Question

I’m confused as to why the corresponding option in the select list is not being selected.
When I step through the loop, item.DisciplineId = 2, but School is not selected (“Choose” still is). Any suggestions ?

View

<% foreach (var item in Model.TeamMembers)
{ %>
<tr>
    <td>
        <%: Html.DropDownListFor(m => item.DisciplineId, Model.MemberDisciplines, "Choose") %>
    </td>
</tr>
<% } %>

View Model

public SelectList MemberDisciplines { get; set; }
public IEnumerable<TeamMember> TeamMembers { get; set; }//Set from the model

MemberDisciplines = new SelectList(new[] {
                new SelectListItem{ Text = "Technical", Value = "1"},
                new SelectListItem{ Text = "School", Value = "2"},
                new SelectListItem{ Text = "Health", Value = "3"}
            }, "Value", "Text");

Answer 1

Alright, I would then suggest you to convert MemberDisciplines property into a method with the following content:

public SelectList GetMemberDisciplines(object selectedValue)
{
    return new SelectList(new[] {
        new SelectListItem{ Text = "Technical", Value = "1"},
        new SelectListItem{ Text = "School", Value = "2"},
        new SelectListItem{ Text = "Health", Value = "3"}
    }, "Value", "Text", selectedValue);
}

And then you call it in your DropDownListFor like so:

<% for (int i = 0; i < Model.TeamMembers.Count; i++) { %>
  <tr>
      <td>
          <%: Html.DropDownListFor(m => Model.TeamMembers[i].DisciplineId, Model.GetMemberDisciplines(Model.TeamMembers[i].DisciplineId), "Choose..")%>
      </td>
  </tr>
<% } %>