Remote Validation in ASP.Net MVC 3: How to use AdditionalFields in Action Method

Question

I've been using the new ASP.Net MVC 3 RemoteAttribute to send a remote call to an action method that had a single parameter. Now I want to pass in a second parameter using the AdditionalFields property:

[Remote("IsEmailAvailable", "Users", AdditionalFields = "InitialEmail")]

Where IntialEmail is a hidden field in the view. The action looks like so:

public JsonResult IsEmailAvailable(
            string email,
            string InitialEmail)
{
//etc.
}

When the view is rendered, the hidden field is populated, but when the Action method is triggered remotely, the value is an empty string.

I've seen elsewhere case sensitivity may be an issue, so I've ensured the Action method has the same case for both parameters.

Any other suggestions? This AdditionalFields used to be called Fields.

Thanks,

Beaudetious

Answer 1

Strange. It works for me:

Model:

public class MyViewModel
{
    [Required]
    [Remote("IsEmailAvailable", "Home", AdditionalFields = "InitialEmail")]
    public string Email { get; set; }
}

Controller:

public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        return View(new MyViewModel());
    }

    [HttpPost]
    public ActionResult Index(MyViewModel model)
    {
        return View(model);
    }

    public ActionResult IsEmailAvailable(string email, string initialEmail)
    {
        return Json(false, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
    }
}

View:

@model AppName.Models.MyViewModel
@{
    ViewBag.Title = "Home Page";
}
<script src="@Url.Content("~/Scripts/jquery.validate.js")" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="@Url.Content("~/Scripts/jquery.validate.unobtrusive.js")" type="text/javascript"></script>
@using (Html.BeginForm())
{
    @Html.TextBoxFor(x => x.Email)
    @Html.ValidationMessageFor(x => x.Email)
    <input type="hidden" name="InitialEmail" value="foo@bar.com" />
    <input type="submit" value="OK" />
}

IIRC there was some bug in ASP.NET MVC 3 RC2 with this remote validation that was fixed in the RTM.

Answer 2

Your hidden field must be inside the same form as the field your are validating ( like it is in Darin's example ), otherwise the hidden field's value will not be sent as parameter to the validation action method "public ActionResult IsEmailAvailable(string email, string initialEmail)"

Answer 3

function IsEmailAvailable(string email, string initialEmail) param email should as Email which exactly same as Property Email.