c# - Similar property names in ViewModel not binding in controller action method -

recently updated our application mvc3 mvc4. in mvc4 have discovered having property names studio , studioexecutive in our viewmodel cause problems when posting. in controller method studio = null when studioexecutive being populated.

here example of our issue , hope there answer problem.

data classes:

public class testcontact {      public list<testcontactitem> studio { get; set; }     public list<testcontactitem> studioexecutive { get; set; }      public testcontact()     {         studio = new list<testcontactitem>();         studioexecutive = new list<testcontactitem>();     } }  public class testcontactitem {     public int id { get; set; }     public string name { get; set; } } 

controller methods:

public actionresult testcontactview() {     var vm = new testcontact();     vm.studio.add(new testcontactitem(){id=1, name = "studio contact id=1"});     vm.studioexecutive.add(new testcontactitem() { id = 2, name = "studio exec contact id=2" });     return view(vm);  }  [httppost] public actionresult savetestcontact(testcontact model) {     return content("success"); } 

view / javascript ajax post:

@using system.web.script.serialization @model testcontact  <button type="button" onclick="savetestcontact();">click here post</button>  <script type="text/javascript">      $(document).ready(function() {          globaltestmodel = @html.raw(new javascriptserializer().serialize(model));     });      function savetestcontact() {         // passing additional studio & studio executive parameter controller because not mapping correctly server side viewmodel without         $.ajax({             type: "post",             url: "/test/savetestcontact",             data: json.stringify(globaltestmodel),             datatype: "json",             contenttype: "application/json; charset=utf-8",             success: function (msg) {              }         });     } </script> 

in example populating our object @ least 1 studio , 1 studioexecutive , render view. when button in view clicked, post same object controller method viewmodel not binding correctly studio property set null.

*unfortunately i'm not able post images have screenshot of object showing studio count 0 , studioexecutive count 1

we did put breakpoint before post make sure serialization on javascript correct , object populated.

we have concluded has naming convention of 2 properties 1 being substring of other. 1 has encounter same problem , can point on right direction.

i know not "complete answer" question feel give additional insight issue, (i hope) lead "complete solution".

say have single item in each of studio , studioexecutive fields shown in example of op, , following in js:

globaltestmodel = '@html.raw(new javascriptserializer().serialize(model))';  $.ajax({     type: "post",     url: "/test/savetestcontact",     data: json.stringify(globaltestmodel),     datatype: "json",     contenttype: "application/json; charset=utf-8",     success: function (msg) {      } }); 

the controller method receive studioexecutive mentioned. if same , build object in js shown below, same result.

o = {     studio: [{         id: 1,         name: 'studio contact id=1',     }],     studioexecutive: [{         id: 2,         name: 'studio exec contact id=2',     }]             }; $.ajax({     type: "post",     url: "/test/savetestcontact",     data: json.stringify(o),     datatype: "json",     contenttype: "application/json; charset=utf-8",     success: function (msg) {      } }); 

now here comes interesting part. if add item studio field , post same way we same result.

// in controller , same ajax post public actionresult testcontactview() {     var vm = new testcontact();     vm.studio.add(new testcontactitem(){id=1, name = "studio contact id=1"});     vm.studio.add(new testcontactitem(){id=3, name = "studio contact id=3"});     vm.studioexecutive.add(new testcontactitem() { id = 2, name = "studio exec contact id=2" });     return view(vm);  } 

but if build object in js shown below controller receive both studio, 2 items, , studioexecutive, 1 item.

o = {     studio: [{         id: 1,         name: 'studio contact id=1',     },     {         id: 2,         name: 'studio contact id=2',     }],     studioexecutive: [{         id: 2,         name: 'studio exec contact id=2',     }]             }; // ajax post 

so have learned

this tells 2 things:

1. there wrong default model binder in cannot bind two, or more, fields starts same name
2. json.stringify can not if there 1 item, can if there more 1 item in field has shortest name (e.g. studio)