How to get User.Identity.Name from a controller?

c# .net asp.net asp.net-mvc

14,386

Solution 1

Try initializing stuff in the ApplicationController's Initialize method, HttpContext isn't avaliable in the constructor. Make sure to call base.Initialize() or you can get some interesting results.

Solution 2

HttpContext.Current.User.Identity.Name

Note the .Current that was missing from your call.

Solution 3

Which specific property that you are accessing is null? You might want to check that User.Identity.IsAuthenticated == true before checking the Name property. Also make sure that forms authentication is enabled and that you have indeed logged into the site first.

14,386

Author by

chobo2

Updated on June 04, 2022

Comments

chobo2 almost 2 years
I want to have some viewData info across all my views so I am following this tutorial

http://www.asp.net/LEARN/mvc/tutorial-13-cs.aspx

So I made my own applicationController but I need to get the UserName from the user.

Yet when I do this "HttpContext.User.Identity.Name" in the constructor it is always null. I am not sure why though.

Thanks

Ok the base thing did the trick.
```
  protected override void Initialize(RequestContext requestContext)
    {
        base.Initialize(requestContext);
        Guid userId = coursesS.GetUserId(HttpContext.User.Identity.Name);
    }
```
So that seems to work. The only thing now is it seems to go through this twice. Like I log in and it seems to do the this twice. I am guessing since this is like the equivalent of putting that code in every action. When I am loading up all these partial view on my site by calling them in my controller it does this.

So many I should cache it but I am not sure how though.
David over 14 years

Why the down vote? It works for me? Although I'm happy to take the downvote if it means I'm learning something new...
chobo2 over 14 years

Get this error when I try to do this in my abstract base controller. Error 2 An object reference is required for the non-static field, method, or property 'System.Web.Mvc.ControllerContext.HttpContext.get'
chobo2 over 14 years

Not sure why someone is voting you done. I tried it and I get this error: Error 3 An object reference is required for the non-static field, method, or property 'System.Web.UI.Page.User.get'
Keith Adler over 14 years

See Wyatt's comment above. Make sure you call base.Initialize().
chobo2 over 14 years

Hmm I might need to import something since I get this: Error 3 'System.Web.HttpContextBase' does not contain a definition for 'Current' and no extension method 'Current' accepting a first argument of type 'System.Web.HttpContextBase' could be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)
Keith Adler over 14 years

He's not on a Page. He's creating a custom Controller.
David over 14 years

Good points. Any of those issues would definietly cause the error described.
chobo2 over 14 years

where do I call this base.Initialze()? I am not sure where to stick it
chobo2 over 14 years

User is Null. That is what is null
chobo2 over 14 years

Oh and ya I am logged in. If I take out that line and try to log in I go to authorized pages.
chobo2 over 14 years

Where do I stick it in the constructor?
chobo2 over 14 years

It also wants some parameter and I am not sure how to pass in what it wants.