can you post complex objects from form to controller in asp.net mvc

Question

i see there are solutions using different model binders like castl but i didn't know if the basic default model binder supported nested complex objects when i am posting a form to a controller.

Answer 1

I think you can if I understand your question.

In the name of my field I not only put the property name but object as well.

So if I have a "Person" object that contains an "Address" object that contains a "State" field I would have as the name "Person.Address.State" and that seems to resolve just fine in my controller.

<%= Html.TextBox("Person.Address.State", Person.Address.State....

Is this what you are asking?

EDIT

It does work and here is the code to get it to work.

namespace DoMyWork.Controllers
{
    public class test
    {
        public string value { get; set; }
    }

    public class testParent
    {
        public test test { get; set; }
    }

    public class SearchController : Controller
    {
        public ActionResult ViewUserControl1(testParent test)
        {
            UpdateModel(test);

            return View(test);
        }

SNIP

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

<asp:Content ID="Content1" ContentPlaceHolderID="TitleContent" runat="server">
    ViewUserControl1
</asp:Content>

<asp:Content ID="Content2" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="server">

    <h2>ViewUserControl1</h2>

    <% using( Html.BeginForm()){ %>
        <%= Html.TextBox("test.value", Model.test.value) %>
        <input type="submit" value="sdf" />
    <%} %>

</asp:Content>