ASP.NET MVC - get list of objects from query string

Question

I'm passed a list of parameters. Such as "Name", "Id", "Type". There will be an many of these in url, like so:

"Name=blah1,Id=231,Type=blah1;Name=blah2,Id=2221,Type=blah1;Name=blah3,Id=45411,Type=blah3;"

I wonder if there is a way to map these query parameters to a List of objects. So, I can create an object:

MyTestObject {Name;Id;Type} and can say in my controller

Index(IList<MyTestObject> params)

params will be filled in with data from query string.

Something that is similar to http://haacked.com/archive/2008/10/23/model-binding-to-a-list.aspx

Answer 1

Yes, ASP.NET MVC could automatically bind collections to action params, but you need to pass your params as a from values, moreover, it is looks like to many params you going pass in query string. Have look at this one http://weblogs.asp.net/nmarun/archive/2010/03/13/asp-net-mvc-2-model-binding-for-a-collection.aspx

Basically what you need to do:

1) Create your class which would contain your params

public class MyParam 
{
 public int Id {get; set;}
 public string Name {get; set;}

 //do all the rest
}

2) Create model which you would pass to your view

public class MyViewModel
{
  IList<MyParam> MyParams {get; set;}
}

3) Create your collection in your [HttpGet] action and pass that to your view:

[HttpGet]
public virtual ActionResult Index()
{
   MyViewModel model = new MyViewModel();
   model.MyParams = CreateMyParamsCollection();

   return View(model);
}

4) Iterate your collection in the view

@model MyViewModel

@{int index = 0;}

@foreach (MyParam detail in Model.MyParams)
{
  @Html.TextBox("MyParams[" + index.ToString() + "].Id", detail.Id)
  @Html.TextBox("MyParams[" + index.ToString() + "].Name", detail.Name)

  index++;
} 

5) Than on your [HttpPost] action you may catch your params in collection

[HttpPost]
public virtual ActionResult Index(MyViewModel model)

or

[HttpPost]
public virtual ActionResult Index(IList<MyParam> model)

P.S

Moreover, if you want to get all your form params in controller you may simple go like that:

[HttpPost]    
public virtual ActionResult Index(FormCollection form)