C# – Razor Layout doesn’t work if file is called _ViewStart.cshtml

asp.net-mvc-3crazor

I have an MVC3 web app to which I want to start using whole Razor views.

Most of the site is working fine with a Site.Master so I've packaged up most of it into partial views and am trying to add a layout with the same content.

After reading Scott Gu's blog I've added a file called _ViewStart.cshtml in my ~/Views directory so that it'll be applied by default.

Unfortunately this gives me the error:

The name 'RenderBody' does not exist in the current context

If the file is called _viewstart.cshtml.

If it is called _layoutviewstart.cshtml it will work but I have to reference it directly in the view.

If it's called _billyviewstart.cshtml is works but again I have to reference it directly in the view.

Best Answer

View start

@{
    Layout = "~/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml";
}

Layout.cshtml

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
     @RenderBody()
</body>
</html>