upgrading from MVC4 to MVC5

Question

I have made that dreadful error of upgrading from MVC4 to MVC5 pre-release by updating the razor, and mvc webpage in my references I have System.Web.Mvc, System.Web.Webpages, System.Web.Webpages.Razor and System.Web.Razor as version v4.0.30319, when I run my application I get

[A]System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection cannot be cast to 
[B]System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection.

Type A originates from 
'System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' in the context 'Default' at location
'C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Web.WebPages.Razor\v4.0_2.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\System.Web.WebPages.Razor.dll'.

Type B originates from
'System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, 
PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' in the context 'Default' at location 
'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\Temporary ASP.NET Files\membership\c70f06fe\9163b1ca\assembly\dl3\291c956e\73c25daa_cf74ce01\System.Web.WebPages.Razor.dll'.

is this the same as http://www.asp.net/whitepapers/mvc4-release-notes

Thanks

Adding a stacktrace:

[InvalidCastException: [A]System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection cannot be      cast to [B]System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection. 
Type A originates from 'System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' in the context 'Default' at location 
 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Web.WebPages.Razor\v4.0_2.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\System.Web.WebPages.Razor.dll'. Type B originates from 'System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' in the context 'Default' at location

'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\Temporary ASP.NET Files\c70f06fe\9163b1ca\assembly\dl3\291c956e\73c25daa_cf74ce01\System.Web.WebPages.Razor.dll'.]
System.Web.WebPages.Razor.WebRazorHostFactory.CreateHostFromConfig(String virtualPath, String physicalPath) +193
System.Web.WebPages.Razor.RazorBuildProvider.GetHostFromConfig() +51
System.Web.WebPages.Razor.RazorBuildProvider.CreateHost() +24
System.Web.WebPages.Razor.RazorBuildProvider.get_Host() +34
System.Web.WebPages.Razor.RazorBuildProvider.EnsureGeneratedCode() +85
System.Web.WebPages.Razor.RazorBuildProvider.get_CodeCompilerType() +34
System.Web.Compilation.BuildProvider.GetCompilerTypeFromBuildProvider(BuildProvider buildProvider) +189
System.Web.Compilation.BuildProvidersCompiler.ProcessBuildProviders() +265
System.Web.Compilation.BuildProvidersCompiler.PerformBuild() +21
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.CompileWebFile(VirtualPath virtualPath) +580
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.GetVPathBuildResultInternal(VirtualPath virtualPath, Boolean noBuild, Boolean allowCrossApp, Boolean allowBuildInPrecompile, Boolean throwIfNotFound, Boolean ensureIsUpToDate) +571
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.GetVPathBuildResultWithNoAssert(HttpContext context, VirtualPath virtualPath, Boolean noBuild, Boolean allowCrossApp, Boolean allowBuildInPrecompile, Boolean throwIfNotFound, Boolean ensureIsUpToDate) +203
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.GetVirtualPathObjectFactory(VirtualPath virtualPath, HttpContext context, Boolean allowCrossApp, Boolean throwIfNotFound) +249
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.GetCompiledType(VirtualPath virtualPath) +17
System.Web.Mvc.BuildManagerCompiledView.Render(ViewContext viewContext, TextWriter writer) +90
System.Web.Mvc.ViewResultBase.ExecuteResult(ControllerContext context) +380
System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionResultFilterRecursive(IList`1 filters, Int32 filterIndex, ResultExecutingContext preContext, ControllerContext controllerContext, ActionResult actionResult) +109
System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionResultFilterRecursive(IList`1 filters, Int32 filterIndex, ResultExecutingContext preContext, ControllerContext controllerContext, ActionResult actionResult) +890
System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionResultWithFilters(ControllerContext controllerContext, IList`1 filters, ActionResult actionResult) +97
System.Web.Mvc.Async.<>c__DisplayClass1e.<BeginInvokeAction>b__1b(IAsyncResult asyncResult) +241
System.Web.Mvc.Controller.<BeginExecuteCore>b__1d(IAsyncResult asyncResult, ExecuteCoreState innerState) +29
System.Web.Mvc.Async.WrappedAsyncVoid`1.CallEndDelegate(IAsyncResult asyncResult) +111
System.Web.Mvc.Controller.EndExecuteCore(IAsyncResult asyncResult) +53
System.Web.Mvc.Async.WrappedAsyncVoid`1.CallEndDelegate(IAsyncResult asyncResult) +19
System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.<BeginProcessRequest>b__4(IAsyncResult asyncResult, ProcessRequestState innerState) +51
System.Web.Mvc.Async.WrappedAsyncVoid`1.CallEndDelegate(IAsyncResult asyncResult) +111
System.Web.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +606
System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +288

score 111 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 08 '14 at 15:49

Found out what need to be done in Views\Web.config. Just copy & paste these sections over what you have:

<configSections>
    <sectionGroup name="system.web.webPages.razor" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorWebSectionGroup, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
        <section name="host" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
        <section name="pages" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorPagesSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
    </sectionGroup>
</configSections>

<host factoryType="System.Web.Mvc.MvcWebRazorHostFactory, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />

<pages
    validateRequest="false"
    pageParserFilterType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewTypeParserFilter, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35"
    pageBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35"
    userControlBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewUserControl, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
  <controls>
    <add assembly="System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" namespace="System.Web.Mvc" tagPrefix="mvc" />
  </controls>
</pages>

And that was it. Job done! :D

Nice one BRO... helped me a lot! :) Had to change it in 3 `Web.config` files (inside Views folders) - the main one and other 2 inside Areas. Phew! They could've updated it automagically using the `NuGet` package through a PowerShell script or something... — Leniel Maccaferri, Jul 13 '13 at 06:35
Is the `Web.Config` ones in Views Folder only? Am I supposed to leave the system level `Web.Config` untouched? Also, I assume the `` and `` tags are under ``, isn't it? — Blaise, Oct 18 '13 at 18:49
@Blaise: You are rightit is the views web.config. and the reason I had the issue was that I updated to the pre-release with the release of Visual Studio 2013 I guess this issue will be resolved but If you had a VS 2012 project ad wanted to port it to VS2013 then it is worth having a look. Host is outside the — Jack M, Oct 21 '13 at 08:58
This solved my issue - I had to update my root web.config and the web.config in my Views folder. — theJerm, Jan 23 '15 at 18:04
Oh yes. I know we aren't supposed to post "atta boy" comments but I journeyed far and wide all day after deciding to switch from Linq to SQL to Entity Framework and also to get rid of all Authorization gobbly gook by MS. It just shouldn't be this tightly coupled and tangled. — JustJohn, Oct 16 '15 at 01:11

score 16 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 30 '13 at 17:55

16

i suggest to see this from http://asp.net website

http://www.asp.net/mvc/tutorials/mvc-5/how-to-upgrade-an-aspnet-mvc-4-and-web-api-project-to-aspnet-mvc-5-and-web-api-2

answered Sep 30 '13 at 17:55

Behnam Shomali

863
1
12
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trying so hard to upgrade a asp.net test project from mvc4 to mvc5 – bob.mazzo Dec 20 '14 at 00:52

score 3 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 08 '14 at 15:50

have you just updated the project references? Did you also check the web.config? There are also those libraries referenced and usually with specific version numbers of the library itself.

in the web.config you can find the referenced libraries for instance in:

<runtime>
    <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
        <dependentAssembly>
            <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.Helpers" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" />
            <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-2.0.0.0" newVersion="2.0.0.0" />
        </dependentAssembly>
        <dependentAssembly>
            <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.Mvc" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" />
            <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-4.0.0.0" newVersion="4.0.0.0" />
        </dependentAssembly>
        <dependentAssembly>
            <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.WebPages" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" />
            <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-2.0.0.0" newVersion="2.0.0.0" />
        </dependentAssembly>
        <dependentAssembly>
            <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.WebPages.Razor" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" culture="neutral" />
            <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-2.0.0.0" newVersion="2.0.0.0" />
        </dependentAssembly>
    </assemblyBinding>
</runtime>

or

<configSections>
    <sectionGroup name="system.web.webPages.razor" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorWebSectionGroup, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
        <section name="host" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
        <section name="pages" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorPagesSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
    </sectionGroup>
</configSections>

or

<system.web.webPages.razor>
    <host factoryType="System.Web.Mvc.MvcWebRazorHostFactory, System.Web.Mvc, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
    <pages pageBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.WebViewPage">
        <namespaces>
            <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc" />
            <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc.Ajax" />
            <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc.Html" />
            <add namespace="System.Web.Routing" />
        </namespaces>
    </pages>
</system.web.webPages.razor>

I was pretty much going to say the exact thing. I could maybe just add that you can put a version redirect in your web.config file too. Also, remember that your Views folder also contains a web.config file. — Captain Kenpachi, Jul 05 '13 at 09:51
@JackM What nuget package is available for MVC5. Can you provide the specific nuget commands you used? — Gerald Davis, Aug 07 '13 at 18:31
Well I guess I googled badly before asking. The command is "Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc -Pre" https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc/5.0.0-beta2 — Gerald Davis, Aug 07 '13 at 18:33

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 01 '16 at 14:40

Here is the the whole Views\Web.config from a fresh ASP.NET MVC 5 with Razor 3 view engine. Out of the Box (OOTB), original, raw file.

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<configuration>
  <configSections>
    <sectionGroup name="system.web.webPages.razor" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorWebSectionGroup, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
      <section name="host" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
      <section name="pages" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorPagesSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
    </sectionGroup>
  </configSections>

  <system.web.webPages.razor>
    <host factoryType="System.Web.Mvc.MvcWebRazorHostFactory, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.3.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
    <pages pageBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.WebViewPage">
      <namespaces>
        <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc" />
        <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc.Ajax" />
        <add namespace="System.Web.Mvc.Html" />
        <add namespace="System.Web.Optimization"/>
        <add namespace="System.Web.Routing" />
        <add namespace="WebApplicationNet4._5._2" />
      </namespaces>
    </pages>
  </system.web.webPages.razor>

  <appSettings>
    <add key="webpages:Enabled" value="false" />
  </appSettings>

  <system.webServer>
    <handlers>
      <remove name="BlockViewHandler"/>
      <add name="BlockViewHandler" path="*" verb="*" preCondition="integratedMode" type="System.Web.HttpNotFoundHandler" />
    </handlers>
  </system.webServer>

  <system.web>
    <compilation>
      <assemblies>
        <add assembly="System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.3.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
      </assemblies>
    </compilation>
  </system.web>
</configuration>

It is pretty much a set it and forget it file, so I hope this can help with MVC4 to MVC5 upgrades. Make sure to then check/cross reference your Project References versions. I've moved to just using NuGet for package management and managing dependencies.

You'll also likely find this link useful for MVC migrations http://docs.nuget.org/consume/package-restore/migrating-to-automatic-package-restore — Craig Gjerdingen, Sep 01 '16 at 14:41

upgrading from MVC4 to MVC5

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