Upload in MVC4, got 2 parameters in my action but file is empty - forms

Question

I'm trying to upload a file to a directory. The following code worked for me
CONTROLLER
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Index(HttpPostedFileBase uploadFile)
{
//string path = #"C:\Users\thomas\Desktop";
if (uploadFile != null)
{
string filePath = Path.Combine(Server.MapPath("/files"), Path.GetFileName(uploadFile.FileName));
uploadFile.SaveAs(filePath);
}
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
HTML PAGE
#{
ViewBag.Title = "Index";
}
<h2>Index</h2>
<form action="/Post/Index" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
<label for="uploadFile">Upload file: </label>
<input name="uploadFile" id="uploadFile" type="file" />
<input value="uploadFile" type="submit" />
</form>
Now i'm trying to implement this in a function where i create a message which is created by a model that is containing a message and an item class. When i submit the form the model is passed to my savecontroller but the file is null in my parameter controller.
HTML PAGE
Create new message
#model GeoCitytroopers.Models.MessageItemModel
#{
ViewBag.Title = "Create";
}
#using (Html.BeginForm()) {
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<fieldset>
<legend>Event</legend>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Message.MessagePicture)
</div>
<div>
<label for="uploadFile">Upload file: </label>
<input name="uploadFile" id="uploadFile" type="file" />
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Message.MessagePicture)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Message.MessagePicture)
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Item.ItemTitle)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Item.ItemTitle)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Item.ItemTitle)
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Item.ItemDescription)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Item.ItemDescription)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Item.ItemDescription)
</div>
<p>
<input type="submit" value="Create" />
</p>
</fieldset>
}
<div>
#Html.ActionLink("Back to List", "Index")
</div>
CONTROLLER
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Create(HttpPostedFileBase uploadFile, MessageItemModel ViewModel)
{
if (ModelState.IsValid)
{
Utility ut = new Utility();
Item viewItem = ViewModel.Item;
Message viewMessage = ViewModel.Message;
if (uploadFile != null)
{
string filePath = Path.Combine(Server.MapPath("/files"), Path.GetFileName(uploadFile.FileName));
uploadFile.SaveAs(filePath);
}
//ADD USER TO ITEM
viewItem = ut.AddUserToItem(viewItem);
//ADD ITEM
viewItem.ItemCreateddate = DateTime.Now;
//ADD DISTRICT TO ITEM
viewItem.DistrictID = ut.GetUserDistrict();
db.Items.Add(viewItem);
//ADD LINK
viewMessage.Item = viewItem;
db.Messages.Add(viewMessage);
db.SaveChanges();
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
return View(ViewModel);
}
How can i pass the uploading file to my controller?
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

You forgot set the correct enctype to the form. You cannot upload files without that:
#using (Html.BeginForm(null, null, FormMethod.Post, new { enctype = "multipart/form-data" })) {
...
}
Now the upload will work and your uploadFile parameter will not be null.

Answer 2

My initial guess is that the you created using Html helper doesn't have the necessary encrypt on it.
try using
using(#Html.BeginForm("action-name","controller-name",
FormMethod.Post, new { enctype="multipart/form-data"}){
}
with appropriate values for action-name and controller-name