Question

I want to specify a value for each option in the my select list box but I am generating it with an html helper.

So I have this

<%= Html.DropDownList("DropDownList") %>  

// controller

ViewData["DropDownList"] = new SelectList(MyClass.GenerateListBox());

// MyClass

        public static List<string> GenerateListBox()
        {
            List<string> listBox= new List<string>();
            listBox.Add("Bye");
            listBox.Add("hi");
            listBox.Add("something");

            return listBox;
        }

So I see that SelectList has a “stringDataField” but it is only a stringnot a list so now really sure what I have to change.

Do I have to make some sort of other list?

Thanks

Answer 1

Use this constructor instead:

ViewData["DropDownList"] = new SelectList(GenerateListBox(), "Value", "Text");

public static List<SelectListItem> GenerateListBox()
{
    List<SelectListItem> listBox = new List<SelectListItem>();
    listBox.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "bye", Value = "byeValue" });
    listBox.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "hi", Value = "hiValue" });
    listBox.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "something", Value = "somethingValue" });

    return listBox;
}