MVC 3 Can't pass string as a View's model?

Question

I have a strange problem with my model passed to the View

Controller

[Authorize]
public ActionResult Sth()
{
    return View("~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml", "abc");
}

View

@model string

@{
    ViewBag.Title = "lorem";
    Layout = "~/Views/Shared/Default.cshtml";
}

The error message

The view '~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml' or its master was not found or no view engine supports the searched locations. The following locations were searched:
~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml
~/Views/Sth/abc.master  //string model is threated as a possible Layout's name ?
~/Views/Shared/abc.master
~/Views/Sth/abc.cshtml
~/Views/Sth/abc.vbhtml
~/Views/Shared/abc.cshtml
~/Views/Shared/abc.vbhtml

Why can't I pass a simple string as a model ?

Why are you using those relative paths? use this: `View("Sth", null, "abc");` — gdoron, Mar 21 '12 at 10:38

score 122 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 21 '12 at 10:23

122

Yes you can if you are using the right overload:

return View("~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml" /* view name*/, 
            null /* master name */,  
            "abc" /* model */);

answered Mar 21 '12 at 10:23

nemesv

138,284
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24

Alternative solution: `return View("~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml", model: "abc")` – fejesjoco Feb 13 '14 at 15:04
2

Another Solution: return View("~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml", (object)"abc") – Jas Apr 26 '14 at 14:39
`return View("Sth", model: "abc");` – Tharindu Madushanka Sep 21 '18 at 10:24

score 96 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 21 '13 at 11:39

If you use named parameters you can skip the need to give the first parameter altogether

return View(model:"abc");

or

return View(viewName:"~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml", model:"abc");

will also serve the purpose.

gdoron · Answer 3 · 2012-03-21T10:37:18.040

18

You meant this View overload:

protected internal ViewResult View(string viewName, Object model)

MVC is confused by this overload:

protected internal ViewResult View(string viewName, string masterName)

Use this overload:

protected internal virtual ViewResult View(string viewName, string masterName,
                                           Object model)

This way:

return View("~/Views/Sth/Sth.cshtml", null , "abc");

By the way, you could just use this:

return View("Sth", null, "abc");

Overload resolution on MSDN

edited Mar 21 '12 at 10:37

answered Mar 21 '12 at 10:22

gdoron

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Now I see, I was using the constuctor `string viewName, object model` – Tony Mar 21 '12 at 10:27
2

@Tony. You meant `method` not constructor I guess. And the `Overload resolution` Got the wrong method(for you...) – gdoron Mar 21 '12 at 10:29
Even just typecasting the string to object would probably have helped the overload resolution: `return View("Sth", (object) "abc");`, but calling the method `View(string, string, object)` is definitely clearer, in either case. – Owen Blacker May 21 '12 at 12:57
@OwenBlacker. I thought the same thing, but it will cause problem as the view expecting a `string` not an `object` as a model. so it will pass only stage one and then fail. – gdoron May 21 '12 at 12:59
1

@gdoron Ah, that would make sense. Using the `View(string, string, object)` overload, as you mentioned in your answer, certainly seems like The Right Answer™, any any case. – Owen Blacker May 21 '12 at 16:59

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 04 '13 at 17:53

5

It also works if you pass null for the first two parameters:

return View(null, null, "abc");

answered Nov 04 '13 at 17:53

Alex Dresko

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score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 07 '13 at 17:45

4

It also works if you declare the string as an object:

object str = "abc";
return View(str);

Or:

return View("abc" as object);

answered Aug 07 '13 at 17:45

Tim Mac

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score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Oct 08 '20 at 08:08

1

You also write like

return View(model: "msg");

edited Oct 08 '20 at 08:08

Leandro Bardelli

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answered Mar 20 '19 at 15:47

Hiren Patel

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score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 08 '20 at 08:12

This seems so pretty obvious but maybe someone needs more clarification in the future:

If in your controller do:

  string id = "abc";
  return View(model: id);

Then in your view, you need:

@model string

In order to get the value, for e.g.:

<div>@Model</div>

MVC 3 Can't pass string as a View's model?

7 Answers7

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