NerdDinner Search function (not AJAX pls)

bh81 · July 8th, 2011, 05:42 AM

Thank you Imar again. I think I'm getting a bit closer to the solution but still not quite there yet.

Following through your 3 bullet points:
1. There's a Get ActionMethod called Find. It renders a Find view that presents three controls mapped to the "search criteria".

In my AttendanceController.cs, I have this method:

Code:

        public ActionResult Find()
        {
            return View();
        }

2. There's a Post method (where you post to from the View in step 1) that accepts a prepulated copy of the FindViewModel

In my AttendanceController.cs, I have this method:

Code:

  //POST: /Attendance/Post
        [AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
        public ActionResult Find(FindViewModel find)
        {
            var attn = attnRepository.FindAttendance(find.GA_Date);
            if (attn == null)
                return View("NotFound");
            else
                return View("CK");
        }

3. This post method then searches the repository and renders the "CK" view (whatever this is, but I assume it can render one or more attendances).

The repository is in my AttnRepository.cs:

Code:

        public IQueryable<Attendance> FindAttendance(DateTime SelDate)
        {

            return from attendance in db.Attendances
                   where attendance.GA_Date >= SelDate
                   orderby attendance.GA_Date, attendance.GA_Time_From
                   select attendance;
        }

I have moved my FindViewModel into my Attendance.cs under the Models folder:

Code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Data.Linq;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using GymAttendance.Helpers;

namespace GymAttendance.Models
{
    public class FindViewModel
    {
        public DateTime GA_Date { get; set; }
        public string GA_Time_From { get; set; }
        public string GA_Time_To { get; set; }    }
}

Find.aspx:

Code:

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<GymAttendance.Models.FindViewModel>" %>

<asp:Content ID="Title" ContentPlaceHolderID="TitleContent" runat="server">
    Find Attendance
</asp:Content>

<asp:Content ID="Find" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">
    <link type="text/css" href="/Content/jquery-ui-1.8.11.custom.css" rel="stylesheet" />	
    <link type="text/css" href="/Content/timePicker.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <h2>Find Attendance</h2>

<%=Html.ValidationSummary("Please correct the errors and try again") %>
<%@ Import Namespace="GymAttendance.Helpers" %>


<% using (Html.BeginForm()) { %>

<%: Html.ValidationSummary(true) %>

   <fieldset>
        <script type="text/javascript" src="/Scripts/jquery-1.5.1.min.js"></script>
        <script type="text/javascript" src="/Scripts/jquery-ui-1.8.11.custom.min.js"></script>
        <script type="text/javascript" src="/Scripts/jquery.timePicker.js"></script>

        <script language="javascript">
            $(document).ready(function () {
                $('#GA_Date').datepicker({ dateFormat: '<%= Html.ConvertDateFormat() %>' });
                $("#GA_Time_From").timePicker({
                    startTime: "07.30", // Using string. Can take string or Date object.
                    endTime: new Date(0, 0, 0, 20, 30, 0), // Using Date object here.
                    show24Hours: true,
                    separator: '.',
                    step: 15
                });
                $("#GA_Time_To").timePicker({
                    startTime: "07.30", // Using string. Can take string or Date object.
                    endTime: new Date(0, 0, 0, 20, 30, 0), // Using Date object here.
                    show24Hours: true,
                    separator: '.',
                    step: 15
                });
            }); 
        </script> 
       <p>
<% using (Html.BeginForm())
     {%>
  <%: Html.ValidationSummary(true) %>

    <legend>Fields</legend>
    <div class="editor-label">

      <%: Html.LabelFor(model => model.GA_Date)%>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-field">
      <%: Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.GA_Date)%>
      <%: Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.GA_Date)%>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-label">
      <%: Html.LabelFor(model => model.GA_Time_From) %>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-field">
      <%: Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.GA_Time_From)%>
      <%: Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.GA_Time_From)%>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-label">
      <%: Html.LabelFor(model => model.GA_Time_To) %>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-field">
      <%: Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.GA_Time_To)%>
      <%: Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.GA_Time_To)%>
    </div>
    <p>
      <input name="Find" type="submit" value="Find" />
    </p>
  </fieldset>
  <% } %>
  <div>
    <%: Html.ActionLink("Back to List", "Index") %>
  </div>
<% } %>

</asp:Content>

CK.aspx:

Code:

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<GymAttendance.Helpers.PaginatedList<GymAttendance.Models.Attendance>>" %>

<asp:Content ID="Main" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">
    <h2>Advance Gym Attendance</h2>

    <ul>
        <%foreach (var attendance in Model)
          { %>
          <li>
            <%=Html.ActionLink(attendance.GA_Attendee,"Details",new {id=attendance.GA_ID}) %>
            attending on
            <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Date.ToShortDateString()) %>
             <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Time_From.ToString ()) %>
             To
             <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Time_To.ToString ()) %>
          </li>
        <% } %>
    </ul>
</asp:Content>

I think I have pasted all the related codes??

When I debug it, it still fails at the same point (the post method) - in AttendanceController.cs, [AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
public ActionResult Find(FindViewModel find)
at line: var attn = attnRepository.FindAttendance(find.GA_Date);
error still says:

Quote:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Why is find.GA_Date still not "bound"?

Thanks again in advance.

Imar · July 8th, 2011, 06:32 AM

What happens if (for now) you simplify the Find view by removing the custom jQuery stuff and test out the String properties only? When you set a breakpoint in the Find method, is the FindViewModel (find) null, or are its properties null?

Imar

bh81 · July 8th, 2011, 06:48 AM

OK, I have removed all my jquery stuff, and my find.aspx now looks like this:

Code:

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<GymAttendance.Models.FindViewModel>" %>

<asp:Content ID="Title" ContentPlaceHolderID="TitleContent" runat="server">
    Find Attendance
</asp:Content>

<asp:Content ID="Find" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">

    <h2>Find Attendance</h2>

<%=Html.ValidationSummary("Please correct the errors and try again") %>

<% using (Html.BeginForm()) { %>

<%: Html.ValidationSummary(true) %>

   <fieldset>
       <p>
<% using (Html.BeginForm())
     {%>
  <%: Html.ValidationSummary(true) %>

    <legend>Fields</legend>
    <div class="editor-label">

      <%: Html.LabelFor(model => model.GA_Date)%>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-field">
      <%: Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.GA_Date)%>
      <%: Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.GA_Date)%>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-label">
      <%: Html.LabelFor(model => model.GA_Time_From) %>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-field">
      <%: Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.GA_Time_From)%>
      <%: Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.GA_Time_From)%>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-label">
      <%: Html.LabelFor(model => model.GA_Time_To) %>
    </div>
    <div class="editor-field">
      <%: Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.GA_Time_To)%>
      <%: Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.GA_Time_To)%>
    </div>
    <p>
      <input name="Find" type="submit" value="Find" />
    </p>
  </fieldset>
  <% } %>
  <div>
    <%: Html.ActionLink("Back to List", "Index") %>
  </div>
 
<% } %>

</asp:Content>

When I debug
public ActionResult Find(FindViewModel find)
find has null value.
hence when I F5 again to
var attn = attnRepository.FindAttendance(find.GA_Date);
it throws out "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."
hence it appears FindViewModel find is not set.

What am I doing wrong?

bh81 · July 8th, 2011, 08:03 AM

Hi Imar, some good news. I was x-ref with the NerdDinner Changepassword module and I think I'm missing:

Quote:

using System.ComponentModel;

So now, I'm moving onto the CK.aspx:

Code:

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<GymAttendance.Helpers.PaginatedList<GymAttendance.Models.Attendance>>" %>

<asp:Content ID="Main" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">
    <h2>Advance Gym Attendance</h2>

    <ul>
        <%foreach (var attendance in Model)
          { %>
          <li>
            <%=Html.ActionLink(attendance.GA_Attendee,"Details",new {id=attendance.GA_ID}) %>
            attending on
            <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Date.ToShortDateString()) %>
             <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Time_From.ToString ()) %>
             To
             <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Time_To.ToString ()) %>
          </li>
        <% } %>
    </ul>
</asp:Content>

It fails on:
<%foreach (var attendance in Model)
with error: "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."
Model is null in this instance.

Have I inherit the right model? Not sure how to tackle this.

Thanks in advance again.

Imar · July 8th, 2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

and I think I'm missing:

using System.ComponentModel;

Then the code shouldn't even have compiled I think. Did you check the error list before you tried to run it?

As to your new problem, take a look at this:

Code:

var attn = attnRepository.FindAttendance(find.GA_Date);
            if (attn == null)
                return View("NotFound");
            else
                return View("CK");

You're only getting the attendances, but never pass them to the View method....

Imar

bh81 · July 8th, 2011, 09:01 AM

Yes I did check the error list and it says 0Errors. I'm not sure why but it seems that after I have included:

using System.ComponentModel;

my "find" is not null anymore?!!!

I've updated my AttendanceController.cs to:

Code:

        //POST: /Attendance/Post
        [AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
        public ActionResult Find(FindViewModel find, int? page)
        {
            const int pageSize = 10;
            var attn = attnRepository.FindAttendance(find.GA_Date);
            var paginatedAttn = new PaginatedList<Attendance>(attn, page ?? 0, pageSize);
            if (paginatedAttn.Count == 0)
            {
                return View("NotFound");
            }
            else
            {
                return View(paginatedAttn);
            }

Again I just copy the codes from the NerdDinner, and the PaginatedList here is exactly the same as the one in NerdDinner.

But when I debug to
"return View(paginatedAttn);"
it throws this error:

Quote:

The model item passed into the dictionary is of type 'GymAttendance.Helpers.PaginatedList`1[GymAttendance.Models.Attendance]', but this dictionary requires a model item of type 'GymAttendance.Models.FindViewModel'.

I was trying to reuse my index.aspx page:

Code:

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<GymAttendance.Helpers.PaginatedList<GymAttendance.Models.Attendance>>" %>

<asp:Content ID="Main" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">
    <h2>Advance Gym Attendance</h2>

    <ul>
        <%foreach (var attendance in Model)
          { %>
          <li>
            <%=Html.ActionLink(attendance.GA_Attendee,"Details",new {id=attendance.GA_ID}) %>
            attending on
            <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Date.ToShortDateString()) %>
             <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Time_From.ToString ()) %>
             To
             <%=Html.Encode(attendance.GA_Time_To.ToString ()) %>
          </li>
        <% } %>
    </ul>

       <% if (Model.HasPreviousPage) {%>
            <%=Html.RouteLink("<<<", 
                            "AdvanceAttendance", 
                            new { page=(Model.PageIndex-1) }) %>
        <% } %>

        <% if (Model.HasNextPage) {%>
            <%=Html.RouteLink(">>>", "AdvanceAttendance", new { page = (Model.PageIndex + 1) })%>
        <% } %>

</asp:Content>

Is it possible? Or do I need to create another page. If latter, is the "Inherits" the only thing I need to change?

Thank you again for being extremely patience and helpful to me.

Imar · July 8th, 2011, 09:37 AM

By calling this:

Code:

return View(paginatedAttn);

you execute the Find view which indeed expects a differnet model. Earlier you used the CK view which you should pass in here as well:

Code:

return View("CK", paginatedAttn);

This way, the paginatedAttn is rendered using the CK view....

Imar

bh81 · July 11th, 2011, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imar

Then the code shouldn't even have compiled I think. Did you check the error list before you tried to run it?

As to your new problem, take a look at this:

Code:

var attn = attnRepository.FindAttendance(find.GA_Date);
            if (attn == null)
                return View("NotFound");
            else
                return View("CK");

You're only getting the attendances, but never pass them to the View method....

Imar

I have had new findings to this, I actually changed two "variables" for this experiment, I can conclude that it's the name = "Find" in

Quote:

that caused the prolem not not the reference.

Sorry for the confusion and thanks for pointing this out

bh81 · July 11th, 2011, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imar

By calling this:

Code:

return View(paginatedAttn);

you execute the Find view which indeed expects a differnet model. Earlier you used the CK view which you should pass in here as well:

Code:

return View("CK", paginatedAttn);

This way, the paginatedAttn is rendered using the CK view....

Imar

Excellent Imar. Thanks a trillion. It's all working now. You're a saviour!

Now I need to try two more search criteria....