How to pass data to the view in mvc asp.net?

Question

let me ask the question first.

Where is the correct place to call a function that load a list of values to be display on a view?

I create a controller like this

public ActionResult Create()
{
    SeaModel newSea = new SeaModel();

    return View("Season/CreateSea", newSea);
}

//I not quite sure if this should go here or in another place
partial class seaDataContext
{
    public List<string> getSeaSettings()
    {
        var seaSettings = from p in settings
                          where p.setting == "periods"
                          select p.value;

        return seaSettings.ToList<string>();                              
    }
}

The model is like

public class SeaModel
{
    [Required(ErrorMessage="*")]
    [Display(Name = "Period Name")]
    public string periods { get; set; }    
}

Which create a view like

  @using (Html.BeginForm()) {
        @Html.ValidationSummary(true, "Please correct the following errors.")

        <fieldset>
            <legend>Fields</legend>

            <div class="editor-label">
                @Html.LabelFor(model => model.periods)
            </div>
            <div class="editor-field">
                @Html.Select(model => model.periods, ****My doubt comes here****)
                @Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.periods)
            </div>

            <p>
                <input type="submit" value="Create" />
            </p>
        </fieldset>

    }

so, How and where do I pass the return of getSeaSettings() to the view?

Thanks

sea.. periods... Red Sea for sure!

Andrei Rînea
– Andrei Rînea

2011-05-20 07:43:13 +00:00
Commented May 20, 2011 at 7:43 — Andrei Rînea
– Andrei Rînea, Commented May 20, 2011 at 7:43

Stefanvds · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-03 14:13:15Z

4

best practice is to make a Selectlist in your Model for this dropdown.

however you also can use the more easy option: using ViewData

 public ActionResult Create()
 {
     SeaModel newSea = new SeaModel();

     ViewData["myDropDown"] = new SelectList(listOfObjects, "valueOfTheObjectLikeID", "NameYouWantToShowInDropdown");

     return View("Season/CreateSea", newSea);
 }

then:

@Html.Select(model => model.periods, ViewData["myDropDown"] as SelectList)

dont forget in your [HttpPost] method to also fill in the viewdata if you'r validation fails, so the dropdown can be rebuilt.

answered Nov 3, 2010 at 14:13

Stefanvds

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5 Comments

roncansan Over a year ago

This gives me the following errorCompiler Error Message: CS1501: No overload for method 'Select' takes 2 arguments Source Error: Line 53: @Html.Select(model => model.periods,ViewData["sl"] as SelectList)

Stefanvds Over a year ago

use SelectFor? i'm dont know much about MVC3 :) also you can input a string which would show by default like "Select your period..."

Stefanvds Over a year ago

in MVC2 that looks like this: <%: Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.someID, ViewData["someList"] as SelectList,"Select a thing...")%>

jrummell Over a year ago

MVC3 also has Html.DropDownListFor()

RickAndMSFT Over a year ago

See my DDL tutorial asp.net/mvc/tutorials/javascript/… and blogs.msdn.com/b/rickandy/archive/2012/01/09/…

Tassadaque · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-03 18:12:46Z

2

You need to look at repository pattern. Have a look at this tutorial at asp.net site http://www.asp.net/mvc/tutorials/creating-model-classes-with-linq-to-sql-cs

answered Nov 3, 2010 at 18:12

Tassadaque

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2 Comments

Tom Chantler Over a year ago

I agree with using the repository pattern. It's how I've done such things in the past and keeps things nicely separated.

Tassadaque Over a year ago

you may skip (if you opt) interfaces and may create concrete repository classes directly

stun · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-04 17:50:35Z

Stefanvds's approach was what I used to do.
But I found out there is a better way using additionalViewData.

Use this EditorFor HTML Helper extension method.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff406462.aspx

Instead of passing Select List Items into ViewData in the Controller, you do this in your View.

Pass in your list items as an anonymous object for the additionalViewData parameter.
Important thing is to use the same name as your Property Name.

@Html.EditorFor(
    m => m.MyPropertyName,
    new { MyPropertyName = Model.ListItemsForMyPropertyName }
);

Of course, you are passing in a View Model object.

public class MyViewModel
{
    public int MyPropertyName;

    public IList<SelectListItem> ListItemsForMyPropertyName;
}

EditorFor method uses your existing Editor View Templates.
So you don't need to specify CSS class names and HTML attributes again like when you use the Html.DropDown( ) method.

For example,

//------------------------------
// additionalViewData
//------------------------------
@Html.EditorFor(
    m => m.MyPropertyName,
    new { MyPropertyName = Model.ListItemsForMyPropertyName }
)

//------------------------------
//  traditional approach requires to pass your own HTML attributes
//------------------------------
@Html.DropDown(
    "MyPropertyName",
    Model.ListItemsForMyPropertyName,
    new Dictionary<string, object> {
        { "class", "myDropDownCssClass" }
    }
);

//------------------------------
//  DropDownListFor still requires you to pass in your own HTML attributes
//------------------------------
@Html.DropDownListFor(
    m => m.MyPropertyName,
    Model.ListItemsForMyPropertyName,
    new Dictionary<string, object> {
        { "class", "myDropDownCssClass" }
    }
);

That is why I like the additionalViewData approach more.
Because, the HTML code rendered relies on the Editor Templates completely.

Also, using specialized View Models make your code cleaner and easier to maintain.

Hope it helps.

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