multi-step registration process issues in asp.net mvc (split viewmodels, single model)

user_316343 0
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I have a multi-step registration process, backed by a single object in domain layer, which have validation rules defined on properties.

How should I validate the domain object when the domain is split across many views, and I have to save the object partially in the first view when posted?

I thought about using Sessions but that's not possible cause the process is lengthy and amount of data is high, So I don't want to use session.

I thought about saving all the data in an relational in-memory db (with the same schema as main db) and then flushing that data to main db but issues arisen cause I should route between services (requested in the views) who work with the main db and in-memory db.

I'm looking for an elegant and clean solution (more precisely a best practice).

UPDATE AND Clarification:

@Darin Thank you for your thoughtful reply, That was exactly what I've done till now. But incidentally I've got a request which have many attachments in it, I design a Step2View e.g. which user can upload documents in it asynchronously , but those attachments should be saved in a table with referential relation to another table that should have been saved before in Step1View.

Thus I should save the domain object in Step1 (partially), But I can't, cause the backed Core Domain object which is mapped partially to a Step1's ViewModel can't be saved without props that come from converted Step2ViewModel.

asp.net-mvc
7 Answers

Adding more info from @Darin's answer.

What if you have separate design style for each steps and wanted maintain each in separate partial view or what if you have multiple properties for each step ?

While using Html.EditorFor we have limitation to use partial view.

Create 3 Partial Views under Shared folder named : Step1ViewModel.cshtml , Step3ViewModel.cshtml , Step3ViewModel.cshtml

For brevity I just posting 1st patial view, other steps are same as Darin's answer.

Step1ViewModel.cs

[Serializable]
public class Step1ViewModel : IStepViewModel
{
  [Required]
  public string FirstName { get; set; }

  public string LastName { get; set; }

  public string PhoneNo { get; set; }

  public string EmailId { get; set; }

  public int Age { get; set; }

 }

Step1ViewModel.cshtml

 @model WizardPages.ViewModels.Step1ViewModel

<div class="container">
    <h2>Personal Details</h2>

    <div class="form-group">
        <label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="email">First Name:</label>
        <div class="col-sm-10">
            @Html.TextBoxFor(x => x.FirstName)
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="form-group">
        <label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="pwd">Last Name:</label>
        <div class="col-sm-10">
            @Html.TextBoxFor(x => x.LastName)
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="form-group">
        <label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="pwd">Phone No:</label>
        <div class="col-sm-10"> 
            @Html.TextBoxFor(x => x.PhoneNo)
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="form-group">
        <label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="pwd">Email Id:</label>
        <div class="col-sm-10">
            @Html.TextBoxFor(x => x.EmailId)
        </div>
    </div>


</div>

Index.cshtml

@using Microsoft.Web.Mvc
@model WizardPages.ViewModels.WizardViewModel

@{
    var currentStep = Model.Steps[Model.CurrentStepIndex];

    string viewName = currentStep.ToString().Substring(currentStep.ToString().LastIndexOf('.') + 1);
}

<h3>Step @(Model.CurrentStepIndex + 1) out of @Model.Steps.Count</h3>

@using (Html.BeginForm())
{
    @Html.Serialize("wizard", Model)

    @Html.Hidden("StepType", Model.Steps[Model.CurrentStepIndex].GetType())

    @Html.Partial(""+ viewName + "", currentStep);

    if (Model.CurrentStepIndex > 0)
    {

     <input type="submit" value="Previous" name="prev" class="btn btn-warning" />

    }

    if (Model.CurrentStepIndex < Model.Steps.Count - 1)
    {

      <input type="submit" value="Next" name="next" class="btn btn-info" />

    }
    else
    {

      <input type="submit" value="Finish" name="finish" class="btn btn-success" />

    }
}

If there some better solution, please comment to let others know.

user_22186970
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