asp.net mvc 3 - Placing js files in the views folder

Question

I am trying to place my javascript files with my views.

I have the following js file location. /Views/Home/Home.js

However, when referenced with a script tag, it results in a 404 error.

As per the following SO question: ASP.NET MVC - Where do you put your .js files if you dont want to store them in /Scripts?

I added file.js to my Register routes. (Did not resolve the problem)

    public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes)
    {
        routes.IgnoreRoute("{file}.js");
        routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}");
    }

How can i store and reference my js files next to my views?

Answer 1

The problem is that, for security reasons the web.config that is inside the Views folder blocks all request to files in that folder. This is what you will find in the config file:

<httpHandlers>
  <add path="*" verb="*" type="System.Web.HttpNotFoundHandler"/>
</httpHandlers>

And for IIS7:

<handlers>
  <remove name="BlockViewHandler"/>
  <add name="BlockViewHandler" path="*" verb="*" preCondition="integratedMode" type="System.Web.HttpNotFoundHandler" />
</handlers>

Solution

You can change the wildcard to catch only the .cshtml files.

<httpHandlers>
  <add path="*.cshtml" verb="*" type="System.Web.HttpNotFoundHandler"/>
</httpHandlers>

<handlers>
  <remove name="BlockViewHandler"/>
  <add name="BlockViewHandler" path="*.cshtml" verb="*" preCondition="integratedMode" type="System.Web.HttpNotFoundHandler" />
</handlers>

With this wildcard, the .js files won't be blocked.