How do I create my own Scaffold Template in ASP.NET MVC 3?

Question

ASP.NET MVC provides the ability to select a 'Scaffold template' upon which a newly-created view will be based (Add View > Create a strongly-typed view > Scaffold template).

Is it possible to create your own Scaffold Template? And if so, how?

Answer 1

ASP.NET MVC uses T4 templates. Here's an overview.

Here are the steps:

1. In the Package Manager Console type: install-package mvc3codetemplatescsharp
2. Accept all the warnings
3. The CodeTemplates folder will be added to your project containing the templates

From here you could either modify the existing templates or add new one.

Or if you want to modify those globally you could to this in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplates\CSharp\Web\MVC 3\CodeTemplates\ folder.

Answer 2

You can use T4 without nuget of course: Place a folder in the root of the application website (the project containing the views). The directory structure is important so it should be

\CodeTemplates\AddView\AspxCsharp\MyTemplate.tt

You can copy the contents from one of the existing templates located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplates\CSharp\Web\MVC 3\CodeTemplates\

Next, clear the property on the TT file named "Custom Tool". This should be blank.

Then right-click on any Controller Action and say "Add View" or since the controllers are in a separate project in our case, right click on the View folder and click "Add View".

From the dropdown Click "Create a strongly typed View" and then enter the type to use under "View Data Class:"

Finally, in the "View Content" dropdown, select "MyTempate". This should show up if you've entered the folders correctly.