Razor View Engine Not Searching Area View Locations

Question

I am using the default RazorViewEngine, and Area layout configuration, however when i naviagate to a link which uses a view within the area. I get a error stating the View could not be found and searched in the following locations:

 ~/Views/Applications/Details.cshtml
 ~/Views/Applications/Details.vbhtml 
 ~/Views/Shared/Details.cshtml
 ~/Views/Shared/Details.vbhtml

What I find odd is that it looks as though the view engine does not attempt to search the areas location. What adjustments do I need to make to have the view engine search for views in its area.

Here is the related code I used to define my area.

Global.asax.cs

protected void Application_Start()
{
    AreaRegistration.RegisterAllAreas();
    RouteRegistrar.RegisterRoutesTo(RouteTable.Routes);
}

ApplicationAreaRegistration.cs

private void RegisterRoutesTo(RouteCollection routes)
{
        routes.MapRoute("Application_default", AreaName + "/{action}/{applicationId}",
                        new
                        {
                            controller = "Applications",
                            action = "Index",                                
                            applicationDomainId = UrlParameter.Optional
                        }, new { applicationId = @"\d+" });
}

Index.cshtml

@Html.RouteLink(item.Name, "Application_default", new { applicationId = item.Id, action = "Details" })

Physical Directory Layout

Areas \
      \Application
                  \Controllers
                              -ApplicationsController.cs
                   \Views
                         -Details.cshtml
       -ApplicationAreaRegistration.cs

Answer 1

Are you certain that RegisterRoutesTo() in ApplicationAreaRegistration.cs is being invoked? It seems that the Route to your area has not been registered.

I would suggest moving your MapRoute back into the override of RegisterArea in ApplicationAreaRegistration.cs.

Answer 2

Your MapRoute seems to be an issue. Try adding an area declaration

routes.MapRoute("Application_default", 
                 AreaName + "/{action}/{applicationId}",
                 new
                 {
                    area= "Application",
                    controller = "Applications",
                    action = "Index",                                
                   applicationDomainId = UrlParameter.Optional
                 }, 
                 new { applicationId = @"\d+" });

Also, just double check the various overloads available for Html.RouteLink - you may want to add the area the RouteValues collection

`new {area="Application", applicationId = item.Id, action = "Details"}` 

when using RouteLink outside an area