Calling an ASP.NET server side method via jQuery

Question

I'm trying to call a server side method from client side via jQuery. My code is as follows:

Server side:

    using System.Web.Services;
    [WebMethod()]
    //[ScriptMethod()]
    public static void SendMessage(string subject, string message, string messageId, string pupilId)
    {
        //Send message
    }

Client side:

$("#btnSendMessage").live("click", function(){
  var subject = $("#tbSubject").val();
  var message = $("#tbMessage").val();
  var messageId = $("#hdnMessageId").val();
  var pupilId = $("#hdnPupilId").val();

  $.ajax({
      type: "POST",
      url: "./MessagePopup.aspx/SendMessage",
      data: ("subject=" + subject + "&message=" + message + "&messageId=" + messageId + "&pupilId=" + pupilId),
      error: function(XMLHttpRequest, textStatus, errorThrown){
          alert(textStatus);
      },
      success: function(result){
         alert("success");
      }
   });
   return false;
});

I've added a break point on the server side SendMessage method, but it's never hitting it, but when I run the code the jQuery success method is called. What could be causing this?`

Answer 1

To call ASP.NET AJAX "ScriptServices" and page methods, you need to use the full $.ajax() syntax:

$.ajax({
  type: "POST",
  url: "MessagePopup.aspx/SendMessage",
  data: "{subject:'" + subject + "',message:'" + message + ",messageId:'" + messageId + "',pupilId:'" + pupilId +"'}",
  contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
  dataType: "json",
  success: function(msg) {
    // Do something interesting here.
  }
});

See this post for details on why that's necessary: http://encosia.com/2008/05/29/using-jquery-to-directly-call-aspnet-ajax-page-methods/

Edit: The extension doesn't change to .asmx but remains .aspx.