Create _Layout.cshtml file in each area!
In an ASP.NET Core MVC application, you can create a separate _Layout.cshtml
for each Area to provide specific layouts and designs. Here’s how you can do it:
Steps to Create a _Layout.cshtml
for Each Area
Create a Shared Folder for Each Area
Inside the Views folder of your area (e.g.,Owner
), create a folder named Shared:/Areas /Owner /Views /Shared _Layout.cshtml
Add a
_Layout.cshtml
File
In the Shared folder of your area, add a_Layout.cshtml
file. This layout will apply to all views in theOwner
area unless overridden.Example
_Layout.cshtml
for the Owner area:<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <title>@ViewData["Title"] - Owner Area</title> <link href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/5.15.4/css/all.min.css" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="~/css/site.css" rel="stylesheet" /> </head> <body> <header> <h1>Owner Area</h1> <nav> <a href="/Owner/Home/Index">Home</a> <a href="/Owner/Reports/Index">Reports</a> </nav> </header> <main> @RenderBody() </main> <footer> <p>© 2024 - CRM</p> </footer> </body> </html>
Set the Layout in Area Views
In the views of theOwner
area, specify the layout path in each view using theLayout
property.Example for
Index.cshtml
in the Owner area:@page @model CRM.Areas.Owner.Controllers.HomeController @{ Layout = "~/Areas/Owner/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml"; } <h2>Welcome to the Owner Area</h2>
Use a Default
_ViewStart.cshtml
for the Area (Optional)
To avoid specifying the layout in every view, create a_ViewStart.cshtml
file inside the Views folder of your area:/Areas /Owner /Views _ViewStart.cshtml
Content of
_ViewStart.cshtml
:@{ Layout = "~/Areas/Owner/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml"; }
This will apply the layout to all views in the
Owner
area automatically.Verify Razor View Configuration
In
Program.cs
, ensure the Razor View Engine is configured correctly:builder.Services.AddControllersWithViews();
If it's missing, add it to the services registration.
Benefits of Area-Specific Layouts
Customization: Each area can have a unique layout and design.
Isolation: Prevents unintended dependencies between areas.
Flexibility: It is easier to apply area-specific styles and scripts.
Final Folder Structure
/Areas
/Owner
/Controllers
/Views
/Home
Index.cshtml
/Shared
_Layout.cshtml
_ViewStart.cshtml
Now each area can have its own distinct layout!