How to Successfully POST a Form Array in ASP.NET MVC?

Successfully POSTing Form Arrays in ASP.NET MVC

This article addresses challenges encountered when submitting form data containing arrays in ASP.NET MVC applications using C# and .NET Framework 4.5.1 or later. The focus is on correctly POSTing and retrieving form array data within a controller's action method.

Understanding Array Binding in ASP.NET MVC

In ASP.NET MVC, arrays are handled as collections, typically IEnumerable or IList. Correctly binding form data to these collections requires specific syntax and model declaration.

Revised Code for Successful Array POST

Here's an improved approach to ensure successful form array submission and retrieval:

Form Markup (Example):

@using (Html.BeginForm("Save", "ConnectBatchProduct", FormMethod.Post))
{
    <!-- ... your form elements here ... -->
}

Controller Action Method:

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Save(ConnectBatchProductViewModel model)
{
    // Process the model.BatchProducts collection here
    // ...
}

Model Declaration:

Ensure your ConnectBatchProductViewModel model includes a property declared as IList<BatchProductViewModel> (or IEnumerable<BatchProductViewModel>) to correctly receive the array data.

Modified jQuery Script (Example):

$("#addrow").click(function() {
  var index = (new Date()).getTime();
  var clone = $('#NewBatchProduct').clone();
  clone.find('[name]').each(function() {
    $(this).attr('name', $(this).attr('name').replace(/\[#\]/g, '[' + index + ']'));
  });
  $("table.order-list").append(clone);
});

This jQuery code dynamically generates unique indexers for each array element, ensuring proper binding. It iterates through all elements with a name attribute and updates the name attribute to include the unique index.

Key Considerations:

• Model Property Type: The crucial step is defining the model property as IList<T> or IEnumerable<T>, where T is your individual array element's view model.
• Form Element Naming: Ensure your form elements are correctly named to reflect the array structure (e.g., BatchProducts[0].ProductName, BatchProducts[1].ProductName, etc.). The modified jQuery script helps achieve this.
• Error Handling: Implement appropriate error handling to gracefully manage potential issues during form submission and data processing.

By following these guidelines, you can reliably handle form array submissions in your ASP.NET MVC applications. Remember to adapt the code examples to your specific model and form structure.

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