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how can I have multiple forms each generated from a list of items?

In an MVC application, I have a list of exam questions and I want to present a small number of them to the user on the same page but where each answer can be submitted separately.
So my page looks like this ....
The view code is ....
#model List<QuestionResponseVM>
#for (int i = 0; i < Model.Count(); i++)
{
using (Html.BeginForm("CheckQuestions", "Checks", FormMethod.Post, new {questResponses = Model[i] }))
{
#Html.AntiForgeryToken()
#Html.HiddenFor(model => model[i].QuestionID)
<tr>
<td width="35%">
#Html.Raw(Model[i].QuestionText)
#Html.HiddenFor(model => model[i].QuestionText)
</td>
<td>
#Html.TextAreaFor(model => model[i].Response, new { #name = "DisplayTextEdit", #id = "DisplayTextEdit", #rows = 1, #cols = 80 })
</td>
<td width="30%">
<div class="form-group">
<div class="col-md-offset-2 col-md-10">
<input type="submit" value="Save" class="btn btn-primary" />
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
}
}
My problem is I can only get data returned to the POST method for Question 1.
Here is the Controller Code ....
public class ChecksController : Controller
{
public ActionResult CheckQuestions()
{
return View(LoadQuestions());
}
// POST: Checks
[HttpPost]
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
public ActionResult CheckQuestions(List<QuestionResponseVM> questResponses)
{
List<QuestionResponseVM> testList = new List<QuestionResponseVM>();
if (ModelState.IsValid)
{
testList = LoadQuestions(questResponses[0].QuestionID, questResponses[0].Response);
}
return View(testList);
}
private List<QuestionResponseVM> LoadQuestions (int _QuestionID = -1, string _Response = "")
{
List<QuestionResponseVM> thisList = new List<QuestionResponseVM>();
thisList.Add(new QuestionResponseVM()
{
QuestionID = 1,
QuestionText = "Question 1",
Response = (_QuestionID == 1 ? _Response : "")
});
thisList.Add(new QuestionResponseVM()
{
QuestionID = 2,
QuestionText = "Question 2",
Response = (_QuestionID == 2 ? _Response : "")
});
thisList.Add(new QuestionResponseVM()
{
QuestionID = 3,
QuestionText = "Question 3",
Response = (_QuestionID == 3 ? _Response : "")
});
return thisList;
}
}
If the Controller POST method has a parameter of QuestionResponseVM questResponses which is what I was expecting (hoping for) then null is returned from the view no matter which "Save" button is clicked.
However, if I change the parameter to a list (i.e. List<QuestionResponseVM> questResponses) then the "Save" button for Question 1 returns a list with a single item and correct data. But, any other "Save" button (e.g. Question 2 or Question 3) returns a null list.
The behaviour for scenario 1. seems counter-intuitive to me since the "Begin Form" is set to return a single model item (instance of the model) i.e. "Model[i]".
And in scenario 2., I just don't understand why it works for the first form ("Save" button) but not for the others.
I don't believe I should need to use JScript or AJAX to do this.
But clearly, I am not "connecting some dots" here.
Can someone please explain my observed behaviour and maybe give me a push in the right direction to meet this requirement.?
I would greatly appreciate any help.

Before going through your questions, I don't get what new {questResponses = Model[i] })) is doing in your forms:
using (Html.BeginForm("CheckQuestions", "Checks", FormMethod.Post, new {questResponses = Model[i] }))
{
...
}
Model[i] is a complex object. All you got there was the name of the object:
Q1: If the Controller POST method has just a single parameter
Since you're using a for loop to generate each form and inputs within the form, the name of those inputs will be in the forms of [INDEX].NAME:
By default, the model binding will bind those inputs (QuestionId, QuestionText and Response) to a matching object. QuestionResponseViewModel indeed matches that. The problem is [INDEX]. prefix.
In order for the default model binding to work, the parameter name you declare in the POST method has to be called [INDEX], i.e., [0] for the first form, [1] for the second form and so on:
[HttpPost]
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
public ActionResult CheckQuestions(QuestionResponseVM [0])
{
...
}
But you know we can't declare anything like that in C#.
The Fix for Q1
Instead of using the regular for loop, you can use foreach to generate each form. In that way, you get rid of the need for naming a parameter that's changing for each form.
Another "GOTYOU" here is that the parameter in the controller has to match the variable you declared in the for loop for each QuestionResponseViewModel:
#foreach (var qrVM in Model)
{
using(Html.BeginForm("..."))
{
#Html.AntiForgeryToken()
#Html.HiddenFor(x => qrVM.QuestionId)
<tr>
<td>
#Html.DisplayFor(x => qrVM.QuestionId)
#Html.HiddenFor(x => qrVM.QuestionId)
</td>
...
</tr>
}
}
[HttpPost]
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
public ActionResult CheckQuestions(QuestionResponseVM qrVM)
{
// If you name the parameter something else, it won't bind!
...
}
If you think about it, that makes sense, because you know the form will post data with keys like qrVM.QuestionId, qrVM.QuestionText back to the server. The default model binding will search for a model that has those properties and is named qrVM.
Q2: Change parameter to a list
When the first form posts back to the server, the form data in the request body will look like:
[0].RequestionId: 1
[0].RequestionText: Question 1
[0].Response: xxx
MVC model binding is still smart enough and thinks you're posting the first item of the list you declared. Hence you will see List<QuestionResponseVM> questResponses capture the correct data for the first form.
Well what about the second and third form? If you submit the data on the second form for example, the form data in the request body will look like:
[1].RequestionId: 2
[1].RequestionText: Question 2
[1].Response: xxx
MVC model binding sees it as the 2nd item of the list, but where's the 1st item? And it got confused so it couldn't bind the data to the parameter. Hence you will see NULL from the parameter List<QuestionResponseVM> questResponses.
My 2 cents
You actually cannot put a form inside a table or between table rows like this. It's considered as invalid HTML structure. It's never a good idea to use tables as structures to display data on the page anyway. Instead, You can use Bootstrap's row and columns.
I don't know why or what made you think you shouldn't need AJAX. Your case is like the best scenario to go with an AJAX approach! For example, with AJAX, the user can save each question's response individually. The page doesn't have to be refreshed.

Your save button on Question 1 is submitting the form to the controller. You will need to either have one Save/Submit button at the end of a set of questions and utilize the FormCollection object or spend time setting up JQuery/Ajax for click events on each button and removing the form element. You could have a bit of both if the button at the bottom becomes a 'Next' and then submits to a controller to get the next set of related questions.

How do you create a search bar that will let you search for all the different fields in your database?

For example, On my Home/Index page I display the information in my database. I want to create a search bar that will let me search for all the values that match my search.
e.g. database has employee, salary, and ID. I select employee search button and search for "Bob". The search will show me all the employees named Bob.
I have it right now so that I can display everything on the database to my index.cshtml from my HomeController. I can do simple searches like
public ActionResult Index(string employeeName){
//If employeeName, I return employeeName
//else I return something else}
But I am not sure how to search for multiple fields and return them. I know I can't use overloaded ActionResults, so I tried using [ActionName] and create different Index methods with differing parameters, but the search wouldn't work. I'm also not using ADO.NET entity model because I'm trying to do this in an existing code that doesn't implement entity model.
edit- Home controller
public class HomeController : Controller{
public ActionResult NameSearch(string EmployeeName)
{ //code to display JUST employee's name that matches the Employee variable}
public ActionResult SalarySearch(double salary)
{ //code to display JUST employee's sthat matches the salary variable}
public ActionResult Index()
{
//return View(model); the model has all the data that will be displayed in index.cshtml
}
index.cshtml-
<h2>Employee</h2>
<form action="/" method="get">
<input type="text" name="EmployeeName" />
<input type="submit" value="Search" />
</form>
<h3>Search Salary</h3>
<form action="/" method="get">
<input type="text" name="salary" />
<input type="submit" value="Search" />
</form>
So there are multiple search boxes. If I search "bob" in the Employee search I want to return all the matching names. But I am not sure If I am going at this right,
final edit-
I got this done by using something like this in Index.cshtml
<p>
#using (Html.BeginForm("serialDisplay", "Home", FormMethod.Get))
{
<p>
serial Number: #Html.TextBox("serialNumber") <br />
<input type="submit" value="Search" />
</p>
}
</p>

Maybe I understand the question now. You're really concerned more with the parameters on the Controller method signature, not how to do the internal logic in the controller, correct?
Are you aware that parameters can be defaulted to null or some other sensible value if they're not passed in?
public ActionResult Index( int? id = null, string employeeName = null,double? salary = null){
// if id != null, add it to the where clause.
// if employeeName != null or white space, add it to the where clause (most browsers will send it as "" if the user doesn't enter anything).
// if salary != null, add it to the where clause, you probably actually want a salaryMin and salaryMax
}
This is the simplest way to approach optional parameters, there's also more you can do with custom model binders. You could also play around with Routes to send you to differently named methods based on parameters supplied. It also lets you construct things so that you can do salary AND name.
edit: link to MS documentation https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd264739.aspx#Optional Arguments

Default value of DropDownList in an Html.BeginForm block

While a search of "Default value of DropDownList" produces results, this is not a duplicate question because the specific issue is not listed in the examples and answers I have searched.
Here is the main question first, followed by supporting background and details:
When I place a DropdownList in an Html.BeginForm block, how can I have the default DropDownList values be an item other than the first item in the list?
What I have done so far:
SO, Microsoft Virtual Academy, and a general Internet Search using various search terms, with no effective answers that solve this specific issue.
Looking at the overloads of Html.DropDownList on MSDN. The optionLabel parameter inserts an item at the very top of the list, such as "Select an Item", which is not desired behavior.
jQuery, which does work as intended, but I'm really hoping there is a much simpler way that doesn't involve jQuery.
My Working Theory: The method I learned (and shown below) does not allow for default values and it is not a case of not knowing a particular overload of Html.DropDownList.
Background Info:
In the process of learning MVC 5 and gathering instructions from tutorials and SO answers, I learned this style of creating a DropDownList that is placed within a Html.BeginForm() block in the View. It works, if I want the default value to be the first item in the list or if I want to add an item inserted at the top that says "select an item."
However, there are times when it is meaningful to for the default value to be other than the first in the list.
In the controller, the defaults of the parameter are set Index(string campus = "MRA", string fy = "FY16"), and the query returns the correct result, but DropDownLists are not set accordingly when loading the page for the very first time.
Controller
public ActionResult Index(string campus = "MRA", string fy = "FY16")
{
/* The ViewBags feed DropDownLists used to filter the query */
ViewBag.CampusList = new List<string> { "CRA","DRA","MRA","PRA"};
ViewBag.FyList = new List<string> {"FY15","FY16" };
IEnumerable<AssociatedW3SuspensionOrProbation> query =
db.AssociatedW3SuspensionOrProbation
.Where(m=>m.Campus==campus).Where(m=>m.FY==fy)
.OrderBy(m=>m.StudentName).ThenBy(m=>m.LatestEntryDate);
return View(query.ToList());
}
View
The dropdowns function correctly: when the form is submitted, the query results are chosen by the selected dropdown values and the dropdowns load with the selected values.
#using (Html.BeginForm())
{
<div class="panel panel-default">
<div class="panel-body">
<p>
<strong>Campus</strong>: #Html.DropDownList("campus",
new SelectList(ViewBag.CampusList)) ||
<strong>FY</strong>: #Html.DropDownList("fy",
new SelectList(ViewBag.FyList))
</p>
<div><input type="submit" value="Search" /></div>
</div>
</div>
}
Is there a simple answer to this problem, or does this require a totally different approach?

What you have to do is create SelectList in the controller action and there is a constructor overload which can be used to set selected value, but for that you would need a List<T> which is not string but a custom type that contains 2 properties 1 for TextField and 1 for ValueField.
You have to use second Constructor overload listed here
Here is the example code:
ViewBag.CampusList = new SelectList(
new List<string> { "CRA","DRA","MRA","PRA"},
campus // selected value
);
ViewBag.FyList = new SelectList(
new List<string> {"FY15","FY16" },
,fy // selected value
);
and in your view:
#Html.DropDownList("campus",
ViewBag.CampusList as SelectList)
#Html.DropDownList("fy",
ViewBag.FyList as SelectList)

Mutliple checkbox with same name attribute looping

I have a html form that submits to a C# ashx handler that i'm hoping will insert/update the database
I've written this in PHP and Coldfusion, but I cannot figure out how to do this in C#
HTML form
<form id="copyto">
<input type="hidden" name="operation" value="update" />
<label><input type="checkbox" name="children[]" checked="checked" value="001">
Andrew Regan</label>
<label><input type="checkbox" name="children[]" checked="checked" value="101">
Arthur Regan, III</label>
<input type="checkbox" name="children[]" checked="checked" value="968">
Tim Reagan
</form>
C# ASHX handler
foreach(string key in context.Request.Params["children"])
{
ListDictionary updateParams = new ListDictionary();
updateParams.Add("rowid", key);
string sSql = #"insert into temp select * from children where c.id = :rowid";
dbi.ExecuteNonQuerySql(sSql, updateParams);
}
Typically i would iterate over the $_POST['children'] in php , and execute the sql
How exactly does this translate?
EDIT
ok ive almost gotten this, however my iterator goes over ALL of the request collection variables, i want it to go over only a specific named variable, in this case "children"
i.e localhost/page?operation=update&children=9&children=8&children=17
foreach(string key in context.Request.QueryString)
{
ListDictionary updateParams = new ListDictionary();
updateParams.Add("row_id", context.Request.QueryString[key]);
string sSql = #"insert into dug select :row_id from dual";
dbi.ExecuteNonQuerySql(sSql, updateParams);
}
i want it to ignore everything but the specific var

If you are doing a post. I think something like this would work.
<input type="checkbox" name="children" value="108"/>
<input type="checkbox" name="children" value="109"/>
<input type="checkbox" name="children" value="110"/>
<input type="checkbox" name="children" value="111"/>
The browser will send all of the values comma seperated to the server when the form is submited
Then on your server side you can do this:
var selected = context.Request.Form["children"].Split(',');
Selected will be an array of strings for each value that was passed in by the browser. You can then loop over them and do whatever you need to.
Hope this helps some.

I was just working on this yesterday. I ended up using a hidden field that will hold the multiple checked checkbox id's. So, if that route works for you, you could create a checkboxlist editor template or control. This could have a script such as:
(tempId will hold the common "name" attribute's value for your checkbox/checkboxlist, and we have the "somehiddenfield" hidden field to hold the selected values)
<script>
$(function () {
var arrTmp = [];
//Update array on selection change
$('input[name="#String.Format("{0}[]", tempId)"]').change(function () {
arrTmp = [];
$('input:checked[name="#String.Format("{0}[]", tempId)"]').each(function () { arrTmp.push($(this).val()); });
$('input[id="somehiddenfield"]').val(arrTmp.join(','));
});
});
</script>
Then, on postback on the server-side the form collection will simply have the hidden field we wrote the checked values into. Split that in whatever way works for you (like comma separated in my example) and you're good to go. My server-side is implemented in MVC but for WebForms you can pull the elements from the Request.Form dictionary (Request.Form["somehiddenfield"].ToString()) or even Request.Params as you are using.

Right after i put out the bounty of course -_-
foreach (string k in context.Request.QueryString)
{
if (k.StartsWith("children")){
foreach (string v in context.Request.QueryString.GetValues(k)){
ListDictionary updateParamss = new ListDictionary();
updateParamss.Add("row_id", v);
string Sql = #"insert into dug select :row_id from dual";
dbi.ExecuteNonQuerySql(Sql, updateParamss);
}
}
}

How to create autocomplete with data from code behind?

In my Main.aspx.cs i have a XmlDocument. With:
var personName = dataXml.SelectNodes("/GetDocumentsResult/Person/Name");
string[] perNames = new string[personName .Count];
for (int i = 0; i < personName .Count; i++)
{
perNames[i] = personName [i].InnerText;
}
i get the names of all persons.
In Main.aspx i have a search input:
<div data-role="fieldcontain" style="LEFT:15px;TOP:10px;">
<input name="suche" id="searchinput1" value="" type="search">
</div>
There are many links with autocomplete such as this link , but i dont know how to use perNames in aspx.

You need to use JQuery for the front end part, as is pretty straight forward, then you need to use AJAX to get a list of data, and then you got your business and backend part as is usual business. Take a look here.
http://www.aspsnippets.com/Articles/Using-jQuery-AutoComplete-Plugin-in-ASP.Net.aspx