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Use Shared C# Code

The best way shared C# helpers:

  • public functions returning strings, objects, ints etc.
  • public functions returning html using RazorBlade

This is recommended in v12 and above as it works in Dnn ✅ and Oqtane ✅

You share them by placing them into a separate CS file (just remember to mark them public). This lets you put a bunch of tiny helpers into a helpers-library and use them from elsewhere.

To achieve this, we use CreateInstance to get an object with these methods, and then use it.

The samples can differ based on your Razor base class or if you're running an old version.
Switch to Strong-Typed (2sxc 17.06+) Switch to Typed (2sxc 16+) Switch to Dynamic (Razor14 or below)

Using Shared Helpers / Libraries

Reuse Code with .cs Files

Starting with 2sxc 10.01 CreateInstance() can also be used with .cs files, from both razor pages as well as WebApi controllers. This allows you to create shared code which can be used in Razor and WebApi controllers.

Note that in 2sxc 16.05 we recommend you use GetCode() instead.

The mechanism above also works in WebApi Controllers (if you have 2sxc 10.01+). Note that specifically in WebApi you can only use GetCode(...) for .cs files.

⬇️ Result | Source ➡️

Click to see the result of a WebApi call with the shared code:

@inherits Custom.Hybrid.RazorTyped
@using ToSic.Razor.Blade

<p>
  Click to see the result of a WebApi call with the shared code:
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" onclick="callApiWithSharedCode(this)">
    Call WebApi
  </button>
</p>

<script>
  function callApiWithSharedCode(context) {
    $2sxc(context).webApi.fetchJson('app/auto/api/sharedcode/hello')
      .then(function (results) {
        console.log(results);
        alert(results);
      });
    return false;
  }
</script>

Source Code of SharedCodeController.cs

// Add namespaces for security check in Oqtane & DNN despite differences in .net core/.net Framework
// If you only target one platform, you can remove the parts you don't need
#if NETCOREAPP
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization; // .net core [AllowAnonymous] & [Authorize]
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;           // .net core [HttpGet] / [HttpPost] etc.
#else
using System.Web.Http;                    // .net 4.5 [AllowAnonymous] / [HttpGet]
using DotNetNuke.Web.Api;                 // [DnnModuleAuthorize] & [ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
#endif

[AllowAnonymous]                          // all commands can be accessed without a login
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]                // protects API from users not on your site (CSRF protection)
public class SharedCodeController : Custom.Hybrid.Api14 // see https://r.2sxc.org/CustomWebApi
{
  [HttpGet]
  [AllowAnonymous]
  public string Hello()
  {
    var shared = CreateInstance("../shared/FunctionsBasic.cs");
    return shared.SayHello();
  }
}

// The next line is for 2sxc-internal quality checks, you can ignore this
// 2sxclint:disable:no-dnn-namespaces - 2sxclint:disable:no-web-namespace

Source Code of FunctionsBasic.cs

// Important notes: 
// - This class should have the same name as the file it's in
public class FunctionsBasic {

  public string SayHello() {
    return "Hello from shared functions!";
  }
}

// Example for another class in the same file
public class Second {
  public string SayHello() {
    return "Hello from the second class!";
  }
}