ASP.NET MVC POCO classes and validation

Question

I've got three projects/libraries.

SiteService (WCF Service)
SiteModel (POCO objects)
SiteMVC (Web Application)

In my SiteModel library i've only got POCO objects. These objects are generated by an t4 template, so I prefer not to change anything. The SiteService uses these POCO objects and serializes them (thats the reason for using POCO objects instead of the generated classes from the EF designer)

In the WebApplication I want to use validation on these POCO objects. I want to keep my Model library as clean as possible and not use DataAnnotations on them because the rules may vary in the different applications.

What is the best way for validation in ASP.NET MVC2? Is it possible to use DataAnnotations (buddy class)?

Justin Niessner · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-06 20:56:29Z

3

If your T4 template generates partial classes, then you're in luck.

You can create a separate partial definition and decorate it with MetadataType:

// T4 Generated Code
public partial class Item
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }        
}

// Your partial in a separate file
[MetadataType(typeof(ItemValidation))]
public partial class Item
{
}

// Any DataAnnotations go here
public partial class ItemValidation
{
    [Required(ErrorMessage = "You need to have a Name!")]
    public string Name { get; set; }
}

Otherwise, your only other option would be to create ViewModels with DataAnnotations in the Web Project and then map between your Models (clean POCO objects) and your ViewModels.

edited Jan 6, 2011 at 20:56

answered Jan 6, 2011 at 20:41

Justin Niessner

246k40 gold badges416 silver badges546 bronze badges

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

3 Comments

rsenna Over a year ago

+1: clever (but I guess you missed the second public partial class Item declaration).

Justin Niessner Over a year ago

@rsenna - I was too worried about getting the rest of it typed. Haha. Fixed.

Steven Over a year ago

How does this works with the different namespaces. I got problems with ambiguous class names..

uglydawg · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-18 22:07:13Z

0

FYI. While the partial class works. If you are using RIA or WCF and want the property to show up you need to add the [DataMember] attribute.

public partial class Employee
{       
    [DataMember]
    public string ComposedName
    {
        get
        {
            return String.Format("{0}, {1}", this.LastName, this.FirstName);
        }
        set
        { throw new NotImplementedException(); }
    }
}

answered Mar 18, 2011 at 22:07

uglydawg

3713 silver badges4 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

ASP.NET MVC POCO classes and validation

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related