How to pass a list of objects instead of one object to a POST action method - asp.net-mvc-3

Question

I have the following GET and POST action methods:-
public ActionResult Create(int visitid)
{
VisitLabResult vlr = new VisitLabResult();
vlr.DateTaken = DateTime.Now;
ViewBag.LabTestID = new SelectList(repository.FindAllLabTest(), "LabTestID", "Description");
return View();
}
//
// POST: /VisitLabResult/Create
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Create(VisitLabResult visitlabresult, int visitid)
{
try
{
if (ModelState.IsValid)
{
visitlabresult.VisitID = visitid;
repository.AddVisitLabResult(visitlabresult);
repository.Save();
return RedirectToAction("Edit", "Visit", new { id = visitid });
}
}
catch (DbUpdateException) {
ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty, "The Same test Type might have been already created,, go back to the Visit page to see the avilalbe Lab Tests");
}
ViewBag.LabTestID = new SelectList(repository.FindAllLabTest(), "LabTestID", "Description", visitlabresult.LabTestID);
return View(visitlabresult);
}
Currently the view display the associated fields to create only one object,, but how i can define list of objects instead of one object to be able to quickly add for example 10 objects at the same “Create” request.
My Create view look like:-
#model Medical.Models.VisitLabResult
#{
ViewBag.Title = "Create";
}
<h2>Create</h2>
#section scripts{
<script src="#Url.Content("~/Scripts/jquery.validate.min.js")" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="#Url.Content("~/Scripts/jquery.validate.unobtrusive.min.js")" type="text/javascript"></script>
}
#using (Html.BeginForm())
{
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<fieldset>
<legend>VisitLabResult</legend>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.LabTestID, "LabTest")
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.DropDownList("LabTestID", String.Empty)

Answer 1

Your viewModel
public class LabResult
{
public int ResultId { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
//rest of the properties
}
Your controller
public class LabController : Controller
{
//
// GET: /Lab/ns
public ActionResult Index()
{
var lst = new List<LabResult>();
lst.Add(new LabResult() { Name = "Pravin", ResultId = 1 });
lst.Add(new LabResult() { Name = "Pradeep", ResultId = 2 });
return View(lst);
}
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult EditAll(ICollection<LabResult> results)
{
//savr results here
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
}
Your view
#model IList<MvcApplication2.Models.LabResult>
#using (Html.BeginForm("EditAll", "Lab", FormMethod.Post))
{
<table>
<tr>
<th>
ResultId
</th>
<th>
Name
</th>
</tr>
#for (int item = 0; item < Model.Count(); item++)
{
<tr>
<td>
#Html.TextBoxFor(modelItem => Model[item].ResultId)
</td>
<td>
#Html.TextBoxFor(modelItem => Model[item].Name)
</td>
</tr>
}
</table>
<input type="submit" value="Edit All" />
}
Your view will be rendered as follows, this array based naming convention makes it possible for Defaultbinder to convert it into ICollection as a first parameter of action EditAll
<tr>
<td>
<input name="[0].ResultId" type="text" value="1" />
</td>
<td>
<input name="[0].Name" type="text" value="Pravin" />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<input name="[1].ResultId" type="text" value="2" />
</td>
<td>
<input name="[1].Name" type="text" value="Pradeep" />
</td>
</tr>

Answer 2

If I understand your question correctly,
you want to change your view to be a list of your model object #model List, then using a loop or however you wish to do it, create however many editors you need to for each object
then in your controller your receiving parameter of create will be a list of your model instead too.