MVC ViewModel Error - No parameterless constructor defined for this object

Question

I would like to know how can I use my ViewModel on the Create Action? I tried several examples I found here in the forum, but none solved my problem. I\'ve been racking my b

Answer 1

If I had a nickel for every time I've seen this problem. It's typically related to the naming of your model properties and how you use them in a DropDownList. 99.999% of the time it's because people are using Html.DropDownList() and naming it the same as their SelectList. This is one reason you should use the strongly typed DropDownListFor.

In this case, your problem is that you have SelectLists named Genres and Artists, then in your view you have:

@Html.DropDownList("Genres", String.Empty)
@Html.DropDownList("Artists", String.Empty)

See, same name.

What you should do is change your Model to make the SelectLists be named GenreList and ArtistList. Then, change your view to use strongly typed model.

@Html.DropDownListFor(m => m.AlbumItem.GenreID, Model.GenreList)
@Html.DropDownListFor(m => m.AlbumItem.ArtistID, Model.ArtistList)

The reason this happens is that you are posting a value called Genres to the controller. The default model binder dutifully looks in the model to find something called Genres and instantiate it. But, rather than an ID or string, it finds a SelectList named Genres, and when it tries to instantiate it, it finds there is no default constructor.

Thus your error. SO is filled with questions asking about this same thing.