How can I maintain ModelState with RedirectToAction?

Question

How can I return the result of a different action or move the user to a different action if there is an error in my ModelState without losing my ModelState information?

Answer 1

Store your view data in TempData and retrieve it from there in your Index action, if it exists.

   ...
   if (!ModelState.IsValid)
       TempData["ViewData"] = ViewData;

   RedirectToAction( "Index" );
}

 public ActionResult Index()
 {
     if (TempData["ViewData"] != null)
     {
         ViewData = (ViewDataDictionary)TempData["ViewData"];
     }

     ...
 }

[EDIT] I checked the on-line source for MVC and it appears that the ViewData in the Controller is settable, so it is probably easiest just to transfer all of the ViewData, including the ModelState, to the Index action.