public IHttpActionResult Postcat(CategoryVM cat) { bool catFlag = isAddedBefor(cat.Name); if (catFlag) { ModelState.AddModelError("cat", "Categoryl already exists"); } if (!ModelState.IsValid) { return(BadRequest(ModelState)); } Category newcat = new API_Server.Category(); newcat = ConvertClass.VMToCategory(cat); db.Categories.Add(newcat); db.SaveChanges(); var catId = (from c in db.Categories where c.Name == cat.Name select c.Id).FirstOrDefault(); return(Ok(catId)); }