A circular reference was detected while serializing an object of type when performing ajax call

Question

On my view, I am using a Viewmodel, and I have a form that has only one textbox that accepts dates (not a part of the viewmodel) and 3 tables. By default on page load.. the tables are populated with data based on today's date (you can see that in the controller code below), but if a user selects a date and clicks the search button then I want the tables data to be changed without a page refresh based on the date they selected.

@using (Html.BeginForm())
{
    <div class="form-group mb-3 mt-3" style="margin-right: -1.3%;">
        <div class="input-group col-md-3 offset-md-9">
            @Html.TextBox("detailsDate", null, new { id = "Details-Date", @class = "form-control datetimepicker" })
            <div class="input-group-append">
                <button id="Details-Date-Btn" type="submit" class="btn btn-outline-primary"><span class="fa fa-search"></span></button>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
}

What I am trying to do is if a user selects and date and hits the search button.. I would like the page to not refresh and the tables data have been changed based on the date. As of right now I am getting:

A circular reference was detected while serializing an object of type 'System.Data.Entity.DynamicProxies.tbl_WeighAssc_8AA7AB5F9DAB261D5142F1D5F5BA6705A588A5AAD2D369FBD4B4BC1BBE0487D4'.

Viewmodel

public class PersonnelDetailsVm
{
    private static ConnectionString db = new ConnectionString();
    public PersonnelDetailsVm()
    {
        CurrentWeekDates = new List<DateTime>();
        WeighAssociations = new List<tbl_WeighAssc>();
        ArrestAssociations = new List<tbl_TEUArrestAssc>();
        InspectionAssociations = new List<tblTEUInspectionAssc>();
    }
    public string IBM { get; set; }

    [Display(Name = "Name")]
    public string UserName { get; set; }

    public bool Active { get; set; }

    public List<DateTime> CurrentWeekDates { get; set; }
    public List<tbl_WeighAssc> WeighAssociations { get; set; }
    public List<tbl_TEUArrestAssc> ArrestAssociations { get; set; }
    public List<tblTEUInspectionAssc> InspectionAssociations { get; set; }
    public List<code_WeighLocation> WeighLocations => db.code_WeighLocation.ToList();
    public List<code_ArrestType> ArrestTypes => db.code_ArrestType.ToList();
    public List<code_InspectionLevel> InspectionLevels => db.code_InspectionLevel.ToList();
}

---

Ajax:

// Submission
//var redirectUrl = '@Url.Action("Index", "Personnels")';
var settings = {};
settings.baseUri = '@Request.ApplicationPath';
var infoGetUrl = "";
if (settings.baseUri === "/AppName") {
    infoGetUrl = settings.baseUri + "/Personnels/Details/";
} else {
    infoGetUrl = settings.baseUri + "Personnels/Details/";
}

$("#Details-Date-Btn").click(function() {
    $.ajax({
        url: infoGetUrl,
        method: "POST",
        data: $("form").serialize(),
        success: function(response) {
            console.log("success");
            $("body").html(response);
        },
        error: function(jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown) {
            console.log(jqXHR);
        }
    });
});

---

Controller:

public ActionResult Details(string id, string detailsDate)
{
    if (id == null)
    {
        return new HttpStatusCodeResult(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
    }

    tblPersonnel tblPersonnel = db.tblPersonnels.Find(id);

    if (tblPersonnel == null)
    {
        return HttpNotFound();
    }

    Mapper.Initialize(config => config.CreateMap<tblPersonnel, PersonnelDetailsVm>());
    PersonnelDetailsVm person = Mapper.Map<tblPersonnel, PersonnelDetailsVm>(tblPersonnel);

    var employeeData = EmployeeData.GetEmployee(person.IBM);

    person.UserName =
        $"{ConvertRankAbbr.Conversion(employeeData.Rank_Position)} {employeeData.FirstName} {employeeData.LastName}";

    if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(detailsDate))
    {
        var startOfWeek = DateTime.Today.AddDays((int)CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat.FirstDayOfWeek -
                                                 (int)DateTime.Today.DayOfWeek);
        person.CurrentWeekDates = Enumerable.Range(0, 7).Select(i => startOfWeek.AddDays(i)).ToList();
        var teuFormIds = db.tbl_TEUForm
            .Where(x => person.CurrentWeekDates.Contains(x.EventDate) && x.PersonnelIBM == person.IBM).Select(t => t.Id).ToList();

        person.WeighAssociations = db.tbl_WeighAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.ArrestAssociations = db.tbl_TEUArrestAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.InspectionAssociations =
            db.tblTEUInspectionAsscs.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();


        return View(person);

    }
    else
    {
        var paramDate = DateTime.ParseExact(detailsDate, "MM/dd/yyyy", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture);

        var startOfWeek = paramDate.AddDays((int)CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat.FirstDayOfWeek -
                                                 (int)paramDate.DayOfWeek);
        person.CurrentWeekDates = Enumerable.Range(0, 7).Select(i => startOfWeek.AddDays(i)).ToList();
        var teuFormIds = db.tbl_TEUForm
            .Where(x => person.CurrentWeekDates.Contains(x.EventDate) && x.PersonnelIBM == person.IBM).Select(t => t.Id).ToList();

        person.WeighAssociations = db.tbl_WeighAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.ArrestAssociations = db.tbl_TEUArrestAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.InspectionAssociations =
            db.tblTEUInspectionAsscs.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();

        return Json(person, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
    }

}

---

So, if the actionresult's paramets detailsDate is not null, then it goes into the else statement which returns a JSON object. When debugging this goes through and when the view is returned I am receiving the error I posted above.

Is there a way to replace the model in the view with what I'm returning from the ajax call so the tables can be based on the right date without a page refresh?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

UPDATE

Based on answer's below I have edited the else statement in my controller method to:

Controller

else
{
    var paramDate = DateTime.ParseExact(detailsDate, "MM/dd/yyyy", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture);

    var startOfWeek = paramDate.AddDays((int)CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat.FirstDayOfWeek -
                                             (int)paramDate.DayOfWeek);
    person.CurrentWeekDates = Enumerable.Range(0, 7).Select(i => startOfWeek.AddDays(i)).ToList();
    var teuFormIds = db.tbl_TEUForm
        .Where(x => person.CurrentWeekDates.Contains(x.EventDate) && x.PersonnelIBM == person.IBM).Select(t => t.Id).ToList();

    person.WeighAssociations = db.tbl_WeighAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
    person.ArrestAssociations = db.tbl_TEUArrestAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
    person.InspectionAssociations =
        db.tblTEUInspectionAsscs.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();

    JsonConvert.DefaultSettings = () => new JsonSerializerSettings()
    {
        PreserveReferencesHandling = PreserveReferencesHandling.All,
        ReferenceLoopHandling = ReferenceLoopHandling.Ignore
    };

    var jsonStr = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(person);

    return Json(jsonStr, "text/plain");
}

My jQuery/Ajax is still the same:

$("#Details-Date-Btn").click(function() {
    $.ajax({
        url: infoGetUrl,
        data: $("form").serialize(),
        success: function(response) {
            console.log("success");
            console.log(response);
            $("body").html(response);
        },
        error: function(jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown) {
            console.log(jqXHR);
        }
    });
});

But now, when the date is selected I am being returned to a page that shows the Json like a plain text file and losing the HTML and CSS like a normal view.

Here is what I am being returned when a date is selected and the button is clicked.

Also, when I check the console when I select a date and click the button for that date to be sent to the controller I am seeing this:

UPDATE 2

Here is one of my tables.. the other ones are the same setup:

<table class="table table-bordered">
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th></th>
            @foreach (var date in Model.CurrentWeekDates)
            {
                <th class="text-center">@date.ToString("ddd") <br /> @date.ToShortDateString()</th>
            }
                <th class="text-center table-success">Total For Week</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        @foreach (var weighLocation in Model.WeighLocations)
        {
            <tr class="text-center">
                <td class="table-dark">@weighLocation.Weigh_Location</td>
                @foreach (var date in Model.CurrentWeekDates)
                {
                    if (Model.WeighAssociations.Any(x => x.tbl_TEUForm.EventDate == date && x.WeighLocationId == weighLocation.ID))
                    {
                        <td>@Model.WeighAssociations.Single(x => x.tbl_TEUForm.EventDate == date && x.WeighLocationId == weighLocation.ID).OccurenceCount</td>
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        <td>0</td>
                    }

                }
                <td class="table-success font-weight-bold">@Model.WeighAssociations.Where(x => x.WeighLocationId == weighLocation.ID).Sum(x => x.OccurenceCount)</td>
            </tr>
        }
    </tbody>
</table>

Answer 1

As far as I can see from your problem, to fix it you can do following steps:

1- View

Add a partial view (_Detail.cshtml)

You need a partial view like _Detail that includes your table like this:

@model PersonnelDetailsVm  

<table class="table table-bordered">
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th></th>
            @foreach (var date in Model.CurrentWeekDates)
            {
                <th class="text-center">@date.ToString("ddd") <br /> @date.ToShortDateString()</th>
            }
                <th class="text-center table-success">Total For Week</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        @foreach (var weighLocation in Model.WeighLocations)
        {
            <tr class="text-center">
                <td class="table-dark">@weighLocation.Weigh_Location</td>
                @foreach (var date in Model.CurrentWeekDates)
                {
                    if (Model.WeighAssociations.Any(x => x.tbl_TEUForm.EventDate == date && x.WeighLocationId == weighLocation.ID))
                    {
                        <td>@Model.WeighAssociations.Single(x => x.tbl_TEUForm.EventDate == date && x.WeighLocationId == weighLocation.ID).OccurenceCount</td>
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        <td>0</td>
                    }

                }
                <td class="table-success font-weight-bold">@Model.WeighAssociations.Where(x => x.WeighLocationId == weighLocation.ID).Sum(x => x.OccurenceCount)</td>
            </tr>
        }
    </tbody>
</table>

2- Controller

Return the partial view

You should fill the model in your controller and pass it to the partial view.

public ActionResult Details(string id, string detailsDate)
{
    if (id == null)
    {
        return new HttpStatusCodeResult(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
    }

    tblPersonnel tblPersonnel = db.tblPersonnels.Find(id);

    if (tblPersonnel == null)
    {
        return HttpNotFound();
    }

    Mapper.Initialize(config => config.CreateMap<tblPersonnel, PersonnelDetailsVm>());
    PersonnelDetailsVm person = Mapper.Map<tblPersonnel, PersonnelDetailsVm>(tblPersonnel);

    var employeeData = EmployeeData.GetEmployee(person.IBM);

    person.UserName =
        $"{ConvertRankAbbr.Conversion(employeeData.Rank_Position)} {employeeData.FirstName} {employeeData.LastName}";

    if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(detailsDate))
    {
        var startOfWeek = DateTime.Today.AddDays((int)CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat.FirstDayOfWeek -
                                                 (int)DateTime.Today.DayOfWeek);
        person.CurrentWeekDates = Enumerable.Range(0, 7).Select(i => startOfWeek.AddDays(i)).ToList();
        var teuFormIds = db.tbl_TEUForm
            .Where(x => person.CurrentWeekDates.Contains(x.EventDate) && x.PersonnelIBM == person.IBM).Select(t => t.Id).ToList();

        person.WeighAssociations = db.tbl_WeighAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.ArrestAssociations = db.tbl_TEUArrestAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.InspectionAssociations =
            db.tblTEUInspectionAsscs.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();


        // return View(person); 



    }
    else
    {
        var paramDate = DateTime.ParseExact(detailsDate, "MM/dd/yyyy", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture);

        var startOfWeek = paramDate.AddDays((int)CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat.FirstDayOfWeek -
                                                 (int)paramDate.DayOfWeek);
        person.CurrentWeekDates = Enumerable.Range(0, 7).Select(i => startOfWeek.AddDays(i)).ToList();
        var teuFormIds = db.tbl_TEUForm
            .Where(x => person.CurrentWeekDates.Contains(x.EventDate) && x.PersonnelIBM == person.IBM).Select(t => t.Id).ToList();

        person.WeighAssociations = db.tbl_WeighAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.ArrestAssociations = db.tbl_TEUArrestAssc.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();
        person.InspectionAssociations =
            db.tblTEUInspectionAsscs.Where(x => teuFormIds.Contains(x.TEUId)).ToList();

        // return Json(person, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
    }

    // return PartialView with the person model
    return PartialView("_Detail", person);

}

As you can see in the above code, you should comment the two lines in your code:

// return View(person); 
// return Json(person, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);

3- Ajax call

Get the partial view and fill form by it

You don't any changes in ajax call and you can do it like this:

$("#Details-Date-Btn").click(function() {
    $.ajax({
        url: infoGetUrl,
        method: "POST",
        data: $("form").serialize(),
        success: function(response) {
            console.log("success");
            $("body").html(response);
        },
        error: function(jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown) {
            console.log(jqXHR);
        }
    });
});

response in this way is a html that comes from partial view and it has all classes as you designed it.