ASP.NET MVC: Get an action output within another action

Question

In ASP.NET MVC application I have an action Page() which renders a page (like a wiki page).

Now, I have another action RenderPdf() which should collect the HTML output of Page() and use HTML2PDF component to create PDF version of that page.

How do I collect the HTML output of one action within another action. Note: not in the view, but in the action code directly.

Answer 1

You can use the MVC Futures assembly.

There is a method called RenderAction() that gets the HTML output of an action, but from inside a view...

Answer 2

If the pdf is just a copy of the output cant you use javascript to capture the image and pass back to Render PDF?

Or, pass the pdf version to the view within the same model of the first action. Keep it hidden if/until user needs it?

Answer 3

You could check out this awnser to a similar question :

Send ASP.NET MVC action result inside email

Obviously you would need to replace the SendEmailKThx() call with your HTML2PDF PDF generation.

Answer 4

I did a blog post on this subject. You can find it here: http://jwbs-blog.blogspot.com/2009/08/chaining-aspnet-mvc-actions.html