Gadget development, step 2: Interacting with server

The previous step shows how to create a gadget that can show messages in the database. This step shows how to put the messages in. 

Posting messages to the controller

AJAX lets you post information from the dashboard.

<%@ Import Namespace="EPiServer.Shell.Web.Mvc.Html" %>
      <div class="epi-defaultPadding">...</div>
      <hr />
       <% Html.BeginGadgetForm("Save"); %>
           <input name="text" />
           <%= Html.AcceptButton() %>
       <% Html.EndForm(); %>

Taking care of posted messages in the controller

The controller accepts the posted message and stores it in the store. The returned view takes the place of the existing view in the gadget area. The mapping of the posted message string to input parameters is a feature of ASP.NET MVC. 

public ActionResult Save(string text)
          {
            // store the posted message
              Message message = new Message();
              message.Text = text;
              message.From = User.Identity.Name;
              message.Sent = DateTime.Now;
              store.Save(message);
              var messages = GetRecentMessages();
              return View("Index", messages);
                   }
                IList<Message> GetRecentMessages()
               {
          return (from m in store.Items<Message>()
             where m.Sent > DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(-1)
               orderby m.Sent
                   select m).ToList();
         }

Next steps

• Developing gadgets, step 3: Developing the client side
• Developing gadgets, step 4: Applying styles and CSS

Last updated: Nov 25, 2015