ASPNET 4.5 WebForms ModelBinding not working with DropDownList

Question

I'm trying to use the new ModelBinding feature in ASPNET 4.5 Webforms without success.

For some reason Contact.ContactType remains null after submitting the form.

Model:

public class Contact
{
    public int ContactId { set; get; }
    public string Name { set; get; }
    public string Phone { set; get; }

    public ContactType ContactType { set; get; }
}

public class ContactType 
{
    public int ContactTypeId { set; get; }
    public string Description { set; get; }

public virtual ICollection<Contact> Contacts { set; get; }
}

ASPX:

<asp:FormView ID="FormView1" runat="server"
    ItemType="Models.Contact" DataKeyNames="ContactId" 
     DefaultMode="Insert" InsertMethod="InsertContact" >
    <InsertItemTemplate>
        <ul>
            <li>
                <label>Name</label>
                <asp:DynamicControl runat="server" id="Name" DataField="Name" Mode="Insert" />
            </li>
            <li>
                <label>Phone</label>
                <asp:DynamicControl runat="server" id="Phone" DataField="Phone" Mode="Insert"  />
            </li>
            <li>
                <label>Contact Type</label>
                <asp:DropDownList ID="ContactType" runat="server" AppendDataBoundItems="true"
                    ItemType="Models.ContactType" SelectMethod="GetContactTypes"
                    DataTextField="Description" DataValueField="ContactTypeId">
                    <asp:ListItem Value="0" Text="Select"></asp:ListItem>
                </asp:DropDownList>
            </li>
            <li>
                <asp:LinkButton ID="LinkButton1" runat="server"
                    CommandName="Insert" Text="Insert" >

                </asp:LinkButton>
            </li>
        </ul>
    </InsertItemTemplate>
</asp:FormView>

ASPX.CS:

public void InsertContact(Contact contact)
    {
        if (ModelState.IsValid)
        {
            // Save changes here
        }
    }

How do I get to use ModelBinding on a dropdown/listbox successfully?

Answer 1

You could return a Dictionary in getcontacttypes and then use:

    <asp:DropDownList ID="ContactType" runat="server" AppendDataBoundItems="true"
       SelectMethod="GetContactTypes"
      DataTextField="Value" DataValueField="Key"
      SelectedValue="<%# BindItem.ContactTypeId%>"
      >
      <asp:ListItem Value="0" Text="Select"></asp:ListItem>
    </asp:DropDownList>

SelectedValue="<%# BindItem.ContactTypeId%>" is important