How to do patch update a model using ASP.net MVC, Entity Framework and Razor

Question

I managed to create the basic CRUD operations using asp.net MVC

But I had a problem with regards to my field Status, CreatedOn and CreatedBy.

I want these fields to be populated during the Create Action and is not updated during the Edit Action but I don't want to use @HiddenFor for these fields because you can edit the DOM and still update these information before a POST request.

So basically what I want is to Patch Update my model with whatever data sent in the POST request. So I don't have to worry about the fields I don't want being modified are being changed in the Edit Action.

Here is my code for the model and action.

Model

[Table("Account")]
public class Account
{
    #region Properties

    [Key]
    public int AccountID { get; set; }

    [Required]
    [StringLength(50)]
    [DisplayName("Account Name")]
    public string Name { get; set; }

    [Required]
    [DisplayName("Time Offset")]
    [Range(-24,24)]
    public decimal TimeOffset { get; set; }

    [StringLength(20)]
    [DisplayName("Status")]
    public string Status { get; set; }

    public DateTime CreatedOn { get; set; }

    public int CreatedBy { get; set; }

    public DateTime? ModifiedOn { get; set; }

    public int ModifiedBy { get; set; }

    #endregion
}

public class DbAccount : DbContext
{
    public DbSet<Account> Accounts { get; set; }
}

Controller Action for Create

[HttpPost]
    public ActionResult Create(Account account)
    {
        if (ModelState.IsValid)
        {
            account.Status = "ENABLED";
            account.CreatedOn = DateTime.Now;
            account.CreatedBy = 1;
            db.Accounts.Add(account);
            db.SaveChanges();
            return RedirectToAction("Index");
        }

        return View(account);
    }

Controller Action for Edit

[HttpPost]
    public ActionResult Edit(Account account)
    {
        if (ModelState.IsValid)
        {
            account.ModifiedOn = DateTime.Now;
            account.ModifiedBy = 1;
            db.Entry(account).State = EntityState.Modified;
            db.SaveChanges();
            return RedirectToAction("Index");
        }
        return View(account);
    }

How can I modify the model without affecting some specific properties specifically CreatedOn and CreatedBy, I want these properties to preserve their original value during Edit Action. I don't want to use Hidden Fields to store them. With my existing solution I used Hidden Fields but it can be modified in the DOM before POST request so it's not secure.

There's no such term as a "patch update". What exactly are you trying to do? You don't ask any question, nor do you suggest what is wrong or why your code doesn't work. — Erik Funkenbusch
– Erik Funkenbusch, Commented May 14, 2014 at 3:33

Anthony Chu · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-14 05:12:30Z

8

db.Entry(account).State = EntityState.Modified attaches the model to the context with all properties marked as modified. Try attaching it in the unchanged state instead and set the fields that are modifiable as modified.

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Edit(Account account)
{
    if (ModelState.IsValid)
    {
        db.Accounts.Attach(account);

        db.Entry(account).Property(a => a.Name).IsModified = true;
        db.Entry(account).Property(a => a.TimeOffset).IsModified = true;
        db.Entry(account).Property(a => a.Status).IsModified = true;

        account.ModifiedOn = DateTime.Now;
        account.ModifiedBy = 1;

        db.SaveChanges();

        return RedirectToAction("Index");
    }

    return View(account);
}

answered May 14, 2014 at 5:12

Anthony Chu

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