add logic to _ViewStart.cshtml

Question

is there a way to add logic in the _ViewStart.cshtml file to drive which _Layout file to use?

Conceptually, I want to do the code below (ViewBag.Context is determined in the Home controller). But I get a red squiggly under ViewBag (does not exist in current context). I guess this is a problem because this view page doesn't know which controller/method is calling it.

@{if (ViewBag.Context == "AA")
    {
        Layout = "~/Views/Shared/_Layout_AA.cshtml";
    }
    else
    {
        Layout = "~/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml";
    }
}

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 22 '16 at 02:38

1

FWIW, you can also do this in the controller:

if (someCondition == "AA")
{
    return View("MyView", "~/Views/Shared/_Layout_AA.cshtml");
}
else
{
    return View ("MyView", "~/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml");
}

answered Nov 22 '16 at 02:38

BasicIsaac

187
8

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

0

Use the PageData property (it's something more applicable to ASP.NET WebPages and seldom used in MVC) Set:

@{
    PageData["message"] = "Hello";
}

Retrieve

<h2>@PageData["message"]</h2>

Source: How do I set ViewBag properties on _ViewStart.cshtml?

edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

Community

1
1

answered Nov 21 '16 at 22:47

skhan

1

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 22 '16 at 12:42

0

Use a ternary operator:

@{
   Layout = ViewBag.Context == "AA" ? "~/Views/Shared/_Layout_AA.cshtml" : "~/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml" ;
  }

answered Nov 22 '16 at 12:42

Rafael Carvalho

2,036
2
15
19

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 30 '16 at 22:45

Some of you are not seeing "But I get a red squiggly under ViewBag (does not exist in current context). I guess this is a problem because this view page doesn't know which controller/method is calling it."

My solution was to embed the value in a cookie while in the controller at the start. Then in the _ViewStart.cshtml file, I retrieve the cookie value and can now use it to dictate my layout logic.

add logic to _ViewStart.cshtml

4 Answers4