ASP.Net MVC3 Controller “globals”

Question

I need to have this code run for each of my actions in one of my controllers. How can I do this without having to copy the code for each of the actions? Is there an init method for the controller?

System.Web.HttpSessionStateBase Sess = HttpContext.Session;
string pid = (Sess["PID"] != null ? Sess["PID"].ToString() : "");
string LogonTicket = (Sess["LogonTicket"] != null ? Sess["LogonTicket"].ToString() : "");

Answer 1

Why don't you wrap this up into properties in a base controller?

class abstract YourControllerBase : Controller
{
   public string Pid { get { ... } }
   public string LogonTicket { get { ... } }
}

Answer 2

You have a couple options:

1. Put the code in the constructor

2. Use OnActionExecuting

    public override void OnActionExecuting(ActionExecutingContext filterContext) { base.OnActionExecuting(filterContext); } 

Answer 3

I think although being abolutely correct, abstract classes and inheritance-based answers make an "asker" feel uncomfortable, since he is trying to work on an even simpler case then inheritace.

A short answer - just put the code into the constructor of the controller.

For example:

public HomeController: Controller {

    private string _pid;
    private string _logonTicket;

    public HomeController() {

        System.Web.HttpSessionStateBase Sess = HttpContext.Session;

        _pid = (Sess["PID"] != null ? Sess["PID"].ToString() : "");
        _logonTicket = (Sess["LogonTicket"] != null ? Sess["LogonTicket"].ToString() : "");
    }


//REST OF YOUR CONTROLLER CODE

}

Now you can access _pid and _logonTicket from controller action's code.