Question

I have this code in my controller for Index view..

 public ActionResult Index(int? id)
        {
            _viewModel.ServiceTypeListAll = new SelectList(_bvRepository.GetAllServiceTypes().ToList().OrderBy(n => n.ServiceTypeName).ToList(), "ServiceTypeId", "ServiceTypeName");
            return View(_viewModel);
        }

Using this I am able to dispaly all the ServiceTypes in my view in dropdownlist box. the code is

<%=Html.DropDownList("ServiceTypeListAll", new SelectList(Model.ServiceTypeListAll,"Value","Text"))%>

When I am trying to get the Selected Dropdownlist value from View to controller I am acceesing like this..

string categoryName = collection["ServiceTypeListAll"]; // collectoin refers FormCollection

I am expecting CategoryName should be string like what ever I am showing in Dropdownlist box.

I am getting Integer values?

is that somethign I am doing wrong

thanks

Answer 1

The value of a dropdownlist is its ID property, which you’re specifying as ServiceTypeId.
You need to specify the ID as ServiceTypeName instead, like this:

_viewModel.ServiceTypeListAll = new SelectList(_bvRepository.GetAllServiceTypes().OrderBy(n => n.ServiceTypeName), "ServiceTypeName", "ServiceTypeName");

Also, Model.ServiceTypeListAll is already a SelectList; you don’t need to wrap it:

<%=Html.DropDownList("ServiceTypeListAll", Model.ServiceTypeListAll)%>