asp.net mvc 4 - Return View() or PartialView()? How to decide? -

i hava action:

public actionresult getorders(int id) {   ... } 

when access through hyperlink(~/order/getorders/1), want getorder return view(), whole page.

when through @html.action("getorders"), want return partialview() part of page.

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now settled problem using erik philips's method.

public actionresult getorders(int id) {     var orders = db.order.where(a => a.adcompanyid == id).tolist();     viewbag.adcompanyname = db.adcompany.where(a => a.id == id).select(a => a.name).first().tostring();     if (controllercontext.ischildaction)     {         viewbag.ispartial = true;         return partialview(orders);     }     viewbag.ispartial = false;     return view(orders); } @{html.renderaction("getorders", new { id = model.id });} @html.actionlink("related orders", "getorders", new { id = item.id }) 

in getorders.cshtml:

@if (viewbag.ispartial == false) {     ... } 

to generate different view.

queti m. porta same!

you can use controllercontext.ischildaction.

public actionresult foo() {   if (controllercontext.ischildaction)   {     return partialview("getorderspartial", model);   }   return view("getorders", model); } 

also, recommend using html.renderaction.

updated per comment

i'd mention i've never had need this, in own experience. either have different view, or unaware partialview return view without layout.