asp.net mvc virtual views and web configuration

Question

There are many examples out there which show how to store and retrieve virtual views from a file or database, but none of them show how to configure root web.config so that the application works properly, when a view's content retrieved from a file and contains for instance @ViewBag.Title = "Some Title" line.

In this case I get CS0103: The name 'ViewBag' does not exist in the current context error, just like in cases when I remove web.config from ~/Views project folder.

So, what config elements from the ~/Views/web.config to root web.config in order to fix the mentioned above error?

Is it possible to load config elements into assemby at run time?

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:56

The problem is related to the fact that in case of a virtual view, a view whose content is retrieved from a file or database, inherits from System.Web.Mvc.ViewStartPage that contains Html and Url, but doesn't ViewBag or Ajax properties. The virtual view is referred as follows

public class DynamicViewsController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult GetView()
    {
        //SomeModel model = new SomeModel() { Count = 1 };
        return View("/Virtual/VirtualViewToShow.cshtml");
    }
}

A view located in ~/Views/ folder inherits from System.Web.Mvc.WebViewPage, which has ViewBag and ViewData, and Ajax properties defined.

The workaround to change the action method as follow

public PartialViewResult GetView()
{
    //SomeModel model = new SomeModel() { Count = 1 };
    return PartialView("/Virtual/VirtualViewToShow.cshtml");
}

and to add

  @{
        Layout = "~/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml";
   }

to the text of the virtual view in order to load the layout also. I don't know the reason why a virtual view inherits from System.Web.Mvc.ViewStartPage, but I'll try to find the reason for this in another thread and will post the link when thre thread is created.

Edited

So a said the link to the new created thread is here

"Show Complete Compilation Source" screenshot attached enter image description here

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 09 '12 at 17:33

0

Follow as mentioned step and you are done!

Merge <configSections> section of ~/views/web.config with root level web.config
Now just move <system.web.webPages.razor> section from ~/views/web.config to root level web.config
Cheers :) its done.
You should also merge <appSettings>, <system.web> & <system.webServer> with root level web.config.

answered Nov 09 '12 at 17:33

Nandip Makwana

356
4
16

Of course I followed this steps before posting the question, but without success. Are there any additional steps I have to follow? Have it functioned in your case? – Stefan Fachmann Nov 11 '12 at 16:37
Yes it worked in my case... can you please elaborate your whole scenario? – Nandip Makwana Nov 12 '12 at 09:40
The new thread is [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/13363273/virtual-view-inheriting-from-system-web-mvc-viewstartpage) – Stefan Fachmann Nov 13 '12 at 15:14

asp.net mvc virtual views and web configuration

2 Answers2