title: mvc3 - using partial views in a different area
body: <p>I have two questions regarding partial views...</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>When to use Partial views vs @helper methods, i have used both
  interchangeably and would like to get more consistent in their
  usage. What do you guys do?</p></li>
  <li><p>How do you reference a partial view from another area.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>I have an area called admin and i have a partial view in the regular Views directory. How do i  use it .. i have tried the following which dont work as it cant be found.</p>
  
  <pre><code>@Html.Partial(VirtualPathUtility.ToAbsolute("~/Views/ControllerName/_PartialView"),
   Model)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>other i have tried - </p>
  
  <pre><code>@Html.Partial("~/Views/ControllerName/_PartialView", Model)
  </code></pre>