How to get file from HDD to Bitmap object [ASP MVC 3]? - asp.net-mvc

Question

I'm new to ASP MVC and I've been trying to upload a bitmap file from hard drive to a C# Bitmap object, which I would later assign to my Model.
The view (cshtml file) looks like this:
<form action = "DisplayAddedPicture" method=post>
<input type=file name="Picture" id = "Picture"/>
<input type=submit value="Send!" />
</form>
And the DisplayAddedPicture method from controller:
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult DisplayAddedPicture()
{
HttpPostedFileBase File = Request.Files["Picture"];
if (File == null) throw new Exception("NullArgument :( ");
// file stream to byte[]
MemoryStream target = new MemoryStream();
File.InputStream.CopyTo(target);
byte[] TempByteArray = target.ToArray();
// byte[] to Bitmap
ImageConverter imageConverter = new ImageConverter();
Image TempImage = (Image)imageConverter.ConvertFrom(TempByteArray);
Bitmap FinalBitmap = new Bitmap(TempImage);
// (...)
}
It turns out that every time all I get is an Exception, as the HttpPostedFileBase object is always null. Is there any flow in my logic (apart from all of those conversions which come afterwards, I know they're messy) or is there any other way to solve this?

Answer 1

Try this
In your View,
#using (Html.BeginForm("DisplayAddedPicture", "YourControllerName",
FormMethod.Post, new { enctype = "multipart/form-data" }))
{
<input type=file name="Picture" id = "Picture"/>
<input type=submit value="Send!" />
}
And the Action method
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult DisplayAddedPicture(HttpPostedFileBase Picture)
{
if (Picture!= null && Picture.ContentLength > 0)
{
//Do some thing with the Picture object
//try to save the file here now.
//After saving follow the PRG pattter (do a redirect)
//return RedirectToAction("Uploaded");
}
return View();
}

Answer 2

Try adding the following to your form tag: enctype="multipart/form-data"
<form method="post" action="DisplayAddedPicture" enctype="multipart/form-data">
<input type=file name="Picture" id = "Picture"/>
<input type=submit value="Send!" />
</form>