How to pass XML as POST to an ActionResult in ASP MVC .NET

Question

I am trying to provide a simple RESTful API to my ASP MVC project. I will not have control of the clients of this API, they will be passing an XML via a POST method that wi

Answer 1

IMO the best way to accomplish this is to write a custom value provider, this is a factory that handles the mapping of the request to the forms dictionary. You just inherit from ValueProviderFactory and handle the request if it is of type “text/xml” or “application/xml.”

More Info:

Phil Haack

My blog

MSDN

protected override void OnApplicationStarted()
{
    AreaRegistration.RegisterAllAreas();

    RegisterRoutes(RouteTable.Routes);

    ValueProviderFactories.Factories.Add(new JsonValueProviderFactory());
    ValueProviderFactories.Factories.Add(new XmlValueProviderFactory());
}

XmlValueProviderFactory

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.Linq;

public class XmlValueProviderFactory : ValueProviderFactory
{

    public override IValueProvider GetValueProvider(ControllerContext controllerContext)
    {
        var deserializedXml = GetDeserializedXml(controllerContext);

        if (deserializedXml == null) return null;

        var backingStore = new Dictionary(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);

        AddToBackingStore(backingStore, string.Empty, deserializedXml.Root);

        return new DictionaryValueProvider