DepartmentId = System.Convert.ToInt32(HttpContext.Current.Request("id").ToString);
this.DepartmentName = "Your name from cache"; // Get name from your cache
}
}
This is without using model binder. Trick may help.
That is possible. It is also a good idea :) Off-loading parts of the shared responsibility to models / action filters is great. The only problem is because they are using some special classes to inherit from, testing them sometimes might be slightly harder then just testing the controller. Once you get the hang of it - it's better.
Your complex model should look like
// Your model class
[ModelBinder(typeof(ComplexVMModelBinder)]
public class ComplexVMModel
{
[Required]
public int DepartmentId { get; set; }
public string DepartmentName { get; set; }
}
// Your binder class
public class ComplexVMModelBinder : IModelBinder
{
// Returns false if you can't bind.
public bool BindModel(HttpActionContext actionContext, ModelBindingContext modelContext)
{
if (modelContext.ModelType != typeof(ComplexVMModel))
{
return false;
}
// Somehow get the depid from the request - this might not work.
int depId = HttpContext.Current.Request.Params["DepID"];
// Create and assign the model.
bindingContext.Model = new ComplexVMModel() { DepartmentName = CacheLookup(), DepId = depId };
return true;
}
}
Then at the beginning of your action method, you check the ModelState to see if it's valid or not. There are a few things which can make the model state non-valid (like not having a [Required] parameter.)
public ActionResult Browse(ComplexVM complexVM)
{
if (!ModelState.IsValid)
{
//If not valid - return some error view.
}
}
Now you just need to register this Model Binder.
protected void Application_Start()
{
AreaRegistration.RegisterAllAreas();
FilterConfig.RegisterGlobalFilters(GlobalFilters.Filters);
RouteConfig.RegisterRoutes(RouteTable.Routes);
BundleConfig.RegisterBundles(BundleTable.Bundles);
ModelBinders.Binders.Add(typeof(ComplexVMModel), new ComplexVMModelBinder());
}
Your should be able to use the route config that you've provided.
In my applicantion, I browse to the URL by supplying the parameters through query string. Based on the URI, the respective controller's action is triggered, and the parameters supplied are auto-mapped to my model.
URL: http://{host}:{port}/{website}/{controller}/{action}?{querystring}
URI:
/{controller}/{Action}?{QueryString}
My URI: Employee/Add?EmployeeCode=Code3&EmployeeId=103
EmployeeModel
public class EmployeeModel
{
public Employee()
{
}
public string EmployeeId { get; set; }
public string EmployeeCode { get; set; }
//Some more properties here
}
EmployeeController
[HttpGet]
[Route("Add")]
public IActionResult Add([FromUri] EmployeeModel model)
{
//Some code here
}
While this all works fabulous, when I browse through, below is the order in which break-points hit,
Add method of EmployeeController
Default constructor of EmployeeModel
set method of EmployeeId property of EmployeeModel
set method of EmployeeCode property of EmployeeModel
I suspect the order in which the properties get initialized is based on the order they are declared in the class.
But, to create an instance and initialize the properties the framework must be using reflection. And as per the MSDN documentation for Type.GetProperties the order is not guarateed.
The GetProperties method does not return properties in a particular
order, such as alphabetical or declaration order. Your code must not
depend on the order in which properties are returned, because that
order varies.
I basically want the initialization to take place in a specific order, is this possible?
You can't get the model binding mechanism to do things in a specific order, but you can make sure that the order is applied where it has to be.
Presumably, EmployeeModel is a domain model object on which the order actually matters, and you're now model binding directly to this type. Instead, introduce an edit model1 which you model bind to, and then map that to your model type:
public class EmployeeEditModel
{
public string EmployeeId { get; set; }
public string EmployeeCode { get; set; }
}
// and change your action signature to this:
[HttpGet]
[Route("Add")]
public IActionResult Add([FromUri] EmployeeEditModel model)
1 For an explanation of what an edit model is, see the final remarks on this old answer of mine.
To perform the mapping you have numerous alternatives, some better than others. Pick one that suits you - however, since the reason the order matters is probably something inherent in the domain model object, I'd advice you to put the logic inside it (e.g. in a constructor), to make it easier to remember to change it if the requirements change.
Map via a constructor on the model object
public class EmployeeModel
{
public EmployeeModel(string employeeId, string employeeCode /* , ... */)
{
// do stuff in whatever order you need
EmployeeId = employeeId;
EmployeeCode = employeeCode;
}
// Now your properties can be get-only
public string EmployeeId { get; }
public string EmployeeCode { get; }
}
Map via an extension method that does everything in the right order
public static class EmployeeEditModelExtensions
{
public EmployeeModel AsDomainModel(this EmployeeEditModel editModel)
{
// do stuff in whatever order you need
var model = new EmployeeModel();
model.EmployeeId = editModel.EmployeeId;
model.EmployeeCode = editModel.EmployeeCode;
// ...
}
// Now your properties can be get-only
public string EmployeeId { get; }
public string EmployeeCode { get; }
}
Use an external framework such as AutoMapper, with custom configuration to make sure that the ordering is correct
Do something else. The only purpose is to get you from an EmployeeEditModel instance to an EmployeeModel instance, assigning to the properties of the EmployeeModel in the correct order. Since you write this code yourself, you can do what you want.
I have something like this
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult CreatePost(Post post)
{
var categoryList = Request["CategoryList"].Split(',');
//I want to set my Category Name in here
foreach (var category in categoryList)
{
post.Categories.Add(new Category { Name = category });
}
post.CreatedDate = DateTime.Now;
post.CreatedBy = _userService.GetCurrentUser().Id;
_postService.CreatePost(post);
return View();
}
I want to set public virtual ICollection<Category> Categories { get; set; }this is in my Post Model. It has two properties Id and Name. I want to set my property in my CreatePost method like above. How should I do that?
Here it is how i solved my problem without create a instance in my ActionResult method
I just created instance in Model constructor.
public Post()
{
this.Categories = new HashSet<Category>();
}
And this is the right solution for do that.
I have a view that is using a model and I am using that information to create a form.
I have three steps of the form that are optional or may not be shown.
The problem is that these hidden sections get posted along with the form data and break the business logic. (I have no control over the business logic)
So is there a way to tell the framework not to pass certain sections or fields? Perhaps VIA a class or something?
I know I could use AJAX to send certain sections as they are needed, but the site spec is to have them hidden and displayed as needed.
Although you could do this client-side, it won't stop malicious over-posting/mass assignment.
I suggest reading 6 Ways To Avoid Mass Assignment in ASP.NET MVC.
Excerpts:
Specify Included Properties only:
[HttpPost]
public ViewResult Edit([Bind(Include = "FirstName")] User user)
{
// ...
}
Specify Excluded Properties only:
[HttpPost]
public ViewResult Edit([Bind(Exclude = "IsAdmin")] User user)
{
// ...
}
Use TryUpdateModel()
[HttpPost]
public ViewResult Edit()
{
var user = new User();
TryUpdateModel(user, includeProperties: new[] { "FirstName" });
// ...
}
Using an Interface
public interface IUserInputModel
{
string FirstName { get; set; }
}
public class User : IUserInputModel
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public bool IsAdmin { get; set; }
}
[HttpPost]
public ViewResult Edit()
{
var user = new User();
TryUpdateModel<IUserInputModel>(user);
// ...
}
Use the ReadOnlyAttribute
public class User
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
[ReadOnly(true)]
public bool IsAdmin { get; set; }
}
Lastly, and the most recommended approach is to use a real ViewModel, instead a domain Model:
public class UserInputViewModel
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
}
Show/Hide will not allow/disallow the value from being sent to the Controller.
Elements that are Disabled or just not editable will (99% of the time) be returned as null / minVal.
You can set the elements in the View as Disabled by using JQuery in the script:
$('#elementID').attr("disabled", true);
OR you could use a DOM command:
document.getElementById('elementID').disabled = "true";
So you can set the fields as both Disabled AND Hidden, so that it is neither displayed, nor populated. Then in your Controller you can just base the Business Logic on whether or not certain fields (preferable Mandatory fields, if you have any) are null.
You can check this in C# like this:
For a string:
if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Model.stringField))
{
ModelState.AddModelError("stringField", "This is an error.");
}
For a DateTime:
if (Model.dateTimeField == DateTime.MinValue)
{
ModelState.AddModelError("dateTimeField ", "This is an error.");
}
Just for interest sake, here is how you can Hide/Show elements on the View using JQuery:
$('#elementID').hide();
$('#elementID').show();
This is what my data model classes look like:
public class Employee
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public Position Position { get; set; }
}
public class Position
{
public string Title { get; set; }
}
I have a Create view where I want to have two text boxes for first name and last name, and then a dropdown box that has the position title. I tried doing it this way:
View (only the relevant part):
<p>
<label for="Position">Position:</label>
<%= Html.DropDownList("Positions") %>
</p>
Controller:
//
// GET: /Employees/Create
public ActionResult Create()
{
ViewData["Positions"] = new SelectList(from p in _positions.GetAllPositions() select p.Title);
return View();
}
//
// POST: /Employees/Create
[AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
public ActionResult Create(Employee employeeToAdd)
{
try
{
employeeToAdd.Position = new Position {Title = (string)ViewData["Positions"]};
_employees.AddEmployee(employeeToAdd);
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
catch
{
return View();
}
}
However, when I click submit, I get this exception:
System.InvalidOperationException was unhandled by user code
Message="There is no ViewData item of type 'IEnumerable<SelectListItem>' that has the key 'Positions'."
I'm pretty sure I'm doing this wrong. What is the correct way of populating the dropdown box?
You can store:
(string)ViewData["Positions"]};
in a hiddn tag on the page then call it like this
[AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
public ActionResult Create(Employee employeeToAdd, string Positions)
{
In the Create() (WITH POST ATTRIBUTE) employee since the ViewData["Positions"] is not set you are getting this error. This value should form part of your post request and on rebinding after post should fetch it from store or get it from session/cache if you need to rebind this..
Remember ViewData is only available for the current request, so for post request ViewData["Positions"] is not yet created and hence this exception.
You can do one quick test... override the OnActionExecuting method of the controller and put the logic to fetch positions there so that its always availlable. This should be done for data that is required for each action... This is only for test purpose in this case...
// add the required namespace for the model...
protected override void OnActionExecuting(ActionExecutingContext filterContext)
{
// add your logic to populate positions here...
ViewData["Positions"] = new SelectList(from p in _positions.GetAllPositions() select p.Title);
}
There may be other clean solutions to this as well probably using a custom model binder...
I believe that ViewData is for passing information to your View, but it doesn't work in reverse. That is, ViewData won't be set from Request.Form. I think you might want to change your code as follows:
// change following
employeeToAdd.Position = new Position {Title = (string)ViewData["Positions"]};
// to this?
employeeToAdd.Position = new Position {Title = (string)Request.Form["Positions"]};
Good luck!