In MVC app using JQGrid - how to set user data in the controller action

Question

How do you set the userdata in the controller action. The way I'm doing it is breaking my grid. I'm trying a simple test with no luck. Here's my code which does not work. Thanks.

       var dataJson = new
        {

            total = 
            page = 1,
            records = 10000,
            userdata = "{test1:thefield}",
            rows = (from e in equipment
                    select new
                    {
                        id = e.equip_id,
                        cell = new string[] {
                e.type_desc,
                e.make_descr,
                e.model_descr,
                e.equip_year,
                e.work_loc,
                e.insp_due_dt,
                e.registered_by,
                e.managed_by
            }
                    }).ToArray()
        };
        return Json(dataJson);

Answer 1

I don't think you have to convert it to an Array. I've used jqGrid and i just let the Json function serialize the object. I'm not certain that would cause a problem, but it's unnecessary at the very least.

Also, your user data would evaluate to a string (because you are sending it as a string). Try sending it as an anonymous object. ie:

userdata = new { test1 = "thefield" },

You need a value for total and a comma between that and page. (I'm guessing that's a typo. I don't think that would compile as is.)

EDIT: Also, i would recommend adding the option "jsonReader: { repeatitems: false }" to your javascript. This will allow you to send your collection in the "rows" field without converting it to the "{id: ID, cell: [ data_row_as_array ] }" syntax. You can set the property "key = true" in your colModel to indicate which field is the ID. It makes it a lot simpler to pass data to the grid.