Automapper - Mapper already initialized error

Question

I am using AutoMapper 6.2.0 in my ASP.NET MVC 5 application.

When I call my view through controller it shows all things right. But, when I refresh that view, Visual Studio shows an error:

System.InvalidOperationException: 'Mapper already initialized. You must call Initialize once per application domain/process.'

I am using AutoMapper only in one controller. Not made any configuration in any place yet nor used AutoMapper in any other service or controller.

My controller:

public class StudentsController : Controller
{
    private DataContext db = new DataContext();

    // GET: Students
    public ActionResult Index([Form] QueryOptions queryOptions)
    {
        var students = db.Students.Include(s => s.Father);

        AutoMapper.Mapper.Initialize(cfg =>
        {
            cfg.CreateMap<Student, StudentViewModel>();
        });
            return View(new ResulList<StudentViewModel> {
            QueryOptions = queryOptions,
            Model = AutoMapper.Mapper.Map<List<Student>,List<StudentViewModel>>(students.ToList())
        });
    }

    // Other Methods are deleted for ease...

Error within controller:

My Model class:

public class Student
{
    [Key]
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string CNIC { get; set; }
    public string FormNo { get; set; }
    public string PreviousEducaton { get; set; }
    public string DOB { get; set; }
    public int AdmissionYear { get; set; }

    public virtual Father Father { get; set; }
    public virtual Sarparast Sarparast { get; set; }
    public virtual Zamin Zamin { get; set; }
    public virtual ICollection<MulaqatiMehram> MulaqatiMehram { get; set; }
    public virtual ICollection<Result> Results { get; set; }
}

My ViewModel Class:

public class StudentViewModel
{
    [Key]
    public int Id { get; set; }

    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string CNIC { get; set; }
    public string FormNo { get; set; }
    public string PreviousEducaton { get; set; }
    public string DOB { get; set; }
    public int AdmissionYear { get; set; }

    public virtual FatherViewModel Father { get; set; }
    public virtual SarparastViewModel Sarparast { get; set; }
    public virtual ZaminViewModel Zamin { get; set; }
}

Answer 1

If you want/need to stick with the static implementation in a unit testing scenario, note that you can call AutoMapper.Mapper.Reset() before calling initialize. Do note that this should not be used in production code as noted in the documentation.

Source: AutoMapper documentation.