Submitting a ViewModel Derived Form in ASP.NET MVC 4 - forms

Question

I want to create a form that is comprised of fields that come from separate models and then, when submitted, updates the corresponding tables in the database.
I couldn't find the answer anywhere so I tinkered with things until I made something work. Being new to all of this, however, I doubt the efficacy of my solution. I'm hoping that by stating my problem and showing my solution you can better understand what I need and be able to help me find the best solution for my problem.
I like simple, abstract examples so here is what I currently have working:
First, I make a Color Model...
namespace example.Models
{
public class Color
{
public int ColorID { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
}
}
Then I make a Shape Model...
namespace example.Models
{
public class Shape
{
public int ShapeID { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
}
}
Next, I make a simple ViewModel...
namespace example.ViewModels
{
public class ColorAndShapeViewModel
{
public Color Color { get; set; }
public Shape Shape { get; set; }
}
}
Here is my DbContext...
namespace example.DAL
{
public class MyContext : DbContext
{
public DbSet<Color> Colors { get; set; }
public DbSet<Shape> Shapes { get; set; }
}
}
Next, the Controller...
namespace example.Controllers
{
public class MyController : Controller
{
private MyContext db = new MyContext();
public ActionResult Index()
{
return View();
}
public ActionResult Create()
{
return View();
}
[HttpPost]
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
public ActionResult Create(ColorAndShapeViewModel viewmodel)
{
Color newColor = new Color();
newColor.Name = viewmodel.Color.Name;
Shape newShape = new Shape();
newShape.Name = viewmodel.Shape.Name;
db.Colors.Add(newColor);
db.Shapes.Add(newShape);
db.SaveChanges();
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
}
}
Lastly, the View...
#model example.ViewModels.ColorAndShapeViewModel
#using (Html.BeginForm()) {
#Html.AntiForgeryToken()
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Color.Name)<br />
#Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.Color.Name)<br />
<br />
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Shape.Name)<br />
#Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.Shape.Name)<br />
<br />
<input type="submit" value="Create" />
}
Thus far, everything works as expected: I am able to enter data for separate models into a single form and submit it. The database is updated (the color goes into the color table, the shape into the shape table) and all is well—or is it? In reality, I will have a much longer form using several models which are related to each other. My present solution would require a large controller, full of newObject.Property = viewModel.Object.Property statements. Isn't that undesirable? Is there a better way to handle this?
Thanks!