How to set ViewBag properties for all Views without using a base class for Controllers?

Question

In the past I\'ve stuck common properties, such as the current user, onto ViewData/ViewBag in a global fashion by having all Controllers inherit from a common base controlle

Answer 1

I have found the following approach to be the most efficient and gives excellent control utilizing the _ViewStart.chtml file and conditional statements when necessary:

_ViewStart:

@{
 Layout = "~/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml";

 var CurrentView = ViewContext.Controller.ValueProvider.GetValue("controller").RawValue.ToString();

 if (CurrentView == "ViewA" || CurrentView == "ViewB" || CurrentView == "ViewC")
    {
      PageData["Profile"] = db.GetUserAccessProfile();
    }
}

ViewA:

@{
   var UserProfile= PageData["Profile"] as List;
 }

Note:

PageData will work perfectly in Views; however, in the case of a PartialView, it will need to be passed from the View to the child Partial.