MVC Routes: Adding an optional parameter at the beginning of a route

Answer 1

Could you use subdomains and change the second URL to customerx.abc.com/customers/tx/Austin/5? What about tacking the customerx potion onto the end as an optional parameter like so? abc.com/customers/tx/Austin/5?customer=x

Answer 2

I would've made the route like this:

customers/{statename}/{marketname}/{customer}  

and do the pagenumber as a querystring. That way the url would be:

www.abc.com/customers/tx/Austin?pagenumber=1

or

www.abc.com/customers/tx/Austin/CustomerX

The construction of the url will also most likely follow the usagepattern of the site aswell:

1. Click Customers
2. Select a State
3. Select a marketname
4. Browse pages
5. Click the customer