Multiple Web.config files in Area using ASP.NET MVC2 - asp.net-mvc-2

Question

I have a question on something that I thought would be a simple. I have an Area in my website and I'd like to create a Web.config file specific to this area but, no matter where I put this config file, the keys that I've set up in my appSettings are all returning "null" when I access them, so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. Here's my website structure:
Site
[usual site stuff like Views, Models, Controllers]
Web.config
Areas
MyArea
Web.config
[usual site stuff like Views, Models, Controllers]
my web.config on the main site looks something like...
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="MyMainKey" value="MyTestValue"/>
</appSettings>
<!--all of the standard asp.net mvc config stuff -->
</configuration>
My areas config looks something like
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="MyAreaConfigValue" value="MyAreaTestValue"/>
</appSettings>
<!--all of the standard asp.net mvc config stuff -->
</configuration>
In a controller action that exists in my Areas/MyArea/Controllers folder I'm trying to access it like so:
string my_area_config_val = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["MyAreaTestValue"];
But my_area_config_val is null.
In a controller action in my main site (not in my Area) I can do
string my_main_config_val = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["MyTestValue"];
and my_main_config_val is equal to "MyTestVal", as expected.
Thanks.
Mustafa

Answer 1

The Web.config file goes in the Area/Views dir. I have not found any concrete facts, but from what I have seen in doing some research is that the <appSettings> from Web.config files within Areas will never get used. Below is one site that has a brief statement on it:
AREAS in ASP.NET MVC 2.0