ASP.NET MVC how to implement link which returns to previous page?

Question

Title said it all.

Some context:
I got a search mechanism - search view, search results view and a details view (which represents one item of results, like a formview in webforms). I want a link in details view, which would return user to search results view.

Ideas:
Just read about TempData, but i guess that wouldn't help, cause user might call some actions before he wants to return.

Session might work, but I'm not sure how exactly i should handle it.

I don't want to use javascript to accomplish this.

Edit:
Seems that i'll stick with eu-ge-ne`s solution. Here's result:

#region usages

using System.Web.Mvc;
using CompanyName.UI.UIApp.Infrastructure.Enums;

#endregion

namespace CompanyName.UI.UIApp.Infrastructure.Filters
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Apply on action method to store URL of request in session
    /// </summary>
    public class RememberUrlAttribute : ActionFilterAttribute
    {
        public override void OnActionExecuting  
           (ActionExecutingContext filterContext)
        {
            var httpContext = filterContext.HttpContext;

            if (httpContext.Request.RequestType == "GET"
                && !httpContext.Request.IsAjaxRequest())
            {
                SessionManager
                .Save(SessionKey.PreviousUrl,
                      SessionManager.Get(SessionKey.CurrentUrl) ??
                      httpContext.Request.Url);

                SessionManager
                .Save(SessionKey.CurrentUrl,
                      httpContext.Request.Url);
            }
        }
    }
}

Btw, how does .IsAjaxRequest() method works? It understands only MS AJAX or it's smarter than that?

You might want to explain that you don't want to use javascript... at least I'm assuming you don't want to? — Spencer Ruport
– Spencer Ruport, Commented Jun 27, 2009 at 8:37
Actually, i don't see a way how javascript could help. Even it could, i'm cautious against js if it's related with navigation cause search engines don't understand js. — Arnis Lapsa
– Arnis Lapsa, Commented Jun 27, 2009 at 8:42
"how does .IsAjaxRequest() method works?" - It looks for "X-Requested-With" in the request. Should work with MSAjax and jQuery. Look at ASP.NET MVC source -> AjaxRequestExtension.cs — eu-ge-ne
– eu-ge-ne, Commented Jun 27, 2009 at 9:55

eu-ge-ne · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-27 08:59:19Z

5

I think you need something like this custom filter (not tested - have no VS at the moment):

public class PrevUrlAttribute : ActionFilterAttribute
{
    public override void OnActionExecuting(ActionExecutingContext filterContext)
    {
        var httpContext = filterContext.HttpContext;
        var session = filterContext.HttpContext.Session;

        if (httpContext.Request.RequestType == "GET"
            && !httpContext.Request.IsAjaxRequest())
        {
            session["PrevUrl"] = session["CurUrl"] ?? httpContext.Request.Url;
            session["CurUrl"] = httpContext.Request.Url;
        }
    }
}

answered Jun 27, 2009 at 8:59

eu-ge-ne

28.2k6 gold badges73 silver badges62 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Arnis Lapsa Over a year ago

Aha... thought about a filter too. I'll give it a try.

Arnis Lapsa Over a year ago

One more issue - yours filter picks up previous URL, not current one (i named filter as RememberUrl, so - it's supposed to remember current URL). But that's already peace of cake to fix up. ;)

Adrian Godong · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-27 08:43:26Z

1

You can examine the HTTP Referrer header to retrieve the previous URL.

Of course, you'll have to handle gracefully just in case the user does not pass in this value.

answered Jun 27, 2009 at 8:43

Adrian Godong

8,9718 gold badges43 silver badges63 bronze badges

2 Comments

Arnis Lapsa Over a year ago

What if user does something at details page? He might call some actions there. That would make this examination and remembering of Referrer header quite tricky.

bingles Over a year ago

If the referrer header proves to be useful in your scenario, it can be found in Request.UrlReferrer

omoto · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-27 10:04:50Z

-2

<a href="javascript:go(-1)">Yo</a>

:)

answered Jun 27, 2009 at 10:04

omoto

1,2201 gold badge17 silver badges24 bronze badges

2 Comments

Seb Over a year ago

szanata Over a year ago

If the user is in a page and do some action that redirects him to the same page, this will just return him to the same page again...

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

ASP.NET MVC how to implement link which returns to previous page?

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

2 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

2 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related