I have a scenario where-in I am trying to use the jQuery template plugin for displaying list of data on my MVC list view. However my list is the default view of my mvc application. I want to use the same action to server both purposes of returning json data as well as returning view.
It is making double trip for getting data. Is there a way that as soon as my action is called, I return Json data and use the template plugin to display data.
You can test if the action has been called with AJAX then return JSON data and if not return a normal view:
public ActionResult Index()
{
var model = FetchModel();
if (Request.IsAjaxRequest())
{
return Json(model, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
}
return View(model);
}
Of course this if makes your controller action ugly. It would be far better to use action filters to avoid repeating this logic in multiple actions:
public class MyFilterAttribute : ActionFilterAttribute
{
public override void OnActionExecuted(ActionExecutedContext filterContext)
{
base.OnActionExecuted(filterContext);
if (filterContext.HttpContext.Request.IsAjaxRequest())
{
var viewResult = filterContext.Result as ViewResultBase;
if (viewResult != null)
{
if (viewResult.Model != null)
{
filterContext.Result = new JsonResult
{
Data = viewResult.Model,
JsonRequestBehavior = JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet
};
}
}
}
}
}
And then decorate your controller with this attribute:
[MyFilter]
public ActionResult Index()
{
var model = FetchModel();
return View(model);
}
Your comment to Darins great answer leads me to believe you need the following which your question does not really explain.
If I have not crossed my wires then this my help...
You can return a html view but also include a script tag that includes a json object.
Create a toJson html helper extension e.g
public static class MvcViewExtensions
{
public static string toJson(this System.Web.Mvc.HtmlHelper helper, object obj)
{
JavaScriptSerializer serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();
return serializer.Serialize(obj);
}
}
Then in you view something like this
<html>
...other html stuff
<script>
var json = <%= Html.ToJson(Model.someProperty) %>;
//call to some js to do your templating
myapp.someTemplatingFunc(json);
</script>
</html>
