Manipulation of appearance using templates in ASP.NET MVC Application

Before starting the implementation of Templates we must know the meaning and use of Templates. Templates in case of ASP.NET MVC Application is a mixture of elements and controls that are used in any application to form the layout of a particular area.

Basically Templates are used for modification in the appearance.

Steps for the Implementation of Templates in ASP.NET MVC Application are as follows:

Step 1

First step begins with the creation of a new ASP.NET MVC Web Application by opening Visual Studio 2010:
Then click on File from the menu strip:
Then chose New Project option:

Then chose Web from installed template:
At last click on ASP.NET MVC Web Application and get the welcome webpage:

Step 2

Now start the code to form a simple Model for say MCNEMPLOYEE:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
namespace MvcApplication4.Models
{
public class EmployeeModel
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public DateTime? DateOfBirth { get; set; }
}
}

Step 3

Now after coding the Model now code the Controller

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Mvc;
namespace MvcApplication4.Controllers
{
[HandleError]
public string EmployeeController : Controller
{
[HttpGet]
public ActionResult indexer()
{
return Veiw ();
}
}
}

To generate View of the Sample project Employee follow the steps and image given below:

Now first give name to the View
Click in the CheckBox "Create a strongly-typed view"
And then select the Employee model as data class
At last select "Create" as View content

This View will Generate the Code automatically and that will be:

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<MvcApplication4.Models.EmployeeModel>" %>
<asp:content id="Content3" contentplaceholderid="TitleContent" runat="server">
Index
</asp:content>
<asp:content id="Content4" contentplaceholderid="MainContent" runat="server">
<span id="Index"><h2>Index</h2></span>
<% using (Html.BeginForm()) {%>
<%= Html.ValidationSummary(true) %>
<fieldset>
<legend>Fields</legend>
<div class="editor-label">
<%= Html.LabelFor(model => model.FirstName) %>
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
<%= Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.FirstName) %>
<%= Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.FirstName) %>
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
<%= Html.LabelFor(model => model.LastName) %>
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
<%= Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.LastName) %>
<%= Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.LastName) %>
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
<%= Html.LabelFor(model => model.DateOfBirth) %>
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
<%= Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.DateOfBirth) %>
<%= Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.DateOfBirth) %>
</div>
<input value="Create" type="submit">
</fieldset>
<% } %>
<div>
<%= Html.ActionLink("Back to List", "Index") %>
</div>
</asp:content>

After generation of form fill the details in BeginForm that will the output

Step 4

After creating the View next step is to add your own Template that can be done by following the steps and image given below:

First give name to the Template
Click in CheckBox "Create a partial view"
Click in CheckBox "Create a strongly-typed view"
Type in "string" as the view data class

Now code the Template as the sample code given below:

<%@ Control Language="C#" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewUserControl<string>" %>
<div class="display-label"><strong><%=Html.LabelFor(model => model)%></strong></div>
<div class="display-field"><%=Html.Encode(Model)%></div>

Similarly add the template to use DateTime for the View name and View data class.

<%@ Control Language="C#" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewUserControl<DateTime?>"%>
<div class="display-label"><strong><%=Html.LabelFor(model => model)%></strong></div>
<div class="display-field"><%=Html.Encode(Model.HasValue ? Model.Value.ToLongDateString() : string.Empty)%></div>

Step 5

Now to perform the function you required by using Template change the View of Employee by this code as follow:

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage<MvcTempDemo1.Models.EmployeeModel>"> <asp:content id="Content1" contentplaceholderid="TitleContent" runat="server">
Details
</asp:content>
<asp:content id="Content2" contentplaceholderid="MainContent" runat="server">
<span id="Details_2"><h2>Details</h2></span>
<fieldset>
<legend>Fields</legend>
<%=Html.DisplayFor(model => model.FirstName)%>
<%=Html.DisplayFor(model => model.LastName)%>
<%=Html.DisplayFor(model => model.DateOfBirth)%>
</fieldset>
<%= Html.ActionLink("Edit", "Edit", new { /* id=Model.PrimaryKey */ }) %>
<%= Html.ActionLink("Back to List", "Index") %>
</asp:content>