How can I accomplish this type of URL in ASP.Net M

Question

I have a table called Categories. I want the user to click from a list of Categories and then load a listing of all Auctions in that category.

Simple enough, right?

I could create an action for every category, something like:

public ActionResult Cellphones()
public ActionResult Electronics
public ActionResult Clothes
public ActionResult Cars
public ActionResult RealEstate

This would generate URLs like: /Auctions/Clothes, and /Auctions/RealEstate. Exactly what I'm looking for.

The problem is this requires manual tinkering. When I add a category, I'll have to manually create a new action and then a new view for it.

Is there a better way to do this?

Answer 1

Yes, it's called URL routing. You map your categories to a single AuctionController action, which serves and displays category data dynamically based on what's in the URL.

There's a tutorial on the ASP.NET MVC site that covers the ground basics.

Answer 2

Create one ActionResult:

public class AuctionController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult AuctionCategoryDetails(string categoryName)
    {
        var model = repository.GetAuctionsForCategory(categoryName);
        return View(model);
    }
}

Then create one route:

routes.MapRoute(
    "AuctionCategoryDetails",
    "Auctions/{categoryName}",
    new { controller = "Auction", action = "AuctionCategoryDetails" });

So when your displaying a list of categories (not individual details);

<% foreach (var category in Model.Categories) { %>
   <%: Html.RouteLink("Category Details", "AuctionCategoryDetails", new { categoryName = category.CategoryName });
<% } %>

That will produce a list of links like this:

<a href="/Auctions/Clothes">Category Details</a>
<a href="/Auctions/RealEstate">Category Details</a>

Is that what your after?