Question

I have this

<%=Model.StartDate%>
<%=Html.Hidden("StartDate", Model.StartDate)%>

it outputs:

 2010-05-11 11:00:00 +01:00      
 <input type="hidden" value="2010-03-17 11:00:00 +01:00" name="StartDate" id="StartDate"> 

What the…

It’s a paging mechanism so the hidden value was valid on the first page and I’ve been able to move forward to the next page. But since the values won’t update properly it ends there.

What do I need to do?

Using firefox.

Update – more code

using (Html.BeginForm("Program", "Activities", null, FormMethod.Get, new { @name = "ProgramForm", id = "ProgramForm" }))
{ 

.

        viewModel.StartDate = pagingService.StartDate;
        return View(viewModel);

Update – complete action

    [Authorize]
    public ActionResult Program(string[] submit)
    {
        var viewModel = new ActivityProgramViewModel { UserID = LoggedInUser.UserID };
        viewModel.Fresh = true;

        TryUpdateModel(viewModel);

        var pagingService = new OccurencePagingService(LoggedInUser.AllActivities.Where(a => a.StartTime != null));

        if (!viewModel.Fresh)
        {
            pagingService.StartDate = ((DateTimeOffset)viewModel.StartDate);
            pagingService.EndDate = ((DateTimeOffset)viewModel.EndDate);
        }

        if (submit != null)
            if (submit.Contains("MoveBack"))
                pagingService.MoveBack();
            else if (submit.Contains("MoveForward"))
                pagingService.MoveForward();

        ViewData.Model = viewModel;

        viewModel.Occurrences = pagingService.GetOccurences();
        viewModel.Fresh = false;

        viewModel.HasLess = pagingService.HasLess;
        viewModel.HasMore = pagingService.HasMore;

        viewModel.StartDate = pagingService.StartDate;
        viewModel.EndDate = pagingService.EndDate;

        return View();
    }

Answer 1

I think the <%=Html.Hidden(“StartDate”, Model.StartDate)%> is out of place here.

Html Helpers try to keep data in the UI like they where entered by examining the post/route data. Please dont ask me how someone would ever enter data in a hidden field.

You want something different: You want to set the data to Model.StartDate and dont care what is in the post/route.

I would use <input value="<%=Model.StartDate%>" name="StartDate" /> .