Using $.ajax to POST XML to MVC Controller method

Question

I have a simple controller function like this:

<HttpPost>
Function SaveXML(payload As String) As Boolean
    If payload IsNot Nothing AndAlso payload.Length > 0 Then
        Return True
    Else
        Return False
    End If
End Function

Which I'm calling from JavaScript like this:

function SaveXML() {

    var payload = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><data>XML_GOES_HERE</data>';

    // Calls controller correctly but data is null
    $.ajax({
        url: "/Data/SaveXML/",
        type: "POST",
        processData: false,
        contentType: "text/xml",
        data: payload
    })
    .done(function () { alert('Application saved.'); })
    .fail(function () { alert('Application failed to save.'); });

}

I'm using the example on the JQuery documentation as a base with some advice from here, here, and here. I've tried it with and without processData: false and it makes no difference.

When the call comes in to the Controller method the payload is null. If I post a simple string using some very similar code everything works fine. What precisely needs to be done in order to post XML to a Controller via $.ajax? Is it at the JavaScript or Controller end that the problem lies?

Carl Onager · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-21 14:25:48Z

1

I eventually managed to find some hints on this and ended up with the following code:

$.ajax({
    url: "/Data/SaveXML/",
    type: "POST",
    processData: false,
    contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
    data: JSON.stringify({ payload: payload })
})
.done(function () { alert('Application saved.'); })
.fail(function () { alert('Application failed to save.'); });

The crucial differences are that the contentType is set to application/json, the data is turned into an object which is then run through the JSON.stringify method to make sure that the various characters that are unsuitable for a querystring can be sent without failing.

answered Nov 21, 2014 at 14:25

Carl Onager

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Comments

Mou · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-07 10:51:37Z

The default model binding doesn't work with processData set to false. If ServerXml is a string of XML, removing this should make it work:

function SendXmlToServer(ServerXml) {
   $.ajax({ url: "/Home/XmlData",
       type: "POST",
       data: { ResXml: ServerXml }, dataType: "xml",
       success: function () {
           alert("Successful");
           return false;
       }
   });
}

You'll also have to add the ValidateInput attribute to your action method, because normally "HTML markup" isn't allowed:

[HttpPost]
[ValidateInput(false)]
public ActionResult XmlData(string ResXml) 
{   
    return null;
}

Alternatively, you could use custom model binding to seamlessly deserialize the XML, as explained in this blog post url https://lostechies.com/jimmybogard/2011/06/24/model-binding-xml-in-asp-net-mvc-3/.

Hywel Rees · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-18 10:27:21Z

0

I believe you may need to name the parameter you are passing to the controller.

So, something like...

var data = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><data>XML_GOES_HERE</data>';

$.ajax({
    url: "/Data/SaveXML/",
    type: "POST",
    processData: false,
    contentType: "text/xml",
    data: { payload: data }
})

answered Nov 18, 2014 at 10:27

Hywel Rees

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2 Comments

Hywel Rees Over a year ago

I'm a little confused, in your other question, this appears to have been answered, and solved?

Carl Onager Over a year ago

If you check again there's a distinct difference between that and this even though they use very similar JavaScript. Here I'm asking how to send XML whereas the other question only sends a simple string.

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