using strongly typed partial views inside another Strongly Typed view

Question

I have NameModel and RegisterModel and SuperClass classes as below: -

Case 1: - Using SuperClass

public class SuperClass
{
   public RegisterModel Register{ get; set; }
   public NameModel NameInfo { get; set; }
}

public class NameModel
{
    [Required]
    public string FirstName { get; set; }
    public string MiddleName { get; set; }
    [Required]
    public string LastName { get; set; }
}

  public class RegisterModel
    {       
        public NameModel NameInfo{ get; set; }
        [Required]
        public string UserName { get; set; } 
        [Required]
        public string Password { get; set;}
    }

MyNamePartial strongly typed View is as follows :-

@model MyNamespace.Models.NameModel
@{
    Layout = null;
}
{
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.FirstName,new { @id="firstName"} )
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.MiddleName,new { @id="middleName"} )
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.LastName,new { @id="lastName"} )
}

My Registration View is strongly typed of Register Model as follows :-

@model MyNamespace.Models.SuperClass
@{
    Layout = "~/Views/_Layout.cshtml";
}

@using (Html.BeginForm(null, null, FormMethod.Post, new { id = "myForm" }))
{
   <div id="form">
       @Html.Partial("NameModel",Model.NameInfo)       
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.Register.UserName,new { @id="userName"})
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.Register.Password,new { @id="password"})
    <input type="submit" value="Register" id="btnRegister" />
  </div>
}

Above approach gives object reference error.

Case 2: - Using HTML.Action and no SuperClass Tried using @Html.Action("MyNamePartialView")instead of @Html.Partial("NameModel",Model.NameInfo),Then I use Controller Action method as below

My Registration View is strongly typed of Register Model as follows :-

@model MyNamespace.Models.RegisterModel
@{
    Layout = "~/Views/_Layout.cshtml";
}

@using (Html.BeginForm(null, null, FormMethod.Post, new { id = "myForm" }))
{
   <div id="form">
      @Html.Action("MyNamePartialView")

    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.UserName,new { @id="userName"})
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.Password,new { @id="password"})
    <input type="submit" value="Register" id="btnRegister" />
   </div>
}

Register Controller :-

  public ActionResult MyNamePartialView()
  {            
      return PartialView("MyNamePartial", new NameModel());
  }      

[HttpPost]
[AllowAnonymous]
public ActionResult Register(RegisterrModel model)
{
    @ViewBag.sideMenuHeader = "Create an Account";

    if (ModelState.IsValid)
    {
          //Perform Something
           return View();
    }
         return View();
} 

The above case doesnt bind the values entered on form. it sets null for NameModel.

I don't want to use EditorFor as i have to supply html and custom attributes to helpers.The binding for the partial view fails.it gives me object reference error in Registration view. How can i use such strongly typed Partial views with such a such Model class hierarchy as explained above ?

Answer 1

The simplest way to do this is to use a child action

@model MyNamespace.Models.Register.SuperModel
@{
    Layout = "~/Views/_Layout.cshtml";
}



@using (Html.BeginForm(null, null, FormMethod.Post, new { id = "myForm" }))
{
   <div id="form">
       @Html.Action("MyNamePartialView")
   </div>
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.Register.UserName,new { @id="userName"})
    @Html.TextBoxFor(m=>m.Register.Password,new { @id="password"})
    <input type="submit" value="Register" id="btnRegister" />
}

make your action post accept 2 classes

public ActionResult Register(RegisterModel RegisterInfo, NameModel NameInfo)