Deleting a file from server on button click in ASP.NET MVC

Question

I'm not well versed in this framework so I need some help here. In a view I want to add a link or a button on clicking which a certain file gets deleted from the server. I've added this method to the controller:

    [Authorize]
    public ActionResult DeleteFile(string path)
    {
        if ((System.IO.File.Exists(path)))
        {
            try
            {
                System.IO.File.Delete(path);
            }catch(Exception ex)
            {
                Debug.WriteLine("Deletion of file failed: " + ex.Message);
            }
        }
        return View();
    }

Seemed straightforward, though I'm not sure about the return View();. Now in the view, I need a form, because the path to the file that should be deleted needs to be posted to the controller, is that correct? This is what I got so far, mimicked from other code in the project:

@Html.BeginForm("DeleteFile", "Home", FormMethod.Post, new { id = "delete-attachment-form" })
    {

        @Html.Hidden("path", path)
    }

path is a JavaScript variable containing the server path to the file that needs to be deleted. If I'm on the right track here, how do I add a button or a link to click on that will send the form?

Should just be able to add a submit button: <input type="submit" name="submit" /> — KSib
– KSib, Commented Sep 13, 2016 at 17:30
Add a submit button to your form and be sure to mark your action with [HttpPost]. — Jasen
– Jasen, Commented Sep 13, 2016 at 17:41
How are you using the path javascript variable exactly? The server will render your HTML from @Html.Hidden before javascript executes. — steve v
– steve v, Commented Sep 13, 2016 at 17:41
@stephen.vakil good point, I misspoke though, it's actually a C# variable inside the razor block. — smcs
– smcs, Commented Sep 14, 2016 at 9:11
@Ksib if this were an answer I'd accept it. Simple and it works. — smcs
– smcs, Commented Sep 14, 2016 at 10:03

KSib · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-14 17:54:09Z

1

Should just be able to add a submit button:

<input type="submit" name="submit" />

answered Sep 14, 2016 at 17:54

KSib

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Comments

Shamseer K · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-13 17:39:33Z

1

You should have a form and a button like this


@Html.BeginForm("Controller", "DeleteFile", new {Path= filePath},FormMethod.Post)
{
//Button
}

Or using Ajax and Jquery

var values = $(this).serialize();

$.ajax({
      type: 'POST',
      url: "url?path="+path.tostring(),
      data: values ,
      success: function(response) { //update view }
});

answered Sep 13, 2016 at 17:39

Shamseer K

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Comments

PiotrWolkowski · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-13 18:08:50Z

1

Inside your form you can add a button and then handle the button click in JavaScript.

@Html.BeginForm("DeleteFile", "Home", FormMethod.Post, new { id = "delete-attachment-form" })
{
    @Html.Hidden("path", path)
    <button id="delete-btn" type="button" class="btn btn-danger">
        Delete
    </button>
}

Then the <script type="text/javascript"> block:

$(function () {
    $('#delete-btn').click(function () {
        var query = $('#delete-attachment-form');
        var form = query[0];
        var toPost = query.serialize();
        $.ajax({
            url: form.action,
            type: form.method,
            data: toPost,
            success: function (result) {
                // display result
            },
            error: function () {
                // handle error
            }
        })            
    });
});

Also, this is a good tutorial on deleting in ASP.NET MVC

answered Sep 13, 2016 at 18:08

PiotrWolkowski

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2 Comments

smcs Over a year ago

Thanks. But is there a reason that adding that chunk of jQuery code instead of just the line <input type="submit" name="submit" /> as proposed in the comments? Seems much simpler

PiotrWolkowski Over a year ago

Gives you access to Ajax success/error functions so you can adjust the UI dynamically.

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