How do I use a common _ViewStart in areas?

In my "root" Views folder, I have a _ViewStart with the following code:

@Code
    Layout = "~/Views/Shared/_Layout.vbhtml"
End COde

In my Area/Public/Views folder, I have a copy of my _ViewStart from the root Views folder.

But when I run the code, I get this error:

Unable to cast object of type 'ASP._ViewStart_vbhtml' to type 'System.Web.WebPages.StartPage'.

What I'm doing wrong?

Can I use one _ViewStart.vbhtml for my areas too?

How can I use _ViewStart.vbhtml in Areas?

Solution

You need to copy the ~\Views\Web.config file (or at least the following configuration elements) into your Area's View Web.Config:

<configSections>
  <sectionGroup name="system.web.webPages.razor" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorWebSectionGroup, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
    <section name="host" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
    <section name="pages" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorPagesSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
  </sectionGroup>
</configSections>

<system.web.webPages.razor>
  <host factoryType="System.Web.Mvc.MvcWebRazorHostFactory, System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
  <pages pageBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.WebViewPage">
    <namespaces>
      <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc" />
      <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc.Ajax" />
      <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc.Html" />
      <add namespace="System.Web.Routing" />
    </namespaces>
  </pages>
</system.web.webPages.razor>