MVC Dropdownlistfor<>

Question

I just started a project in MVC. I am new to MVC asp.net. I want to add a dropdown list box like I used to add in asp.net.

code glimpses in asp.net for Dropdownlist box

<asp:Dropdownlist ID="ddlCity" runat="server">
<asp:ItemList Text="Kolkatta" Value="1"/>
<asp:ItemList Text="New Delhi" Value="2"/>
<asp:ItemList Text="Mumbai" Value="3"/>
<asp:ItemList Text="chennai" Value="4"/>
<asp:ItemList Text="Hydrabad" Value="5"/>
</asp:Dropdownlist>

I want a dropdown list box in that manner.... meaning, now I need to create a model and controller for that. Suppose I have already have a view named "Employee Entry Form" and I need to add one dropdown list only on that page. I do not want to create a model for this dropdown list; I only need it on this page.

Answer 1

The values for the dropdownlist should be in your existing view model:

public class WhateverViewModel
{
    // All of your current viewmodel fields here
    public string SelectedCity { get; set; }
    public Dictionary<string, string> CityOptions { get; set; }
}

Populate these in your controller with whatever values you want (where SelectedCity is your numerical ID), then do the following in your view:

@Html.DropDownListFor(m => m.SelectedCity,
    new SelectList(Model.CityOptions, "Key", "Value", Model.SelectedCity))

If your values never change, you could hardcode them as a static member of your view model and then do:

@Html.DropDownListFor(m => m.SelectedCity,
    new SelectList(WhateverViewModel.CityOptions, "Key", "Value", Model.SelectedCity))

Either way, this is data for this view, so it belongs in your view model. If you're not using view models and this view is directly tied to a domain entity; you should be using them and now is as good a time as any to start.