How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

With the standard MapRoute method a can pass a string collection representing the namespaces in which to search for my controller. This seems to have dissapeared from MapHttpRoute. How does one define the default namespaces using the new API routing?

Re: How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

There is no default namespace. webapi searches for controllers from all the namespaces in the referenced dlls. A controller has to be

class
public
name ends with "controller" (ignore case)
not abstract
implments IHttpController

Re: How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

MSDN seems to allude that its possible. In the docs for MapHttpRoute the following is indicated:

"Maps the specified route template and sets default constraints, and namespaces."

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh834863(v=vs.108).aspx

Re: How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

You're right -- they simply don't provide an extension method to accept the preferred namespaces. You can always go do this manually, or do something like this (not tried it myself):

var r = routes.MapHttpRoute(
    name: "DefaultApi",
    routeTemplate: "api/{controller}/{id}",
    defaults: new { id = RouteParameter.Optional }
);
r.DataTokens["Namespaces"] = new string[] {"Foo"};

Re: How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

Thanks, thats what i was looking for.

Re: How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

Hi,

I have the same issue. This is my case:

namespace Client
{
    public class DetailController : ApiController
    {
        .
        .
        .
    }
}

namespace Order
{
    public class DetailController : ApiController
    {
        .
        .
        .
    }
}

//------------
// Global.asax
//------------

.
.
.
public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes)
{
    var Route1 = routes.MapHttpRoute
    (
        name: "ClientApi",
        routeTemplate: "client/{controller}/{param1}"
    );
    Route1.DataTokens["Namespaces"] = new string[] {"Client"};

    var Route2 = routes.MapHttpRoute
    (
        name: "OrderApi",
        routeTemplate: "order/{controller}/{param1}"
    );
    Route2.DataTokens["Namespaces"] = new string[] { "Order" };
}
.
.
.

What I'm trying to do?

I want to make api calls like this:

http(s)://myapi/client/detail/PARAM1 --> supposed to "show" detail of CLIENT named PARAM1

http(s)://myapi/order/detail/PARAM1 --> supposed to "show" detail of ORDER named "PARAM1

As you see, there are two ApiControllers, "DetailController", have the same name but in different Namespaces. Compiler doesn't throw an error but when I make a call, "Multiple types were found that match the controller named 'detail'. This can happen if the route that services this request ('client/{controller}/{param1}') does not specify namespaces to search for a controller that matches the request. If this is the case, register this route by calling an overload of the 'MapRoute' method that takes a 'namespaces' parameter. The request for 'detail' has found the following matching controllers: ...client.DetailController ...order.DetailController"

It suggests me to use MapRoute instead of MapHttpRoute.

How can I solve this problem?

Re: How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

I solved it by implementing my own IHttpControllerFactory (and injecting via an IDependencyResolver) and can now use areas and duplicate controller names (made unique by area). I could go further and do the namespaces thing.

It didn't seem that hard replacing this factory, looking at the DefaultHttpControllerFactory it looks like it maintaines a cache of controller name -> HttpControllerDescriptor. So you can check route data to see if it contains an area and use that to qualify your key in your own cache.

Re: How do I set the default namespaces in MapHttpRoute?

r.DataTokens["Namespaces"] = new string[] {"Foo"};

That really didn't work for me in my scenario. I'll just wait until the next release. I'm sure it will get better then. It looks like from the code comments MapHttpRoute should be like MapRoute but just isn't quite done yet.