Question

I currently have a JSON object on my page which gets built up as users add items to it. This is all done in JavaScript/jQuery.

When the user is done adding items, I want to POST this object to a controller action and have the action return a strongly typed view using this data.

Currently, I have the jQuery.ajax POST sending this JSON object to an Action Method which then binds this object to my strongly typed Model. Problem is, I actually want this jQuery.ajax POST to redirect as if the JSON object were in a FORM and simply being submitted.

I also can’t use the jQuery.post() method, which would redirect as required, as I need to be able to set the contentType to “application/json” so my binding works correctly. Unfortunately, the jQuery.post() method doesn’t allow you to set this parameter.

I’ve read that the jQuery.post() method basically uses the jQuery.ajax() method, so I’ve been battling to get the jQuery.ajax() method to redirect.

I’ve also read that I can set the default contentType for all jQuery.ajax() methods which would then allow me to use the jQuery.post() method but want to try avoid this if possible.

Thanks

Edit: Updated with Saedeas suggestion:

My JavaScript on the ‘Index’ View:

<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">

    //  Initialize the Shopping Cart object
    var m_ShoppingCart = {
        UserId: 10,
        DeliveryInstructions: "Leave at front desk",
        CartItems: []
    };

    $(document).ready(function () {
        $.extend({
            postJSON: function (url, data, callback) {
                return $.ajax({
                    type: "POST",
                    url: url,
                    data: JSON.stringify(data),
                    success: callback,
                    dataType: "json",
                    contentType: "application/json",
                    processData: false
                });
            }
        });
    });

    function PostDataWithRedirect() {
        var url = '@Url.Action("ConfirmOrder", "Store")';
                $.postJSON(url, m_ShoppingCart, function () { });
    }

    function AddToCart(id, itemName, price, quantity) {

        //  Add the item to the shopping cart object
        m_ShoppingCart.CartItems.push({
            "Id": id,
            "ItemName": itemName,
            "Price": price.toFixed(2), //   Issue here if you don't specify the decimal     place
            "Quantity": quantity
        });

        //  Render the shopping cart object
        RenderShoppingCart();
    }



    function RenderShoppingCart() {

        $("#CartItemList").html("");

        var totalAmount = 0;

        $.each(m_ShoppingCart.CartItems, function (index, cartItem) {

            var itemTotal = Number(cartItem.Price) * Number(cartItem.Quantity);
            totalAmount += itemTotal;

            $("#CartItemList").append("<li>" + cartItem.ItemName + " - $" +     itemTotal.toFixed(2) + "</li>");
        });

        $("#TotalAmount").html("$" + totalAmount.toFixed(2));
    }
</script>

And then the Controller Action ‘ConfirmOrder’

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult ConfirmOrder(ShoppingCartModel model)
{
    return View(model);
}

So when the PostDataWithRedirect() JavaScript method is called it must hit the ConfirmOrder Controller Action and be redirected to the ConfirmOrder View. The Shopping Cart object on my Index view is built up entirely in JavaScript and the user then clicks a ‘Proceed to Checkout’ button and is redirected etc.

PS: My full working example can be found in an the article [ How to POST a JSON object in MVC ], I just need to update this code so that it can do the post and redirect as explained above

Answer 1

Return a view that redirects:

controller

return View("redirectionView");

view

RedirectionView.cshtml
@{
Layout = null;
}

<script type="text/javascript">
  alert("Success! Redirecting...");
  window.location = "./";
</script>

EDIT

To accommodate data retention use tempdata.

controller

TempData["collectedUserData"] = collectedData;
return View("redirectionView");

RedirectionView.cshtml

@{
Layout = null;
}

<script type="text/javascript">
 alert("Success! Redirecting...");
 window.location = "./Rebuilder/ActionMethod";
</script>

Controller Rebuilder

public ActionResult ActionMethod()
{
 if( TempData.ContainsKey("collectedUserData") )
 {
  var collectedData = TempData["collectedUserData"];
 }
 //todo: use else clause to catch data not present
         use collectedData to build new view
 return View();
}