asp.net mvc and multiple models and modelbinders

Question

I wanna try to make this is as simple as possible.

Lets say I have a Project Model and a Task Model

I want to create a Project with 3 tasks assigned to that project in one single form

Whats the best way to do this??

Would the method simply receive a Project or what else do i need to have there.. will just saving the project (in repository) also save the related tasks?... In the view... do i need a viewModel.. Im confused. please help

public ActionResult Create(Project p){ } 

Answer 1

Here's how I would proceed:

public class TaskViewModel { public string Name { get; set; } } public class ProjectViewModel { public string ProjectName { get; set; } public IEnumerable<TaskViewModel> Tasks { get; set; } } 

then have a controller:

public class ProjectsController: Controller { public ActionResult Index() { var project = new ProjectViewModel { // Fill the collection with 3 tasks Tasks = Enumerable.Range(1, 3).Select(x => new TaskViewModel()) }; return View(project); } [HttpPost] public ActionResult Index(ProjectViewModel project) { if (!ModelState.IsValid) { // The user didn't fill all required fields => // redisplay the form with validation error messages return View(project); } // TODO: do something with the model // You could use AutoMapper here to map // the view model back to a model which you // would then pass to your repository for persisting or whatever // redirect to some success action return RedirectToAction("Success", "Home"); } } 

and then the view (~/Views/Projects/Create.cshtml):

@model AppName.Models.ProjectViewModel @using (Html.BeginForm()) { <div> @Html.LabelFor(x => x.ProjectName) @Html.EditorFor(x => x.ProjectName) @Html.ValidationMessageFor(x => x.ProjectName) </div> @Html.EditorFor(x => x.Tasks) <input type="submit" value="Create!" /> } 

and the corresponding task editor template (~/Views/Projects/EditorTemplates/TaskViewModel.cshtml):

@model AppName.Models.TaskViewModel <div> @Html.LabelFor(x => x.Name) @Html.EditorFor(x => x.Name) @Html.ValidationMessageFor(x => x.Name) </div> 

Answer 2

Add a collection of Task models to the Project model, and use a foreach loop to display the tasks, or repeat a partial view that knows how to display a single task.