How to convert query string parameters to route in asp.net mvc 4

Question

I have a blogging system that I'm building and I can't seem to get ASP.NET MVC to understand my route.

the route I need is /blogs/student/firstname-lastname so /blogs/student/john-doe, which routes to a blogs area, student controller's index action, which takes a string name parameter.

Here is my route

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "StudentBlogs",
    url: "blogs/student/{name}",
    defaults: new { controller = "Student", action="Index"}
);

My controller action

public ActionResult Index(string name)
{
    string[] nameparts = name.Split(new char[]{'-'});
    string firstName = nameparts[0];
    string lastName = nameparts[1];

    if (nameparts.Length == 2 && name != null)
    {
      // load students blog from database
    }
    return RedirectToAction("Index", "Index", new { area = "Blogs" });            
}

But it won't seem to resolve...it works fine with /blogs/student/?name=firstname-lastname, but not using the route I want, which is /blogs/student/firstname-lastname. Any advice on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.

My RouteConfig

 public class RouteConfig
{
    public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes)
    {
        routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}");

        routes.MapRoute(
         name: "StudentBlogs",
         url: "blogs/student/{name}",
         defaults: new { controller = "Student", action = "Index"},
         constraints: new { name = @"[a-zA-Z-]+" },
          namespaces: new string[] { "IAUCollege.Areas.Blogs.Controllers" }
     );

        routes.MapRoute(
            name: "Sitemap",
            url :"sitemap.xml",
            defaults: new { controller = "XmlSiteMap", action = "Index", page = 0}
        );

        //CmsRoute is moved to Gloabal.asax

        // campus maps route
        routes.MapRoute(
            name: "CampusMaps",
            url: "locations/campusmaps",
            defaults: new { controller = "CampusMaps", action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }
        );


        // core route
        routes.MapRoute(
            name: "Default",
            url: "{controller}/{action}/{id}",
            defaults: new { controller = "Home", action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }
        );

        // error routes
        routes.MapRoute(
            name: "Error",
            url: "Error/{status}",
            defaults: new { controller = "Error", action = "Error404", status = UrlParameter.Optional }
        );


        // Add our route registration for MvcSiteMapProvider sitemaps
        MvcSiteMapProvider.Web.Mvc.XmlSiteMapController.RegisterRoutes(routes);
    }
}

Which route is it actually matching? You've only shown us one of your mapped routes. — Robert Harvey
– Robert Harvey, Commented Jan 21, 2014 at 21:56
Just throws a 404, when trying /blogs/student/firstname-lastname, but if I use /blogs/student/?name=firstname-lastname it resolves /blogs/student/ controller's index action, which has a string parameter name. — Carl Weis
– Carl Weis, Commented Jan 21, 2014 at 21:58

Sam · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 22:50:22Z

You have to declare custom routes before the default routes. Otherwise it will be mapping to {controller}/{action}/{id}.

Global.asax typically looks like this:

protected void Application_Start()
{
    AreaRegistration.RegisterAllAreas();
    RouteConfig.RegisterRoutes(RouteTable.Routes);
}

If you created an Area named Blogs, there is a corresponding BlogsAreaRegistration.cs file that looks like this:

public class BlogsAreaRegistration : AreaRegistration 
{
    public override string AreaName 
    {
        get 
        {
            return "Blogs";
        }
    }

    public override void RegisterArea(AreaRegistrationContext context) 
    {
        context.MapRoute(
            "Admin_default",
            "Blogs/{controller}/{action}/{id}",
            new { action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }
        );
    }
}

Hyphens are sometimes treated like forward slashes in routes. When you are using the route blogs/students/john-doe, my guess is that it is matching the Area pattern above using blogs/students/john/doe, which would result in a 404. Add your custom route to the BlogsAreaRegistration.cs file above the default routes.

Typically Area Routes get created before your other routes. If you truly created an Area named blogs, chances are that there is a BlogsAreaRegistration.cs file in your area with a conflicting route that is preceding this one. Is there a reason you are not creating this route in the BlogsAreaRegistration.cs file to begin with?

Colin Pear · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 22:04:06Z

0

Try adding the parameter to the route:

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "StudentBlogs",
    url: "blogs/student/{name}",
    defaults: new { controller = "Student", action="Index", name = UrlParameter.Optional}
);

answered Jan 21, 2014 at 22:04

Colin Pear

3,1101 gold badge32 silver badges33 bronze badges

Comments

Simon Whitehead · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 22:30:26Z

0

Try adding a constraint for the name parameter:

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "StudentBlogs",
    url: "blogs/student/{name}",
    defaults: new { controller = "Student", action="Index" },
    constraints: new { name = @"[a-zA-Z-]+" }
);

Dashes are a bit weird in MVC at times.. because they are used to resolve underscores. I will remove this answer if this doesn't work (although.. it should).

This has the added benefit of failing to match the route if a URL such as /blogs/student/12387 is used.

EDIT:

If you have controllers with the same name.. you need to include namespaces in both of your routes in each area. It doesn't matter where the controllers are.. even if in separate areas.

Try adding the appropriate namespace to each of the routes that deal with the Student controller. Somewhat like this:

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "StudentBlogs",
    url: "blogs/student/{name}",
    defaults: new { controller = "Student", action="Index" },
    namespaces: new string[] { "Website.Areas.Blogs.Controllers" }
);

..and perhaps Website.Areas.Admin.Controllers for the one in the admin area.

edited Jan 21, 2014 at 22:30

answered Jan 21, 2014 at 22:08

Simon Whitehead

65.3k10 gold badges120 silver badges140 bronze badges

8 Comments

Carl Weis Over a year ago

makes sense, but still throws a 404.

Simon Whitehead Over a year ago

Do you perhaps have another controller called Student in another area?

Carl Weis Over a year ago

I do in the admin area, but I have added area="Blogs" to the route defaults, and it still 404's.

Carl Weis Over a year ago

If I add the route to Global.ascx instead of the RouteConfig, I get The view 'Index' or its master was not found or no view engine supports the searched locations. The following locations were searched: ~/Views/Student/Index.aspx ~/Views/Student/Index.ascx ~/Views/Shared/Index.aspx ~/Views/Shared/Index.ascx ~/Views/Student/Index.cshtml ~/Views/Student/Index.vbhtml ~/Views/Shared/Index.cshtml ~/Views/Shared/Index.vbhtml It's not looking in the area for the view.

Simon Whitehead Over a year ago

I have updated my answer. Try explicitly passing the namespace to both of your routes that involve the Student controller.

|

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to convert query string parameters to route in asp.net mvc 4

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

Comments

8 Comments

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

Comments

8 Comments

Linked

Related