how to Bind dropdownList using Entity Framework in MVC 3

Question

i want to show a dropdownList on a page using Entity Framework in my MVC app, but i am just stuck here to do this using using HTML Helper. so if anyone having knowledge of entity framework, help me...

my dataContext partial class is Entities, in which an entity named MemberInfo have some fields including MemberID & MemberName, so my dropdownList should show the field MemberName & behind this the value should be MemberID,

the code i tried yet--->

@Html.DropDownListFor(Model => Model.MemberID, MemberInfo)

in controller i am returning the Model--->

var MemberNameList = FinanceDBContext.MemberInfoes.Select(x => new { x.MemberID, x.Name });
return View(MemberNameList);

but its not working (errors).

What are the errors? Is your view strongly-typed? There are lots of examples on SO of how to achieve this, have you searched? — Belogix
– Belogix, Commented May 20, 2013 at 9:01
the MemberNameList i am returning to the view, how to use this to show the dropdownList. the first line of code above is not valid (second arg shd b an enumerable type). — AKD
– AKD, Commented May 20, 2013 at 9:06
can u rewrite this line with right syntex, i'v googled alot, but not found any suitable answer ! — AKD
– AKD, Commented May 20, 2013 at 9:07
I've put full example of showing list and getting who was selected. — Belogix
– Belogix, Commented May 20, 2013 at 9:14

Belogix · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-20 09:46:26Z

2

You need to pass in all of your objects as the "model". Best practice is to use a ViewModel which will contain the list of data and a property to store the selected item.

ViewModel

public class MyViewModel
{
    // The drop-down list and variable to get selection
    public List<Member> Members { get; set; }
    public int SelectedMemberId { get; set; }
}

Controller

[HttpGet]
public ActionResult Index()
{
    var viewModel = new MyViewModel();
    viewModel.Members = FinanceDBContext.MemberInfoes.ToList();
    return View(viewModel);
}

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Index(MyViewModel viewModel)
{
    string debug = string.Format("You selected member: {0}", viewModel.SelectedMemberId);
    return View(viewModel);
}

Finally, in your view (these lines need to be inside a BeginForm { ... } and ensure your View is strongly typed to MyViewModel

@Html.DropDownList("SelectedMemberId", new SelectList(Model.Members, "MemberID", "Name"))
<input type="submit" value="Save etc..." />

In this example you could put a break-point on the HttpPost action and check the debug string to check the correct Member is returned and proceed as required.

edited May 20, 2013 at 9:46

answered May 20, 2013 at 9:14

Belogix

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5 Comments

AKD Over a year ago

The type arguments for method 'System.Web.Mvc.Html.SelectExtensions.DropDownListFor<TModel,TProperty>(System.Web.Mvc.HtmlHelper<TModel>, System.Linq.Expressions.Expression<System.Func<TModel,TProperty>>, System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable<System.Web.Mvc.SelectListItem>)' cannot be inferred from the usage. Try specifying the type arguments explicitly.

Belogix Over a year ago

That is because your view should be strongly typed to "MyViewModel" not "SelectListItem" - I've added that note in instructions.

AKD Over a year ago

nope !!! this is bcoz u'v wrote DropDownListFor instead of DropDownList. Now its working, thanx for ur answer.

AKD Over a year ago

yeah sure, can u help me in one more thing. i want to show selected member name in a label Text (whenever user selects a option, that label text shd change as selected value (MemberID) )

Belogix Over a year ago

If you want to do it when they change the selection you will need to do this with JavaScript (or JQuery etc).

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