ASP.NET MVC - using the same form to both create and edit

Question

Whats the best practice approach to creating a form that is used to both create new models and edit existing models?

Are there any tutorials that people can point me in the direction of?

Answer 1

NerdDinner will really show the way.

Create.aspx

<%@ Page Language="C#" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<NerdDinner.Models.Dinner>" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master"  %> <asp:Content ID="Title" ContentPlaceHolderID="TitleContent" runat="server">     Host a Nerd Dinner </asp:Content> <asp:Content ID="Create" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">     <h2>Host a Dinner</h2>     <% Html.RenderPartial("DinnerForm"); %> </asp:Content> 

Edit.aspx

<%@ Page Language="C#" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<NerdDinner.Models.Dinner>"     MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" %> <asp:Content ID="Title" ContentPlaceHolderID="TitleContent" runat="server">     Edit: <%:Model.Title %> </asp:Content> <asp:Content ID="Edit" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">     <h2>Edit Dinner</h2>     <% Html.RenderPartial("DinnerForm"); %> </asp:Content> 

DinnerForm.ascx

<%@ Language="C#" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewUserControl<NerdDinner.Models.Dinner>" %> <script src="/Scripts/MicrosoftAjax.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/Scripts/MicrosoftMvcAjax.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/Scripts/MicrosoftMvcValidation.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <% Html.EnableClientValidation(); %> <%: Html.ValidationSummary("Please correct the errors and try again.") %>    <% using (Html.BeginForm())       { %>    <fieldset>        <div id="dinnerDiv">            <%:Html.EditorForModel() %>            <p>                <input type="submit" value="Save" />            </p>        </div>        <div id="mapDiv">            <%: Html.EditorFor(m => m.Location) %>        </div>    </fieldset>    <% } %> 

Take into account that this form is using Html.EditorForModel(), which is an innovative method for generating all the fields at once, and you have to study its disadvantages before using it. But you can easily take the rest of the example to separate your common form from the create and edit views.

Finally you can view the controller code here if you are interested.

Answer 2

Scott Gu will show the way