C# MVC Bind variables in a string to model

Question

In C# MVC you can use model binding to automatically parse variables to a model.

public class RegistrationForm {
 string Name {get;set;}
 string Address {get;set;} 
}

public ActionResult Register(RegistrationForm register) {
...
}

If I pass the Name and Address variables they are directly available in the register object.

Is it possible to call this binding manually if you have the variables in a string? EG:

var s = "name=hugo&address=test";

//dosomething to get RegistrationForm register

//register.Name == hugo

I know I can get a NameValueCollection with HttpUtility.ParseQueryString(s); and then use reflection to get the properties of RegistrationForm and check if the values exists, but I was hoping I could use the actually binding method MVC uses.

Please, if you edit my question dont change it's meaning.

Hugo Delsing
– Hugo Delsing

2015-01-07 13:27:50 +00:00
Commented Jan 7, 2015 at 13:27 — Hugo Delsing
– Hugo Delsing, Commented Jan 7, 2015 at 13:27

Mathias F · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-07 14:19:33Z

1

You could mock the HttpContext passed into Modelbinding like here

http://www.jamie-dixon.co.uk/unit-testing/unit-testing-your-custom-model-binder/

var controllerContext = new ControllerContext();
//set values in controllerContext  here
var bindingContext = new ModelBindingContext();
var modelBinder = ModelBinders.Binders.DefaultBinder;
var result = modelBinder.BindModel(controllerContext, bindingContext)

edited Jan 7, 2015 at 14:19

answered Jan 7, 2015 at 14:14

Mathias F

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1 Comment

Hugo Delsing Over a year ago

Thank you, that is what I needed. Unfortunately that is even more (A lot more, actually) work then using reflection. I'm basically building a whole new page request from scratch to bind the values.

teo van kot · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-07 12:38:42Z

1

MVC binding working based on Property Names of your ViewModel (RegistrationForm class).

So you absolutely right, if you use GET HTTP Method to bind your property from string you can write this directly:

http://yourSite.com/YourController/Register?Name=hugo&Address=test

It's case sensitive, be carefull.

Or if you use Razor to generate links you can write it more clear way:

@Url.Action("Register", new { Name = "hugo", Address = "test"})

answered Jan 7, 2015 at 12:38

teo van kot

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8 Comments

Hugo Delsing Over a year ago

Yes I know I'm right :) But I don't get the values from the query string or POST, I have them in a string variable. They edited my question wrongfully.

teo van kot Over a year ago

ok, you mean in js variable? You can also do it with js. window.location.href = 'http://yourSite.com/YourController/Register?'+s; but don't forget about case.

Guffa Over a year ago

@teovankot: No, a C# string.

Hugo Delsing Over a year ago

No, I mean a string myvariables = "name=hugo&address=test" I'm already in a controller/action and there I have variable which I want to parse to a model

Mathias F Over a year ago

I dont agree with "It's case sensitive"

|

Rupesh · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-07 14:17:24Z

0

You can convert the string to JSON object and then you can parse JSON object to your Model by using a Serializer.

answered Jan 7, 2015 at 14:17

Rupesh

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Comments

Hugo Delsing · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-07 14:34:10Z

@Malcolm's anwser is what I requested, so he gets the credits. But I still ended up doing it with reflection, because it looks a lot cleaner in my opinion and easier to understand what is going on.

var result = HttpUtility.ParseQueryString(strResponse);
Type myType = GetType();
IList<PropertyInfo> props = new List<PropertyInfo>(myType.GetProperties());
foreach (PropertyInfo prop in props)
{
    try
    {
        prop.SetValue(this,
            Convert.ChangeType(result[prop.Name], prop.PropertyType, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture),
            null);
    }
    catch (InvalidCastException)
    {
        //skip missing values
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        //something went wrong with parsing the result
        new Database().Base.AddErrorLog(ex);
    }
}

Disclaimer This works for me because I only get strings and decimals and nothing is required. This is nothing like the MVC model binder.

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